[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 37 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 37

   Designating the week of February 7 through February 11, 2005, as 
                  ``National School Counseling Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 3, 2005

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

                           February 10, 2005

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Designating the week of February 7 through February 11, 2005, as 
                  ``National School Counseling Week''.

Whereas the American School Counselor Association has declared the week of 
        February 7 through February 11, 2005, 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 education system of the 
        United States 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 the aftermath of that trauma;
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 students in the United States: 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 of February 7 through February 11, 
2005, as ``National School Counseling Week''.
    (b) Proclamation.--The Senate requests the President to issue a 
proclamation--
            (1) designating the week of February 7 through February 11, 
        2005, 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 in the school and the community at 
        large to prepare students for fulfilling lives as contributing 
        members of society.
                                 <all>