IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 285 
Recognizing the important role that fathers play in the lives of their children 
and families and supporting the goals and ideals of designating 2010 
as the Year of the Father. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 10, 2010 
Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS (for herself, Mr. REICHERT, Mr. SMITH of Wash-
ington, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, and Mr. HASTINGS of Washington) 
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Labor 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the important role that fathers play in the lives 
of their children and families and supporting the goals 
and ideals of designating 2010 as the Year of the Father. 
Whereas Father’s Day was founded in 1910 by Mrs. John B. 
Dodd after attending a Mother’s Day celebration in 1909 
and believing that fathers should receive the same rec-
ognition; 
Whereas Mrs. John B. Dodd, Sonora Smart Dodd, founded 
the day in celebration of her father, William Smart; 
Whereas William Smart, a Civil War veteran, raised six chil-
dren on his own after the death of his wife; 
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•HCON 285 IH 
Whereas Spokane, Washington, recognized and hosted the 
first celebration of Father’s Day on June 19, 1910; 
Whereas in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recognized Fa-
ther’s Day and urged States to follow suit; 
Whereas in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a 
proclamation calling for the third Sunday in June to be 
recognized as Father’s Day and requested that flags be 
flown that day on all government buildings; 
Whereas President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 
1972 permanently observing Father’s Day on the third 
Sunday in June; 
Whereas Father’s Day is celebrated in over 50 countries 
around the world; 
Whereas there are an estimated 64.3 million fathers around 
the Nation today; 
Whereas it is well documented that children involved with lov-
ing fathers are significantly more likely to have healthy 
self-esteems, exhibit empathy and prosocial behavior, 
avoid high risk behaviors, have reduced antisocial behav-
ior and delinquency in boys, have better peer relation-
ships, and have higher occupational mobility relative to 
parents; 
Whereas fathers who live with their children are more likely 
to have a close, enduring relationship with their children 
than those who do not; and 
Whereas the 100th anniversary of Father’s Day will be cele-
brated in Spokane, Washington, on June 20, 2010: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
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(1) recognizes the important role that fathers 
play in the lives of their children and families; and 
(2) supports the goals and ideals of the Year of 
the Father. 
Æ 
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