Newark, N.J. – In observance of El Día de los Niños,” or the Day of the Children, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) introduced a bipartisan resolution officially designating April 30th as a day to celebrate our children and their achievements, and encouraging them to keep learning about other peoples and cultures while reaching for their dreams.

The resolution, which was adopted by the full Senate last Friday, calls upon everyone in the United States to celebrate el Día de los Niños with their children, families, and local communities to honor children as the future of our nation. It encourages everyone to partake in accessible activities that uplift our youth while providing learning opportunities and insight into other cultures.

“I am happy to celebrate El Día de los Niños along with thousands of families both in New Jersey and throughout the nation. We should all spend time reflecting on the contributions that young Latinos make to this nation every day and how this impact will continue into the future.” said Sen. Menendez. “At a time of great uncertainty for the Latino community in our nation, it is an honor to once again introduce this annual bipartisan resolution to highlight the importance of honoring multicultural students throughout the United States. I have always fought, and will continue to fight, to make sure all children have the resources they need to succeed in school regardless of their backgrounds.”

This year’s bipartisan El Día de los Niños resolution was also co-sponsored by Senators Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).

First celebrated in Mexico, El Día de los Niños was established in 1998 in the United States. Its purpose is to highlight the importance of investing in our children and our nation’s future. In the United States specifically, this day also focuses on literacy and the importance of bicultural and bilingual literature.

In 2014, the Census Bureau reported that roughly one fourth of all children in the United States are Hispanic. However, Latino authors and characters are hugely underrepresented in children’s literature. Less than three percent of all children’s books were produced by Latino authors or illustrators. Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress shows that Latino students score lower on reading assessments than their white peers, at all levels of education. This is why celebrating this day and providing opportunities and representation for Latino students is crucial.

The full text of the Resolution is available online here.

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