[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 7055-7056]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      CELEBRATING YOUNG AMERICANS

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to 
the consideration of S. Res. 538 which was submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 538) designating April 30, 2008 as 
     ``Dia de los Ninos: Celebrating Young Americans,'' and for 
     other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I support 
this resolution designating the 30th day of April 2008 as ``Dia de los 
Ninos: Celebrating Young Americans.'' Over the years, the Senate has 
passed seven similar resolutions in recognition of the young people 
throughout our country.
  Nations throughout the world, and especially within Latin America, 
celebrate Dia de los Ninos every April 30th, in recognition and 
celebration of their country's future, their children. Many American 
Hispanic families continue the tradition of honoring their children on 
this day by celebrating Dia de los Ninos in their homes.
  The designation of April 30 as a day to honor the children of our 
Nation will continue to affirm for the people of the United States the 
significance of family, education, and community. This special 
recognition of children will provide them with an opportunity to 
reflect on their future aspirations and find comfort and security in 
the support of their family members and communities. This resolution 
calls on the American people to join with all children, families, 
organizations, communities, churches, cities, and States across the 
Nation to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
  I am joined in introducing this resolution by a bipartisan group of 
Senators that includes Senators Menendez, Craig, Lugar, Cochran, Brown, 
Durbin, and Crapo. I urge the remainder of my colleagues to lend their 
support.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid 
upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 538) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 538

       Whereas many nations throughout the world, and especially 
     within the Western hemisphere, celebrate ``Dia de los 
     Ninos'', or ``Day of the Children'', on the 30th of April, in 
     recognition and celebration of their country's future--their 
     children;
       Whereas children represent the hopes and dreams of the 
     people of the United States and are the center of American 
     families;
       Whereas children should be nurtured and invested in to 
     preserve and enhance economic prosperity, democracy, and the 
     American spirit;
       Whereas, according to the latest Census report, there are 
     more than 44,000,000 individuals of Hispanic descent living 
     in the United States, nearly 15,000,000 of which are 
     children;
       Whereas Hispanics in the United States, the youngest and 
     fastest growing ethnic community in the Nation, continue the 
     tradition of honoring their children on this day, and wish to 
     share this custom with the rest of the Nation;
       Whereas the primary teachers of family values, morality, 
     and culture are parents and family members, and we rely on 
     children to pass on these family values, morals, and culture 
     to future generations;
       Whereas the importance of literacy and education are most 
     often communicated to children through family members;
       Whereas families should be encouraged to engage in family 
     and community activities that include extended and elderly 
     family members and that encourage children to explore and 
     develop confidence;
       Whereas the designation of a day to honor the children of 
     the United States will help affirm for the people of the 
     United States the significance of family, education, and 
     community;
       Whereas the designation of a day of special recognition for 
     the children of the United States will provide an opportunity 
     for children to reflect on their future, to articulate

[[Page 7056]]

     their aspirations, and to find comfort and security in the 
     support of their family members and communities;
       Whereas the National Latino Children's Institute, serving 
     as a voice for children, has worked with cities throughout 
     the country to declare April 30 as ``Dia de los Ninos: 
     Celebrating Young Americans'', a day to bring together 
     Hispanics and other communities nationwide to celebrate and 
     uplift children; and
       Whereas the children of a nation are the responsibility of 
     all its people, and people should be encouraged to celebrate 
     the gifts of children to society: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates April 30, 2008, as ``Dia de los Ninos: 
     Celebrating Young Americans''; and
       (2) calls on the people of the United States to join with 
     all children, families, organizations, communities, churches, 
     cities, and States across the Nation to observe the day with 
     appropriate ceremonies, including activities that--
       (A) center around children, and are free or minimal in cost 
     so as to encourage and facilitate the participation of all 
     our people;
       (B) are positive and uplifting and that help children 
     express their hopes and dreams;
       (C) provide opportunities for children of all backgrounds 
     to learn about one another's cultures and to share ideas;
       (D) include all members of the family, especially extended 
     and elderly family members, so as to promote greater 
     communication among the generations within a family, enabling 
     children to appreciate and benefit from the experiences and 
     wisdom of their elderly family members;
       (E) provide opportunities for families within a community 
     to get acquainted; and
       (F) provide children with the support they need to develop 
     skills and confidence, and to find the inner strength and the 
     will and fire of the human spirit to make their dreams come 
     true.

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