[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 342 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 342
Designating April 30, 2004, as ``Dia de los Ninos: Celebrating Young
Americans'', and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 20, 2004
Mr. Hatch (for himself, Mr. Crapo, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Domenici, Mr.
Grassley, Mr. Craig, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Cornyn, Ms.
Murkowski, Mr. Graham of South Carolina, and Mr. Corzine) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
April 28, 2004
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Designating April 30, 2004, as ``Dia de los Ninos: Celebrating Young
Americans'', and for other purposes.
Whereas many nations throughout the world, and especially within the Western
hemisphere, celebrate ``Dia de los Ninos'' 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;
Whereas children 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 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 1 in 4 Americans is projected to be of Hispanic descent by the year
2050, and as of 2003, approximately 12,300,000 Hispanic children live in
the United States;
Whereas traditional Hispanic family life centers largely on children;
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 more than 500,000 children drop out of school each year, and Hispanic
dropout rates are unacceptably high;
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
encourage children to explore, develop confidence, and pursue their
dreams;
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 their dreams and 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--their curiosity, laughter, faith, energy, spirit, hopes, and
dreams: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates April 30, 2004, as ``Dia de los Ninos:
Celebrating Young Americans''; and
(2) requests that the President issue a proclamation
calling on the people of the United States to join with all
children, families, organizations, communities, churches,
cities, and States across the United States to observe the day
with appropriate ceremonies, including--
(A) activities that center around children, and are
free or minimal in cost so as to encourage and
facilitate the participation of all our people;
(B) activities that are positive and uplifting and
that help children express their hopes and dreams;
(C) activities that provide opportunities for
children of all backgrounds to learn about one
another's cultures and to share ideas;
(D) activities that include all members of the
family, and 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) activities that provide opportunities for
families within a community to get acquainted; and
(F) activities that provide children with the
support they need to develop skills and confidence, and
to find the inner strength--the will and fire of the
human spirit--to make their dreams come true.
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