Supporting the designation of a National Child Awareness Month to promote awareness of children's charities and youth-serving organizations across the United States and recognizing their efforts on behalf of children and youth as a positive investment for the future of our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1296) supporting the designation of a National Child Awareness Month to promote awareness of children's charities and youth-serving organizations across the United States and recognizing their efforts on behalf of children and youth as a positive investment for the future of our Nation, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1296 into the Record.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1296 which designates September as ``National Child Awareness Month.''

As the resolution points out, September marks the start of the new school year, which is a time when we should all focus our attention on the academic, social and economic well-being of our Nation's children.

The children's charities and youth-serving organizations in our communities are important partners in this effort. In many instances, these organizations provide basic access to health care, social services, and other critical needs. They serve as mentors, friends and coaches, and sometimes the volunteers for these organizations are the only family a child may have.

Organizations such as the YMCA, the YWCA, the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Children's Defense Fund, to name a few, have provided numerous volunteer hours and volunteers, educational assistance and after-school programming for children across the country, filling a critical gap in the afternoon hours when children are most at risk.

And so, not only do we want to promote awareness, but I want to thank all of these volunteers, all of these individuals who spend so much of their time, energy and effort working with children so that they provide to communities and families, as well as to the millions of other people who need the work that is done each and every day.

And so, Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my support for H. Res. 1296 and urge that my colleagues support this bill.

I would reserve the balance of my time

Mr. Speaker, I would continue to reserve.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) for his introduction of this very meaningful legislation.

I have no further speakers, and I would yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of House Resolution 1296, a bipartisan resolution which expresses the sense of the U.S. House of Representatives that National Child Awareness Month should be established in the month of September

September is traditionally back-to-school month, a time when families focus on preparing children for the coming school year. Recognizing September as National Child Awareness Month will heighten the American public's attentiveness to the importance of our children's health, education, safety and character development through the ongoing efforts of numerous organizations and individuals who help protect and nurture them. With this resolution we express our support for a month-long effort to recognize the importance of children in our society as they grow into responsible citizens.

It is widely recognized that a strong, supportive family unit is the most important factor in the well-being of a child. Unfortunately, this is no guarantee that every child will have a support system to rely on. Thankfully there are many caring organizations that provide for children in need.

Even children with solid support systems benefit from youth-serving organizations. They enrich their lives through activities such as sports, the arts, philanthropy and further education outside the classroom.

I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation to the 50 bipartisan cosponsors. I would also like to thank the gentlelady from Orange County, my Democratic lead cosponsor, Loretta Sanchez, for her efforts on behalf of this resolution. In addition, I would like to extend a special thanks to the Education and Labor Committee leadership and staff for moving the bill

quickly. And I look forward to working with the Senate to have a companion resolution pass in the Senate Chamber. It is my hope that the administration will, by Presidential proclamation, also designate September as National Child Awareness Month so that the many child- focused programs of the Federal Government might be also highlighted.

Finally, I commend the many local and national youth-serving organizations and charities dedicated to the well-being of children.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor to recognize the many charities across this nation that serve children, and to support H. Res. 1296.

Declaring September as National Child Awareness Month will provide an excellent collaborative opportunity for children's charities and youth- serving organizations by bringing national attention to issues of vital concern to our children such as education, healthcare, social service, active living, arts and character development.

Children's charities and youth-serving organizations come in all shapes and sizes from the Boys and Girls Club to the Saint Joseph Ballet in Santa Ana, California. However, no matter the size, their mission is to improve the lives of the children they serve.

The enhanced awareness of children's charities and youth-serving organizations, that will be made possible by this resolution, will assist these organizations' efforts to raise needed funding and to encourage volunteers to become involved in the lives of the most disadvantaged children in their communities.

This Congress has made many symbolic gestures in support of children in the past. It is my hope that this resolution will have a greater impact resulting in the official declaration of September as National Child Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1296, supporting the designation of September as National Child Awareness Month.

The National Child Awareness Month will recognize that a long-term commitment to children and youth is in the public interest. This designation will also encourage widespread support for the charities and organizations that seek to provide a better future for the children and youth of the United States.

With that, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) for introducing this bill. I ask for my colleagues' support in designating September as National Child Awareness Month.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, today, July 24th, I had an unexpected emergency that required me to return to my Congressional District and I regretfully missed the last two rollcall votes of the day. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 532 on agreeing to the resolution H. Res. 1368--Relating to the House procedures contained in section 803 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. Had I been present I would have also voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 533 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended to H. Res. 1296--National Child Awareness Month.