[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10819]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 556--RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT FATHERS PLAY 
  IN THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND DESIGNATING 2010 AS 
                       ``THE YEAR OF THE FATHER''

  Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Mr. Bond, and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 556

       Whereas Father's Day was founded in 1910 by Mrs. John B. 
     Dodd, Sonora Smart Dodd, after attending a Mother's Day 
     celebration in 1909 and believing that fathers should receive 
     the same recognition;
       Whereas Mrs. Dodd founded the day in celebration of her 
     father, William Smart;
       Whereas William Smart, a Civil War veteran, raised 6 
     children on his own after the death of his wife;
       Whereas Spokane, Washington recognized and hosted the first 
     celebration of Father's Day on June 19, 1910;
       Whereas in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recognized 
     Father's Day and urged States to follow suit;
       Whereas in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a 
     proclamation calling for the third Sunday in June to be 
     recognized as Father's Day and requested that flags be flown 
     that day on all Government buildings;
       Whereas President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 
     1972 permanently observing Father's Day on the third Sunday 
     in June;
       Whereas Father's Day is celebrated in over 50 countries 
     around the world;
       Whereas there are an estimated 64,000,000 fathers in the 
     United States;
       Whereas it is well documented that children involved with 
     loving fathers are significantly more likely to have healthy 
     self-esteems, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior, avoid 
     high risk behaviors, reduce anti-social behavior and 
     delinquency in boys, have better peer relationships, and have 
     higher occupational mobility relative to parents;
       Whereas fathers who live with their children are likely to 
     have a close, enduring relationship with their children than 
     those who do not; and
       Whereas the 100th anniversary of Father's Day will be 
     celebrated in Spokane, Washington on June 20, 2010: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the important role that fathers play in the 
     lives of their children and families; and
       (2) designates 2010 as ``The Year of the Father''.

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