Expressing support for the designation of August 2008 as "National Heat Stroke Awareness Month" to raise awareness and encourage prevention of heat stroke.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time has I may consume.

I, too, rise in support of H. Con. Res. 296, recognizing the goals and ideals of National Heat Stroke Awareness Month. I credit and thank my colleague from Arkansas, Mr. Boozman, for drafting and introducing this resolution.

As August hits, more people will be traveling to the beach, going to neighborhood pools, working outside, and football practice starts for many high schools and colleges. As people enjoy the outdoors, it is important for Americans to be cognizant of the dangers of heat stroke.

Friday, August 1, 2008, will mark the beginning of the National Heat Stroke Awareness Month. This month serves to commemorate the importance of educating Americans and their children about the need to stay hydrated during hot summer months, understand how much water and fluids their bodies need to replenish, and the appropriate ways to avoid heat- related illnesses.

National Heat Stroke Awareness Month is an important reminder that Americans and children participating in athletics continue to be impacted by the intense heat and physical activity that can dehydrate the body or even lead to a heat stroke. Local communities should work together to provide avenues to prevent dehydration, as well as ensuring that children, who are more vulnerable to heat illness, have access to fluids to rehydrate and a cool place to rest during hot summer months.

According to the National Centers for Health Statistics, 7,046 deaths were attributed to excessive heat exposure from 1979 to 1997, or an average of 371 deaths per year. Heat stroke and death from excessive heat exposure are more common during summers with prolonged heat waves, such as in 1980. Department statistics show that children and the elderly are among the hardest hit populations in the U.S., and, if not treated properly, it can be fatal.

A recent study found that 70 percent of after-school athletes arrive on the field already dehydrated, and because children have a reduced ability to dissipate heat through sweating, it puts them at an increased risk for a heat-related illness. It is alarming when 50 percent of those diagnosed with heat stroke will die, and it is important that parents, coaches, teachers and other members of the community look for the warning signs of heat illness.

I would like to thank Rhonda and Mike Fincher, who have worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the heat-related illness after they tragically lost their 13-year-old son Kendrick during an August preseason football practice. In honor of their son, they have founded the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation, and have provided student athletes with the information and equipment needed to ensure they will not suffer from heat stroke.

I would also like to thank the Gatorade Company for leading the National Beat the Heat Campaign aimed at educating parents and football coaches about the importance of hydration in order to keep athletes safe in hot summer months.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Congressman Boozman once again for introducing this resolution, my colleagues on Energy and Commerce, Mr. Pallone and Mr. Dingell and Mr. Barton, to make sure that it got to the House floor in a rapid, quick motion. I urge all of my colleagues to support this important resolution commemorating August as National Heat Stroke Awareness Month.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Arkansas.

Mr. Speaker, I would just conclude by suggesting that if there are any coaches of youth teams that play outside, they should check out the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation's Web site for advice on how to protect the kids on their team.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 296) expressing support for the designation of August 2008 as ``National Heat Stroke Awareness Month'' to raise awareness and encourage prevention of heat stroke, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 296, which designates August 2008 as National Heat Stroke Awareness Month for the purpose of raising awareness and encouraging prevention of heat stroke.

As we approach the hottest days of the year, it is important that we take the time now to recognize the serious dangers of heat stroke. Whether it is a child who will participate in preseason camps to prepare for the fall athletic season, or seniors who take a walk outside, the threat of heat stroke is high. We need to make sure everyone is properly hydrated. This is particularly true for our students, as approximately 70 percent of student athletes arrive on the field already dehydrated.

Heat stroke is extremely preventible, yet about half of those who contact it will die from it. This resolution before us aims to increase awareness of this deadly condition. It urges national and community organizations, the media, coaches, student athletes and others to widely disseminate information on heat stroke.

This resolution also recognizes and applauds the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation for its hard work and commitment to educating the public on the fatal effects of heat stroke. The foundation is named in honor of 13-year-old Kendrick Fincher, a child who died tragically of heat stroke while attending football practice. In an effort to prevent the reoccurrence of such a tragedy, the foundation has dispensed over 130,000 water bottles and informational pamphlets to children and athletes throughout the United States.

I want to thank my colleague, Representative Boozman, for his hard work in bringing this resolution to the floor. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H. Con. Res. 296.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 296, which expresses the sense of Congress that August should be designated as Heat Stroke Awareness Month, which will provide opportunities to educate parents, educators, and athletes about heat stroke, and prevent future deaths.

On August 7, 1995, 13-year-old Kendrick Fincher of Rogers, Arkansas was at football practice for the Elmwood Riders when he experienced heat stroke. After 18 days in intensive care at Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas, Kendrick died from complications of heat stroke. I was on the school board in Rogers during this time, and this truly was a terrible tragedy for our community.

Since then, Kendrick's parents, Mike and Rhonda Fincher, have committed themselves to ensuring that no other

parent has to experience the heartache of a very preventable death. They established the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation to make certain children have proper hydration during athletic activities and that they have squeeze bottles with them at all events. Because of their dedicated work, procedures have been changed in sports programs at the local schools to help prevent a similar accident.

In addition, Gatorade and the National Football League have worked with the foundation to lead a nationwide Beat the Heat campaign aimed at educating parents and football coaches about the importance of hydration in order to keep athletes safe in the hot summer months.

This resolution also recognizes the Kendrick Fincher Memorial Foundation for all of its efforts in promoting awareness about heat stroke, and it encourages other national and community organizations to get involved in this important fight.

I would also like to thank Chairman Dingell, Ranking Member Barton, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Terry for their help in bringing this forward now as we go into August during the season when, as we are experiencing today, these things are very, very possible. I appreciate them bringing it in a timely fashion, and I encourage my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 296.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the relevant committees of jurisdiction be discharged and the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following resolutions: S. Con. Res. 96, S. Res. 614, S. Res. 653, S. Res. 644, S. Res. 646, S. Res. 652, S. Res. 651, H. Con. Res. 163, S. Res. 648, S. Res. 502, S. Con. Res. 93, H. Con. Res. 296, S. Res. 634, and S. Res. 657.

I further ask unanimous consent that the Senate then proceed to a number of resolutions submitted earlier today:

S. Res. 670, S. Res. 671, S. Res. 672, S. Res. 673, S. Res. 674, S. Res. 675, and S. Res. 676, all en bloc.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc.