A resolution designating May 21, 2011, as "National Kids to Parks Day".

Mr. President, I rise to talk about an issue that is close to my heart: introducing our children to National Parks across the country.

Enjoying the outdoors has been a lifelong passion for me and it began in my youth. Growing up in the American Southwest, my parents would take our family on frequent trips to the nearby parks. This helped inspire my brother, Randy, and I to take a 10-day backpacking trip to Glacier National Park in Montana when we were in college. I know now these important visits to the parks were the building blocks of a life filled with enthusiasm for mountains and the outdoors.

I have always enjoyed being outdoors with others, first as an instructor with Outward Bound and then with my wife and kids. In Congress, I have similarly tried to ensure that open spaces in both urban and rural areas are preserved so that families in Colorado and across America have ample opportunity to get out and take advantage of our greatest natural resources, our parks and open spaces.

I believe today more than ever it is important that we are encouraging our Nation's youth to get outdoors. In America today, one in three children are overweight or obese. Kids between the ages of 8 and 18 spend an average of 7\1/2\ hours a day using some sort of entertainment media such as TVs, computers, video games, cell phones and movies. I believe this is a major reason why only one-third of all children get the recommended level of physical activity every day, contributing to childhood obesity.

In this spirit, on Saturday families all across the Nation will get outside and visit a city, State or national park in honor of the first annual National Kids to Parks Day. National Kids to Parks Day celebrates America's commitment to getting kids outdoors and highlights the importance of preserving open spaces for American's to recreate.

That is why today I will be submitting a bipartisan resolution that recognizes Saturday, May 21, 2011, as the first annual National Kids to Parks Day. National Kids to Parks Day encourages more of our Nation's youth to get outdoors and enjoy the great system of city, State and national parks we have in this country.

I thank Senator Burr, Senator Murkowski, and Senator Bingaman for their cosponsorship and support.

Getting kids outdoors won't completely solve our childhood obesity problem, but it may help them get excited about being active and healthy outdoors, and it may help inspire the next generation of American stewards to enjoy and protect our Nation's special places.

I plan to celebrate National Kids to Parks Day by attending the 100- year anniversary of Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, CO. I encourage my colleagues to do something similar--highlight the national, State, and local parks in your State and encourage American families to get outdoors.

I ask my colleagues to support my National Kids to Parks Day resolution.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 192 submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to the matter be printed in the Record.