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<PRE>[DOCID: f:hc191ih.txt]






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.
                                 &lt;all&gt;

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