[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 15160-15161]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL CHESS WEEK

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed 
to the consideration of S. Res. 266.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 266) designating the week of October 
     7 through 13, 2013, as ``National Chess Week'' to enhance 
     awareness and encourage students and adults to engage in a 
     game known to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving 
     skills.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Madam President, I am proud today to speak in 
support of my resolution to designate October 7 through October 13, 
2013 as National Chess Week. I am grateful for the support of my 
colleagues Senator Alexander and Senator Levin.
  National Chess Week is designed to increase awareness about the many 
benefits of chess, and to encourage both children and adults to enjoy 
this game. Chess has a wide range of educational and cognitive 
benefits, including improving problem-solving skills and developing 
critical thinking skills. It helps increase memory function and hone 
reading and math skills. For these reasons, chess is used by some 
educators as part of their curriculum, and is even used to help 
patients who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or the 
effects of a stroke.
  Over 80,000 children and adults nationwide are members of the U.S. 
Chess Federation, and \1/2\ of them are students. Engaging students in 
chess can

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help make learning fun, and give them a lifelong pastime that they can 
enjoy while using and developing their skills. I am proud to support 
and endorse National Chess Week, which I hope will result in engaging 
even more citizens of all ages in this important activity.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 266) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

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