[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 61 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 61

           Supporting the contributions of Catholic schools.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 26, 2011

   Mr. Lipinski (for himself, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Reed, Mr. 
 Jones, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Akin, Mr. Baca, Mr. 
Donnelly of Indiana, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mrs. Christensen, 
 Mr. Holden, Ms. DeLauro, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Higgins, Mr. 
King of New York, Mr. McCaul, and Mr. Pascrell) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
                               Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
           Supporting the contributions of Catholic schools.

Whereas Catholic schools in the United States are internationally acclaimed for 
        their academic excellence, and provide students with more than an 
        exceptional scholastic education;
Whereas Catholic schools instill 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 2009 to 2010 
        academic year was over 2,100,000 and the student-teacher ratio was 14 to 
        1;
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 Catholic schools are committed to community service, producing graduates 
        who hold ``helping others'' as one of their core values;
Whereas Catholic schools provide a high level of service to the United States by 
        giving students from all regions of the Nation and all socioeconomic 
        backgrounds a strong academic and moral foundation;
Whereas the National Catholic Education Association and the United States 
        Conference of Catholic Bishops designated the week of January 30, 2011, 
        to February 5, 2011, as the 2011 National Catholic Schools Week; and
Whereas the theme for this year's National Catholic Schools Week is ``Catholic 
        Schools: A+ for America'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals of National Catholic Schools Week, 
        an event cosponsored 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; and
            (2) supports the continued dedication of Catholic schools, 
        students, parents, and teachers across the United States 
        towards academic excellence, and supports the key role they 
        play in promoting and ensuring a brighter, stronger future for 
        the Nation.
                                 <all>