,,iii  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session 
,s4 ,,res4 #gba  ,,in ,,the ,,senate    
,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states  ,september
 #bd1 #bjbj,mr4 ,grassley 7for himself1 
,ms4 ,stabenow1 ,mr4 ,alexander1 ,mr4   
,enzi1 ,mr4 ,lankford1 ,mr4 ,braun1     
,mrs4 ,blackburn1 and ,mrs4 ,capito7    
submitted the following resolution2     
which was considered and agreed to      
,,resolution  ,designating the week     
beginning ,october #ah1 #bjbj1 as       
,national ,character ,counts ,week4     
,whereas the well-being of the ,united  
,states requires that the young people  
of the ,united ,states become an        
involved1 caring citizenry of good      
character2 ,whereas the character       
education of children has become more   
urgent1 as violence by and against youth
 increasingly threatens the physical and
 psychological well-being of the people 
of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas1 more  
than ever1 children need strong and     
constructive guidance from their        
families and their communities1         

including from schools1 youth           
organizations1 religious institutions1  
and civic groups2 ,whereas the character
 of a nation is only as strong as the   
character of its individual citizens2   
,whereas the public good is advanced    
when young individuals are taught the   
importance of good character and the    
positive effects that good character can
 have in personal relationships1 in     
school1 and in the workplace2 ,whereas  
scholars and educators agree that       
individuals do not automatically develop
 good character and that1 therefore1    
institutions and individuals that       
influence youth must make conscientious 
efforts to help young individuals       
develop the essential traits and        
characteristics that comprise good      
character2 ,whereas1 although character 
development is1 first and foremost1 an  
obligation of families1 the efforts of  
faith communities1 schools1 and youth1  
civic1 and human service organizations  
also play an important role in fostering

 and promoting good character2 ,whereas 
,congress encourages students1 teachers1
 parents1 youth1 and community leaders  
to recognize the importance of character
 education in preparing young           
individuals to play a role in           
determining the future of the ,united   
,states2 ,whereas effective character   
education is based on core ethical      
values1 which form the foundation of a  
democratic society2 ,whereas examples of
 character are trustworthiness1 respect1
 responsibility1 fairness1 caring1      
citizenship1 and honesty2 ,whereas      
elements of character transcend         
cultural1 religious1 and socioeconomic  
differences2 ,whereas the character and 
conduct of youth reflect the character  
and conduct of society1 and1 therefore1 
every adult has the responsibility to   
teach and model ethical values and every
 social institution has the             
responsibility to promote the           
development of good character2 ,whereas 
,congress encourages individuals and    

organizations1 especially those that    
have an interest in the education and   
training of the young individuals in the
 ,united ,states1 to adopt the elements 
of character as intrinsic to the        
well-being of individuals1 communities1 
and society2 ,whereas many schools in   
the ,united ,states recognize the need1 
and have taken steps1 to integrate the  
values of their communities into        
teaching activities2 and ,whereas the   
establishment of ,national ,character   
,counts ,week1 during which individuals1
 families1 schools1 youth organizations1
 religious institutions1 civic groups1  
and other organizations focus on        
character education1 is of great benefit
 to the ,united ,states3 ,now1          
therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate--    
7#a7 designates the week beginning      
,october #ah1 #bjbj1 as ,national       
,character ,counts ,week2 and  7#b7     
calls upon the people of the ,united    
,states and interested groups-- 7,a7 to 
embrace the elements of character       

identified by local schools and         
communities1 such as trustworthiness1   
respect1 responsibility1 fairness1      
caring1 and citizenship2 and  7,b7 to   
observe ,national ,character ,counts    
,week with appropriate ceremonies1      
programs1 and activities4