SENATE RESOLUTION
8709
By Senators Hunt, Angel, Bailey, Baumgartner, Becker, Billig, Braun, Brown, Carlyle, Chase, Cleveland, Conway, Darneille, Dhingra, Ericksen, Fain, Fortunato, Frockt, Hasegawa, Hawkins, Hobbs, Honeyford, Keiser, King, Kuderer, Liias, McCoy, Miloscia, Mullet, Nelson, O'Ban, Padden, Palumbo, Pedersen, Ranker, Rivers, Rolfes, Saldaña, Schoesler, Sheldon, Short, Takko, Van De Wege, Wagoner, Walsh, Warnick, Wellman, Wilson, and Zeiger
WHEREAS, The celebration of Children's Day reminds us that children deserve faith, hope, love, and commitment to their future; and
WHEREAS, Since 1925, Children's Day has been celebrated worldwide to promote the welfare of and mutual understanding and togetherness between the world's children; and
WHEREAS, Professor and author Dr. Jess Lair wrote "Children are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded"; and
WHEREAS, The Senate recognizes that children represent the future of our state, nation, and world; and
WHEREAS, This body has observed Children's Day since 1995 to commemorate the special place children hold in our hearts and communities and to remind us to keep children central to our efforts; and
WHEREAS, Writer Richard L. Evans noted "While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about"; and
WHEREAS, Washington state's children must be cherished and deserve a nurturing, protective environment where they are able to flourish and realize their full potential; and
WHEREAS, Educator Maria Montessori said "Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world"; and
WHEREAS, The Senate recognizes that every child in Washington state deserves access to quality education, wholesome recreation, excellent health care, and safe communities; and
WHEREAS, Author C.S. Lewis once observed that "Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work"; and
WHEREAS, Children are the leaders of tomorrow, and it is our solemn obligation to instill in them the necessary values, convictions, goodwill, and fortitude so that they can continue the wonderful legacy of freedom, peace, and prosperity inherited from those who came before us; and
WHEREAS, Every child deserves the chance to succeed, and their future success depends on education and guidance from early childhood onward; and
WHEREAS, There can be no better measure of our governance than the way in which we treat our children; and
WHEREAS, This body recognizes that in order to thrive as a state and nation, we must empower children through policies that foster their success; and
WHEREAS, To that end, the Washington state Department of Children, Youth, & Families was created in 2017 as a comprehensive agency dedicated to the safety, development, and well-being of children through improving service delivery and outcomes, emphasizing prevention, early childhood development, and early intervention, and supporting parents, our children's first teachers; and
WHEREAS, The Senate continues to support the goals of Children's Day and welcomes children into the Senate Chamber so they may witness the legislative process;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage all Washingtonians to celebrate children on Children's Day and throughout the year by spending more quality time with them, by emphasizing their special place in our lives, and by working together daily to strengthen the foundation upon which our children will build and sustain their future.
I, Brad Hendrickson, Secretary of the Senate,
do hereby certify that this is a true and
correct copy of Senate Resolution 8709,
adopted by the Senate
February 19, 2018
BRAD HENDRICKSON
Secretary of the Senate