[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 292 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 292

 Designating the week beginning February 2, 2004, as ``National School 
                           Counseling Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 27, 2004

 Mrs. Murray (for herself and Mr. Biden, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Johnson, Mr. 
 Dodd, and Mr. Feingold) submitted the following resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

                            February 2, 2004

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Designating the week beginning February 2, 2004, as ``National School 
                           Counseling Week''.

Whereas the American School Counselor Association has declared the week 
        beginning February 2, 2004, as ``National School Counseling Week'';
Whereas the Senate has recognized the importance of school counseling through 
        the inclusion of elementary and secondary school counseling programs in 
        the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965;
Whereas school counselors have long advocated that the American education system 
        must leave no child behind and must provide opportunities for every 
        student;
Whereas personal and social growth results in increased academic achievement;
Whereas school counselors help develop well-rounded students by guiding them 
        through their academic, personal, social, and career development;
Whereas school counselors were instrumental in helping students, teachers, and 
        parents deal with the trauma of terrorism inflicted on the United States 
        on September 11, 2001, and its aftermath;
Whereas students face myriad challenges every day, including peer pressure, 
        depression, and school violence;
Whereas school counselors are usually the only professionals in a school 
        building that are trained in both education and mental health;
Whereas the roles and responsibilities of school counselors are often 
        misunderstood, and the school counselor position is often among the 
        first to be eliminated in order to meet budgetary constraints;
Whereas the national average ratio of students to school counselors of 485 to 1 
        is more than double the 250 to 1 ratio recommended by the American 
        School Counselor Association, the American Counseling Association, the 
        American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, 
        and other organizations; and
Whereas the celebration of ``National School Counseling Week'' would increase 
        awareness of the important and necessary role school counselors play in 
        the lives of the Nation's students: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK.

    (a) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that the 
President should designate the week beginning February 2, 2004, as 
``National School Counseling Week''.
    (b) Proclamation.--The Senate requests the President to issue a 
proclamation--
            (1) designating the week beginning February 2, 2004, as 
        ``National School Counseling Week''; and
            (2) calling on the people of the United States and 
        interested groups to observe the week with appropriate 
        ceremonies and activities that promote awareness of the role 
        school counselors perform within the school and the community 
        at large to prepare students for fulfilling lives as 
        contributing members of society.
                                 <all>