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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1036 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1036
Expressing support for the annual designation of the first Saturday
after the Spring Equinox as ``National Day of Play''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 4, 2026
Mr. Bera (for himself and Mr. Flood) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the annual designation of the first Saturday
after the Spring Equinox as ``National Day of Play''.
Whereas the U.S. Surgeon General has formally declared an epidemic of loneliness
and social isolation, highlighting its health impacts such as higher
risk for anxiety, depres-sion, heart disease, dementia, and a shorter
life span;
Whereas people are spending less time with family and friends and are less
involved in their communities;
Whereas a 2022 study found that families spend a significant portion of shared
physical spaces in alone-together time, meaning individuals are present
but engaged in their own activities such as using devices;
Whereas studies suggest that 21 percent of adults in the U.S. feel lonely;
Whereas only about one in three adults receives the recommended amount of
physical activity each week, with less than 5 percent participating in
30 minutes of activity each day;
Whereas community-focused events, shared activities that re-quire collaboration,
and acts of service for the common good can bring a community together
and promote social connection;
Whereas social connectedness reflects the continuum of meet-ing social
connection needs;
Whereas social connection can help reduce the risk of chronic disease and
serious illness;
Whereas social connection can improve our ability to manage stress, anxiety, and
depression;
Whereas social connection encourages healthy eating habits and physical
activity;
Whereas important communities such as neighborhoods, schools, places of worship,
workplaces, and parks and recreation centers, offer social connections;
Whereas play can be defined as an activity that is self-chosen, intrinsically
motivated, and conducted in an active, but relatively non-stressed frame
of mind;
Whereas play is fundamentally connected to social connection as it provides
space to develop and practice essential so-cial skills such as
communication, cooperation, empathy, and negotiation;
Whereas play promotes brain development, executive function skills, stress
reduction, creativity, and problem-solving skills, while also
strengthening relationships and fostering healthy social-emotional
growth;
Whereas play is a proven stress reliever for both children and adults, promoting
overall well-being;
Whereas play reduces obesity and associated diseases;
Whereas children today spend up to 35 percent less time playing freely outdoors
due to a combination of factors including increased screen time;
Whereas excessive device use has detrimental physical and mental health impacts;
Whereas long-term consequences of excessive device use in-clude impaired social
development and cognitive function, particularly in children;
Whereas excessive device use can foster an absent presence, where individuals
are physically together but mentally disengaged, leading to reduced
quality in face-to-face interactions and increased feelings of social
isolation;
Whereas taking a break from electronics and screen time can provide significant
physical, mental, and social benefits;
Whereas a National Day of Play advocates for and celebrates the essential role
of play and social connections;
Whereas a National Day of Play encourages individuals to put down their devices
and participate in community or-ganized events;
Whereas a National Day of Play strengthens community bonds and encourages a
national focus on creating safe and healthy environments for all;
Whereas the Spring Equinox represents the official start of Spring in the
Northern Hemisphere, signifying rebirth, renewal, and balance;
Whereas the Spring Equinox marks when days begin to get longer; and
Whereas March 21st, 2026, is the first Saturday after the Spring Equinox: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) designates a ``National Day of Play'';
(2) expresses support for the annual designation of a
``National Day of Play'';
(3) recognizes the importance of social connection for
mental, physical, and social development; and
(4) encourages people to put their electronics down and
play.
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