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105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 278

Designating the 30th day of April of 1999, as ‘‘Dı ́a de los Nin ̃os: Celebrating

Young Americans’’, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

SEPTEMBER 16, 1998

Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mrs. HUTCHISON, Mr. DASCHLE,

Mr. MCCAIN, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. DOMENICI, Mr. DODD, Mr. ABRAHAM,

Mr. HARKIN, Mr. BOND, Mr. KERRY, Mr. GRASSLEY, Ms. LANDRIEU,

Mr. CHAFEE, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Ms. MIKULSKI, Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN,

and Mr. REID) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to

the Committee on the Judiciary

RESOLUTION

Designating the 30th day of April of 1999, as ‘‘Dı ́a de

los Nin ̃os: Celebrating Young Americans’’, and for other

purposes.

Whereas many of the nations throughout the world, and especially within the Western hemisphere, celebrate ‘‘Dı ́a de

los Nin ̃os’’ 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 citizens of the United States;

Whereas children are the center of American families;
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SRES 278 IS

Whereas children should be nurtured and invested in to preserve and enhance economic prosperity, democracy, and

the American spirit;

Whereas Latinos 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 one in four Americans is projected to be of Hispanic

descent by the year 2050, and there are now 10.5 million

Latino children;

Whereas traditional Latino family life centers largely on its

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

Nation 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 of

children of the United States will provide an opportunity
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SRES 278 IS

to children to reflect on their future, to articulate their

dreams and aspirations, and 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 ‘‘Dı ́a de los Nin ̃os:

Celebrating Young Americans’’—a day to bring together

Latinos and other communities nationwide to celebrate

and uplift children; and

Whereas the children of a nation are the responsibility of all

its citizens, and citizens should be encouraged to celebrate the gifts of children to society—their curiosity,

laughter, faith, energy, spirit, hopes, and dreams: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the Senate designates the 30th of

2 April of 1999, as ‘‘Dı ́a de los Nin ̃os: Celebrating Young

3 Americans’’ and requests that the President issue a proc4 lamation calling on the people of the United States to join

5 with all children, families, organizations, communities,

6 churches, cities, and States across the Nation to observe

7 the day with appropriate ceremonies, beginning April 30,

8 1999, that include—

9 (1) activities that center around children, and

10 are free or minimal in cost so as to encourage and

11 facilitate the participation of all our citizens;

12 (2) activities that are positive, uplifting, and

13 that help children express their hopes and dreams;
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1 (3) activities that provide opportunities for chil2 dren of all backgrounds to learn about one another’s

3 cultures and share ideas;

4 (4) activities that include all members of the

5 family, and especially extended and elderly family

6 members, so as to promote greater communication

7 among the generations within a family, enabling

8 children to appreciate and benefit from the experi9 ences and wisdom of their elderly family members;

10 (5) activities that provide opportunities for fam11 ilies within a community to get acquainted; and

12 (6) activities that provide children with the sup13 port they need to develop skills and confidence, and

14 find the inner strength—the will and fire of the

15 human spirit—to make their dreams come true.

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