SRES-739-116
Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S5998; text: CR S5986)
Sponsored by John Cornyn (R-TX)
What it does
This resolution expresses the Senate's support for designating September 21–25, 2020, as "National Family Service Learning Week." It recognizes family service learning — a multigenerational, community-focused approach to civic participation — as valuable, and encourages the public to support related programs. The resolution does not create law, allocate funding, or establish any government program.
Who benefits
Organizations and nonprofits that run family service learning programs may gain public visibility and informal recognition from a Senate resolution. Families and children who participate in such programs could see increased community awareness of their activities. Community development advocates who promote civic engagement initiatives may benefit from the symbolic endorsement.
Who is hurt
No group faces a direct, concrete negative effect from this resolution. Because it carries no legal force, imposes no mandates, and allocates no funds, there are no identifiable parties who are materially harmed.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that symbolic recognition from the Senate serves a meaningful civic purpose by drawing national attention to family service learning programs that strengthen communities at the local level. They contend that highlighting multigenerational civic engagement encourages more families to participate, potentially expanding the reach of programs that address real community needs. Proponents also note that the resolution costs nothing, imposes no obligations on anyone, and represents a straightforward, uncontroversial way for the Senate to affirm the value of volunteerism and community involvement.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that purely symbolic resolutions consume limited Senate floor time and legislative resources that could be directed toward binding legislation with measurable outcomes. They contend that designating awareness weeks without accompanying funding, program mandates, or accountability measures produces no tangible improvement in communities and amounts to performative action. Critics may also note that the Senate's role under the Constitution is to legislate, and that repeated use of the chamber's time for non-binding proclamations dilutes the significance of formal congressional recognition generally.
Constitutional context
As a simple Senate resolution (S.Res.), this measure does not carry the force of law and does not require House passage or a presidential signature. It falls under the Senate's broad authority to govern its own proceedings and express its institutional views. No Equal Protection, Due Process, Commerce Clause, or other substantive constitutional provisions are implicated. Relevant civil rights cases such as Heart of Atlanta v. US (1964), Shelby County v. Holder (2013), 303 Creative v. Elenis (2023), and SFFA v. Harvard (2023) are not applicable here, as the resolution neither regulates conduct nor confers or removes legal rights.
Checks and balances
This resolution involves no shift in power among the three branches. It is a unilateral expression of the Senate's views, requires no executive action, creates no judicial question, and delegates no authority. The executive branch is not directed to act, and no agency rulemaking is triggered.
Historical precedent
Congress regularly passes non-binding resolutions designating awareness weeks and months for a wide range of causes (e.g., National Volunteer Week, National Service Learning Day). These resolutions follow a long-standing congressional tradition of symbolic recognition and carry no legal effect.