[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 12691-12693]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               SUPPORTING NATIONAL CHILD AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 438) expressing support for designation of 
September as ``National Child Awareness Month''.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 438

       Whereas millions of American children and youth represent 
     the hopes and future of our Nation;
       Whereas numerous individuals, children's organizations, and 
     youth-serving organizations that work with children and youth 
     collaborate to provide invaluable services to enrich and 
     better the lives of the young;
       Whereas heightening awareness of and increasing support for 
     organizations that provide access to healthcare, social 
     services, education, the arts, sports, and other services 
     will assist in the development of character and the future 
     success of our Nation's youth;
       Whereas September is a time when parents, families, 
     teachers, school administrators, and communities in general 
     increase their focus on children and youth nationwide as the 
     school year begins;
       Whereas September is a time for the people of the United 
     States as a whole to highlight and be mindful of the needs of 
     children and youth;
       Whereas the House of Representatives unanimously passed H. 
     Res. 1296 in 2008 to support the designation of September as 
     ``National Child Awareness Month'';
       Whereas private corporations and businesses have joined 
     with hundreds of national and local charitable organizations 
     throughout the Nation in support of a month-long focus on 
     children and youth; and
       Whereas designating September 2009 as National Child 
     Awareness Month would recognize that a long-term commitment 
     to children and youth is in the public interest, and will 
     encourage widespread support for the charities and 
     organizations that seek to provide a better future for the 
     children and youth of the United States: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the 
     designation of a National Child Awareness Month to promote 
     awareness of children's charities and youth-serving 
     organizations across the United States and recognizes their 
     efforts on behalf of children and youth as a critical 
     contribution to the future of our Nation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Tonko) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) each 
will control 20 minutes.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 438 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TONKO. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 438, which 
designates September as National Child Awareness Month.
  Today, thousands of individuals, such as guardians, effective 
teachers, and youth-serving organizations, enhance the lives of young 
people and prepare them for success. They recognize that without the 
appropriate supports, the children of our country cannot grow into 
healthy, educated, self-sufficient adults.
  National Child Awareness Month is an opportunity for this country to 
honor her children's charities and youth-serving organizations across 
the United States that uplift our youth.

[[Page 12692]]

Organizations such as the YMCA, one of the Nation's most prominent 
youth-serving organizations, is an example. It serves almost 9.5 
million children each year. They have implemented over 500,000 programs 
nationwide to strengthen the mind, the body, and the soul of our youth.
  Of course, the YMCA is not alone when it comes to serving our youth. 
The Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brother Big Sister, the Children's 
Defense Fund, the National Education Association, and many other 
organizations have a long history of providing support for our children 
and youth.
  While we want to designate September as National Child Awareness 
Month, we must also remember that it is a long-term commitment that 
will ensure the advancement of our children. This long-term commitment 
includes the President's education, health care, and environment agenda 
that I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and 
Senate in making a reality. Our children deserve no less.
  I want to thank Representative Sanchez for bringing this resolution 
forward.
  Madam Speaker, once again, I express my support for House Resolution 
438, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 438, 
expressing support for designation of September as National Child 
Awareness Month.
  Last year, the House unanimously passed House Resolution 1296 to 
support the designation of September as National Child Awareness Month. 
In 2008, that resolution was sponsored by my colleague, Representative 
Ken Calvert, the lead Republican sponsor of the resolution we are here 
to support today.
  In preparation for each new school year, parents, families, teachers, 
school administrators, and communities focus even more fully on 
children and youth during the month of September. Designating September 
as National Child Awareness Month helps to promote our attentiveness to 
children's charities and youth-serving organizations across the United 
States.
  Private corporations and businesses have joined with hundreds of 
national and local charitable organizations throughout the Nation in 
support of a month-long focus on children and youth.
  Children and youth-serving organizations provide access to health 
care, social services, education, the arts, sports, and other services 
that assist in the development of character and the future success of 
our Nation's youth.
  Children's charities and youth-serving organizations provide 
invaluable services to enrich the lives of the Nation's children on a 
daily basis. Through this resolution, Congress is able to recognize the 
efforts of these organizations on behalf of children and youth as a 
positive investment for the future of our Nation.
  Designating September as National Child Awareness Month acknowledges 
the inherent public interest that a long-term commitment to children 
and youth promotes. I stand in support of this resolution. I ask for my 
colleagues' support in designating September as National Child 
Awareness Month.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, the importance of recognizing the impact we 
can have on our children through programs, through resources, through 
legislation, through budgeted areas that can support their development 
are all reason to support this legislation which brings it to laser 
sharp focus during the month of September where we dedicate a month to 
growing awareness of the needs of our children.
  For those reasons, I strongly support this resolution and encourage 
our colleagues to do likewise.
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, as the sponsor of 
H. Res. 438 I rise in support of this bipartisan resolution expressing 
support for recognizing the month of September as National Child 
Awareness Month.
  My colleague from California, Congressman Ken Calvert and I were 
pleased to introduce H. Res. 438 because it will raise awareness of 
children's charities and youth-serving organizations across the United 
States. This resolution recognizes that these organizations' efforts on 
behalf of children and youth are critical contributions to the future 
of our nation.
  As we know, September is traditionally back-to-school month, a time 
when families focus on preparing children for the coming school year. 
In addition to academic preparation, it is also a time when the 
American public should be focused on the physical, social and economic 
well-being of our nation's children.
  It is my hope that H. Res. 438 will encourage more individuals to 
volunteer for or contribute to causes that help our children.
  An enhanced awareness of children's charities and youth-serving 
organizations, made possible by this resolution, will assist these 
organizations' efforts to encourage volunteers to become involved in 
the lives of the most disadvantaged children in our communities across 
the country.
  I am confident that National Child Awareness Month will serve as a 
banner that will unite charitable organizations of diverse missions, 
size, geography and scope to focus on a common goal--improving the 
lives of our nation's youth.
  Many non-profit youth-serving organizations and charities across the 
country have expressed their strong support for the recognition of 
September as National Child Awareness Month.
  I am hopeful that president Obama will share my enthusiasm and issue 
a Presidential Proclamation to designate September as National Child 
Awareness Month. With his support, both public and private programs 
across the nation will be acknowledged for their contributions to 
ensuring our children's well-being.
  In the meantime, I would like to thank my colleagues for their 
unanimous support for the adoption of H. Res. 438--National Child 
Awareness Month as it will serve to bring the nation's focus back to 
the one resource that guarantees our future success--our children.
  Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I stand in strong support of House 
Resolution 438, a bipartisan resolution which expresses the sense of 
the U.S. House of Representatives that National Child Awareness Month 
should be established in the month of September.
  September is traditionally ``back-to-school'' month, a time when 
families focus on preparing children for the coming school year. 
Recognizing September as National Child Awareness Month will heighten 
the American public's attentiveness to the importance of our children's 
health, education, safety and character development through the ongoing 
efforts of the numerous organizations and individuals who help to 
protect and nurture them. With this resolution we express our support 
for a month-long effort to recognize the importance of children in our 
society as they grown into responsible citizens.
  It is widely recognized that a strong, supportive family unit is the 
most important factor in the well-being of a child. Unfortunately there 
is no guarantee that every child will have a support system to depend 
on. Thankfully there are many organizations that provide for the most 
disadvantaged children in communities across the country. Even children 
with solid support systems benefit from youth-serving organizations 
which enrich their lives through activities such as sports, the arts, 
philanthropy and further education outside of the classroom.
  I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation to the 69 bipartisan 
cosponsors and to the gentlelady from Orange County, the lead sponsor, 
Loretta Sanchez, for her efforts on behalf of this resolution. In 
addition I would like to extend a special thanks to the Education and 
Labor Committee for moving the bill quickly. It is my hope that 
Senators Feinstein and Burr will quickly pass a companion resolution in 
the Senate chamber and that President Obama will by Presidential 
Proclamation, designate September as National Child Awareness Month so 
that the many child-focused programs of the federal government might 
also be highlighted.
  Most importantly, I commend the many local and national youth-serving 
organizations and charities dedicated to the well-being of children 
across the nation and the world.
  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 438, 
``Expressing support for designation of September as `National Child 
Awareness Month.' '' This bipartisan resolution sponsored by Rep. 
Loretta Sanchez (D-CA-47) and cosponsored by me, would recognize the 
efforts of our community leaders as they participate in growing the 
hopes and dreams of our children; the future of our Nation.

[[Page 12693]]

  September, a month characterized by the return to school, signifies 
the start of the new school year. All around the country, corporations 
and businesses gear-up to highlight our youth and support children's 
charities and youth serving organizations. Declaring September as 
National Child Awareness Month will provide an excellent collaborative 
platform for these charitable groups to bring national attention to 
issues of vital concern to our children such as education, health, 
social services, sports, arts, and character development.
  H. Res. 438 would recognize these efforts as a positive investment 
for the future of our Nation. National Child Awareness Month is 
supported by many regional and national youth organizations among which 
are the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
  Madam Speaker, I applaud my colleagues in recognizing the efforts 
those children's charities and youth serving organizations have put 
forth and also honor children for their widespread participation in 
these groups.
  Mr. TONKO. I yield back my time, Madam Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 438.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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