S.Res. 102 — Introduced in Senate

III 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 102 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 18, 2013 Mrs. McCaskill (for herself and Mr. Blunt) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of Saint Louis, Missouri, as the National Chess Capital of the United States to enhance awareness of the educational benefits of chess and to encourage schools and community centers to engage in chess programs to promote problem-solving, critical thinking, spatial awareness, and goal setting. Whereas, in 2009 and 2011, the United States Chess Federation awarded Saint Louis, Missouri, the title of Chess City of the Year and, in 2010, the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis was named Chess Club of the Year; Whereas Saint Louis hosted the United States Chess Championship and United States Women’s Chess Championship in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 and the United States Junior Closed Chess Championship in 2010, 2011, and 2012, which are the three most prestigious, invitation-only chess tournaments in the United States; Whereas the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis opened its doors in July 2008, and since that date, Saint Louis has become widely recognized as the emerging chess center of the United States; Whereas chess promotes problem-solving, higher-level thinking skills, and improved self-esteem; Whereas the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis brings the educational benefits of chess to thousands of students in more than 100 schools and community centers across the greater Saint Louis area, targeting more than 3,300 students in 2011 and 2012; Whereas the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis offers free classes and lectures, weekly tournaments, private lessons, summer camps, and field trips to expose school-aged children to the benefits of chess; Whereas the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis provides instructors, equipment, and curricula to after-school programs in the greater Saint Louis area; Whereas the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis offers a coaching program to create a sustainable network of participating after-school chess programs; and Whereas Saint Louis has become a hub for developing chess skills in students from across the United States: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate— (1) expresses support for the designation of Saint Louis, Missouri, as the National Chess Capital of the United States; (2) encourages the people of Saint Louis to continue promoting the educational benefits of chess among school-aged children; and (3) encourages all schools and community centers in the United States to engage in chess programs to promote problem-solving, critical thinking, spatial awareness, and goal setting.