Introduced in House

[Congressional Bills 107th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H. Con. Res. 191 Introduced in House (IH)] 107th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 191 Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the importance of parents and children eating dinner together as a family. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 23, 2001 Mr. Rangel submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce _______________________________________________________________________ CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the importance of parents and children eating dinner together as a family. Whereas the use of illegal drugs and the abuse of alcohol and nicotine constitute the greatest threats to the well-being of America's children; Whereas surveys conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse have consistently found that children and teenagers who routinely eat dinner with their parents are far less likely to use illegal drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes; Whereas teenagers who virtually never eat dinner with their families are 72 percent more likely than the average teenager to use illegal drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes; Whereas the correlation between family dinners and reduced risk for teen substance abuse is well documented; Whereas parental influence is known to be one of the most crucial factors in determining the likelihood of substance abuse by teenagers; and Whereas family dinners have long constituted a substantial pillar of family life in America; Whereas a National Family Day, A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children, on Monday, Septemeber 24, 2001, would encourage families to eat together: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that-- (1) eating dinner together as a family is an important step toward preventing drug, alcohol, and cigarette use by children; and (2) a National Family Day, A Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children, should be established to encourage parents and children to eat dinner together regularly as a family.