A resolution designating October 13, 2012, as "National Chess Day".

Mr. President, I rise in support of a bipartisan resolution to designate National Chess Day as October 13, 2012. I greatly appreciate the support of my colleagues, Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Senator Carl Levin of Michigan.

National Chess Day is designed to enhance awareness and encourage students and adults to engage in a game known to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

There are over 80,000 members of the Chess Federation with many of these members joining before the age of 10. Studies indicate that chess programs aid in improving students' scores in math and reading and interest students of all learning styles and strengths. Engaging students in such activities can make learning fun and help them develop a lifelong pastime to exercise their skills.

Engaging students in chess is a wonderful opportunity to promote education, and I hope as school begins in a few weeks, more students will join the Chess Federation and learn to love this historical game.

S. Res. 540

(Designating the week of August 6 through August 10, 2012, as

``National Convenient Care Clinic Week'')

Whereas convenient care clinics are health care facilities

located in high-traffic retail outlets that provide

affordable and accessible care to patients who have little

time to schedule an appointment with a traditional primary

care provider or are otherwise unable to schedule such an

appointment;

Whereas millions of people in the United States do not have

a primary care provider, and there is a worsening primary

care provider shortage that will prevent many people from

obtaining one in the future;

Whereas convenient care clinics have provided an accessible

alternative for more than 15,000,000 people in the United

States since the first clinic opened in 2000, the number of

convenient care clinics continues to increase rapidly, and as

of June 2012, there are approximately 1,350 convenient care

clinics in 35 States;

Whereas convenient care clinics follow rigid industry-wide

quality of care and safety standards;

Whereas convenient care clinics are staffed by highly

qualified health care providers, including advanced practice

nurses, physician assistants, and physicians;

Whereas convenient care clinicians all have advanced

education in providing quality health care for common

episodic ailments including cold and flu, skin irritation,

and muscle strains and sprains, and can also provide

immunizations, physicals, and preventive health screening;

Whereas convenient care clinics are proven to be a cost-

effective alternative to similar treatment obtained in

physicians' offices, urgent care clinics, or emergency

departments; and

Whereas convenient care clinics complement traditional

medical service providers by providing extended weekday and

weekend hours without the need for an appointment, short wait

times, and visits that generally last only 15 to 20 minutes:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) designates the week of August 6 through August 10,

2012, as ``National Convenient Care Clinic Week'';

(2) supports the goals and ideals of National Convenient

Care Clinic Week to raise awareness of the need for

accessible and cost-effective health care options to

complement the traditional health care model;

(3) recognizes that many people in the United States face

difficulties accessing traditional models of health care

delivery;

(4) supports the use of convenient care clinics as an

adjunct to the traditional model of health care delivery; and

(5) calls on the States to support the establishment of

convenient care clinics so that more people in the United

States will have access to the cost-effective and necessary

emergent and preventive services provided in the clinics.

Mr. President, today I rise to recognize all of the providers who work in retail-based Convenient Care Clinics in a Resolution to designate August 6 through August 10, 2012 as National Convenient Care Clinic Week. National Convenient Care Clinic Week will provide a platform from which to promote the pivotal services offered by the more than 1,350 retail-based convenient care clinics in the United States.

Today, thousands of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians provide care in convenient care clinics. At a time when Americans are more and more challenged by the inaccessibility and high costs of health care, convenient care clinics offer a primary care alternative.

A Senate Resolution will help pave the way for this effort. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this tribute to Convenient Care Clinics.

I request unanimous consent that the full text of my resolution be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration en bloc of the following resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 536, S. Res. 537, S. Res. 538, S. Res. 539, and S. Res. 540.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc with no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to these matters be printed in the Record as if read.