[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6820]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 DESIGNATING ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AS THE ``NATIONAL CHESS CAPITAL'' OF 
                           THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the HELP 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 102 and 
the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 102) expressing support for the 
     designation of Saint Louis, Missouri, as the ``National Chess 
     Capital'' of the United States to enhance awareness of the 
     educational benefits of chess and to encourage schools and 
     community centers to engage in chess programs to promote 
     problem-solving, critical thinking, spatial awareness, and 
     goal setting.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I further ask that the resolution be 
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be 
considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 102) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 102

       Whereas, in 2009 and 2011, the United States Chess 
     Federation awarded Saint Louis, Missouri, the title of 
     ``Chess City of the Year'' and, in 2010, the Chess Club and 
     Scholastic Center of Saint Louis was named ``Chess Club of 
     the Year'';
       Whereas Saint Louis hosted the United States Chess 
     Championship and United States Women's Chess Championship in 
     2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 and the United States Junior 
     Closed Chess Championship in 2010, 2011, and 2012, which are 
     the three most prestigious, invitation-only chess tournaments 
     in the United States;
       Whereas the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis 
     opened its doors in July 2008, and since that date, Saint 
     Louis has become widely recognized as the emerging chess 
     center of the United States;
       Whereas chess promotes problem-solving, higher-level 
     thinking skills, and improved self-esteem;
       Whereas the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis 
     brings the educational benefits of chess to thousands of 
     students in more than 100 schools and community centers 
     across the greater Saint Louis area, targeting more than 
     3,300 students in 2011 and 2012;
       Whereas the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis 
     offers free classes and lectures, weekly tournaments, private 
     lessons, summer camps, and field trips to expose school-aged 
     children to the benefits of chess;
       Whereas the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis 
     provides instructors, equipment, and curricula to after-
     school programs in the greater Saint Louis area;
       Whereas the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis 
     offers a coaching program to create a sustainable network of 
     participating after-school chess programs; and
       Whereas Saint Louis has become a hub for developing chess 
     skills in students from across the United States: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses support for the designation of Saint Louis, 
     Missouri, as the ``National Chess Capital'' of the United 
     States;
       (2) encourages the people of Saint Louis to continue 
     promoting the educational benefits of chess among school-aged 
     children; and
       (3) encourages all schools and community centers in the 
     United States to engage in chess programs to promote problem-
     solving, critical thinking, spatial awareness, and goal 
     setting.

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