[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1008 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1008

            Honoring the contributions of Catholic schools.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 13, 2010

   Mr. Lipinski (for himself, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Akin, Mr. 
 Austria, Mr. Baca, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Cao, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Davis 
  of Kentucky, Mr. Donnelly of Indiana, Mr. Driehaus, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. 
  Gingrey of Georgia, Mr. Hare, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Holt, Mr. Jones, Mr. 
   Latta, Mr. Manzullo, Ms. McCollum, Mr. McCotter, Mr. McHenry, Mr. 
   McMahon, Mr. Michaud, Mr. Patrick J. Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mr. 
   Quigley, Mr. Rothman of New Jersey, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Sestak, Mr. 
    Souder, Mr. Stupak, Mr. Teague, Mr. Tiberi, Mr. Wilson of South 
 Carolina, Mr. Inglis, Mr. Ruppersberger, and Mr. Courtney) submitted 
   the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
            Honoring the contributions of Catholic schools.

Whereas Catholic schools in the United States are internationally acclaimed for 
        their academic excellence, but provide students with more than an 
        exceptional scholastic education;
Whereas Catholic schools ensure a broad, values-added education emphasizing the 
        lifelong development of moral, intellectual, physical, and social values 
        in young people in the United States;
Whereas the total Catholic school student enrollment for the 2008-2009 academic 
        year was nearly 2,200,000 and the student-teacher ratio was 14 to 1;
Whereas Catholic schools teach a diverse group of students;
Whereas nearly 30 percent of school children enrolled in Catholic schools are 
        from minority backgrounds, and nearly 15 percent are non-Catholics;
Whereas Catholic schools produce students strongly dedicated to their faith, 
        values, families, and communities by providing an intellectually 
        stimulating environment rich in spiritual, character, and moral 
        development;
Whereas the Catholic high school graduation rate is 99 percent, with 80 percent 
        of graduates attending four-year colleges and 17 percent attending two-
        year colleges or technical schools;
Whereas in the 1972 pastoral message concerning Catholic education, the National 
        Conference of Catholic Bishops stated: ``Education is one of the most 
        important ways by which the Church fulfills its commitment to the 
        dignity of the person and building of community. Community is central to 
        education ministry, both as a necessary condition and an ardently 
        desired goal. The educational efforts of the Church, therefore, must be 
        directed to forming persons-in-community; for the education of the 
        individual Christian is important not only to his solitary destiny, but 
        also the destinies of the many communities in which he lives.'';
Whereas the week of January 31, 2010, to February 6, 2010, has been designated 
        as Catholic Schools Week by the National Catholic Educational 
        Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops;
Whereas the Nation's Catholic schools emphasize the lifelong development of 
        moral, intellectual, physical, and social values in addition to academic 
        excellence;
Whereas Catholic schools educate a diverse group of students from all regions of 
        the country; and
Whereas the theme for this year's Catholic Schools Week 2010 is ``Dividends for 
        Life--Faith, Knowledge, Discipline, and Morals'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals of Catholic Schools Week, an event 
        co-sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association 
        and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and 
        established to recognize the vital contributions of the 
        thousands of Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the 
        United States;
            (2) applauds the National Catholic Educational Association 
        and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on their 
        selection of a theme that all can celebrate; and
            (3) congratulates Catholic schools, students, parents, and 
        teachers across the Nation for their ongoing contributions to 
        education, and for the key role they play in promoting and 
        ensuring a brighter, stronger future for this Nation.
                                 <all>