[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 9, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H2726-H2734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENSE OF THE HOUSE IN SUPPORT OF AMERICA'S TEACHERS
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 492) expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives in support of America's teachers.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 492
Whereas the foundation of American freedom and democracy is
a strong, effective system of education in which every child
can learn in a safe and nurturing environment;
Whereas a first-rate education system depends on a
partnership between parents, principals, teachers, and
children;
Whereas much of the success of our Nation during the
American Century is the result of the hard work and
dedication of teachers across the land;
Whereas, in addition to their families, knowledgeable and
skillful teachers can have a profound impact on a child's
early development and future success;
Whereas, while many people spend their lives building
careers, teachers spend their careers building lives;
Whereas our Nation's teachers serve our children beyond the
call of duty as coaches, mentors, and advisors without regard
to fame or fortune; and
Whereas across this land nearly 3 million men and women
experience the joys of teaching young minds the virtues of
reading, writing, and arithmetic: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) honors and recognizes the unique and important
achievements of America's teachers; and
(2) urges all Americans to take a moment to thank and pay
tribute to our Nation's teachers.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. McKeon) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Martinez) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon).
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2\1/2\ minutes.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this important resolution in
recognition of our Nation's teachers, and I would like to start off by
simply saying thank you.
Thank you to all of the teachers who have shaped the lives of
American school children. Thank you for your selfless and sometimes
exhausting commitment to the children of this country, and thank you
for protecting America's future.
Mr. Speaker, I believe in many cases that we take teachers for
granted and simply expect them to single-handedly prepare our students
to face the challenges of life and become productive members of
society.
Here in Congress, we have a responsibility to ensure that Federal
education programs allow local officials and schools the flexibility to
make decisions based upon their specific needs. Again, I want to stress
the flexibility is the key.
Last year, in bipartisan fashion, the House passed the Teacher
Empowerment Act to help address the needs of local schools and teachers
relating to their recruiting, hiring and training of teachers.
While this legislation requires school districts to both decrease
class size and improve the quality of training for teachers, it leaves
the exact balance between the two at the discretion of those at the
local level who best know the needs of their schools and communities.
I know I am not alone when I say I was privileged to have teachers
who had a profound impact on my development, not only as a student but
as a person. One of the greatest rewards of my job now is the
opportunity to visit
[[Page H2727]]
schools and witness the great work that our teachers are doing and the
difference they are making.
It is almost universally true that every successful person,
regardless of their field, can include the role of teachers as
significant in the process of achieving that success.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to reiterate my thanks to all the
teachers across our Nation who mean so much to our children and,
consequently, to every citizen of this country both now and in the
future.
Teachers certainly deserve recognition, and I am honored to be able
to be here on National Teacher Day to associate myself with this
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 492, which recognizes the
unique and important contributions of America's teachers and urges all
Americans to pay tribute to our Nation's teachers.
Were it not for the benefit of an outstanding teacher, many of us
would not have been as successful as we have been. When I was in the
sixth grade, I had a very dedicated and perceptive teacher named Ms.
Casson.
Mr. Speaker, I will never forget Ms. Casson. Ms. Casson saw through
my poor attitude and recognized it as my frustration over losing my
battle with math.
We were doing a math test and I didn't understand decimals,
fractions, et cetera, and instead of doing the lesson, I was doing
drawings I was making drawings, and she snuck up behind me and came
down with a ruler across my hands and woke me up. And from there, she
took the time to work with me and would not let me give up on myself;
although, I gave her cause to do so on many occasions.
Due to Ms. Casson's patience and persistence, I was not only able to
conquer my difficulties with math, but also master other subjects as
well.
As a result, I was able to finish school in an era when most young
Hispanics did not finish high school, much less receive postsecondary
education.
My experience with Ms. Casson made me realize that a good teacher can
mean the difference between success and failure for a student, not only
in school, but in life.
Recent studies show that teacher quality is the single most important
factor in student achievement. However, today's teachers face greater
challenges than they ever have before.
Classes are larger and more unmanageable. Classroom space is
inadequate and often in poor and even unsafe conditions. And discipline
problems and school violence are an all-time high.
On top of it, we know the teacher candidates often do not receive
adequate training; new teachers are not supported by their school
systems; and current teachers are not provided with meaningful
professional development. Under these circumstances, even Ms. Casson
would have had problems.
Mr. Speaker, Congress tried to address a number of those issues, in
which the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) alluded to, during the
1998 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act by creating the Loan
Forgiveness Program for individuals who agree to teach for 5 years in a
high-risk school district and by encouraging schools of education to
improve the quality of their teacher education programs.
We have another opportunity to provide greatly needed support to new
and current teachers through the reauthorization of ESEA. We can
provide them with smaller classes, safe and adequately-equipped
classrooms, and the support of mentor teachers and relevant
professional development. However, while I have no doubt that every
Member of Congress supports helping our Nation's teachers, ESEA is
currently caught up in a tangle bipartisan politics in both House and
Senate; therefore, I suggest that if we really are sincere about
recognizing paying tribute to our Nation's teachers, that we not only
pass H. Res. 492, but also put aside our differences and pass ESEA that
includes resources necessary for teachers to succeed in today's
classrooms.
As such, I rise in support of Ms. Casson and the millions of teachers
like her who are doing perhaps the most difficult and important job in
America and in support of H. Res. 492 and an ESA bill that we can all
be proud of.
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), the chairman of the Committee on Education
and the Workforce.
Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the
time.
First of all, I want to congratulate the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms.
Granger) who was the driving force behind bringing this resolution to
the floor.
Mr. Speaker, after parents, whether the child succeeds or fails
academically will, in a great degree, be determined by the quality of
the teacher in the classroom. This is why our Even Start Program and
all family literacy programs work to help make sure the parent becomes
child's first and most important teacher.
This is why, in a bipartisan way, the Committee on Education and the
Workforce brought to the floor of the House the Teacher Empowerment
Act, so that the second most important person in the child's academic
life, the teacher, can be the most qualified person to fill that role.
I hope the Senate will pass that bill so that it can be presented to
the President for his signature.
Public school teaching is the most difficult and yet important job in
America today, and I join my colleagues in paying tribute to the
dedication to achieving the goal of a totally literate America, as I do
for all teachers, private, parochial school, as well as teachers of the
home school.
I think of Ms. Yost when I think of the teaching profession. Ms. Yost
was my grade 1-4 teacher in a one-room school, teaching all four
grades, where she had an average of 40 students per year. She was the
art teacher, the music teacher, the reading teacher, the writing
teacher, the arithmetic teacher, as well as the counselor, the
psychologist and, yes, even the custodian. She was brilliant and
dedicated and one of the role models who caused me to become a public
school teacher, counselor, and administrator for 22 years.
I thank the teachers for their dedication. America's future lies very
heavily on their shoulders.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Baca).
(Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my distinguished colleague the
gentleman from Southern California (Mr. Martinez) for yielding me the
time. I want to commend him for his hard work on behalf of education
and support of America's teachers.
Mr. Speaker, I want to also recognize my colleague the gentleman from
Southern California (Chairman McKeon). I commend him for his hard work
on the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training and Life-long
Learning.
I also want to commend our colleague the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms.
Granger) for sponsoring this important education resolution.
Education is an important aspect of America. Education is the
foundation and it is the fruits that we bear in improving the quality
of life. Education defines who we are.
I want to commend many of our teachers who are out there today in our
public schools. As it has been stated, they are teaching in an area
where it is very difficult, conditions are not the best, they are
teaching in diverse areas with a multitude of many languages.
I believe that if a lot of us look at America and where we are today,
we are here today because we have had good teachers that were willing
to sacrifice and are willing to teach us and are willing to work with
us.
Too often in today's society we fail to recognize these teachers that
are willing to give of their time and effort to make sure that the
quality of life is improved. When we look at every business person,
every individual in our society, they have been touched by some teacher
some way along the lines.
Whether it had been in elementary, whether it had been in
intermediate, whether it had been a secondary, or whether it had been
at a community college or State college or university,
[[Page H2728]]
it was these teachers who cared and motivated these students, who gave
them the self-esteem that said that they have the confidence to go on
in society and be what they want.
That is why it is important that we today remember and recognize and
support this H. Res. 492 in distinguishing this week as the 15th Annual
Teachers Appreciation Week.
America's investment in education represents an investment in our
future. The measures of investment we make in our children's future
reflects America's commitment to our future growth and future strength.
On Friday, in conjunction with Teachers Appreciation Week, I am
sponsoring an educational summit in San Bernardino. This summit will
bring together teachers and students, along with officials of the
public and private sector. This summit will explore education in the
new millennium and improve technology in teacher training.
As we seek to show our appreciation of America's teachers, it is
important that we give them the tools needed to get the job done.
Last week I introduced legislation to give teachers added help by
bringing technology into the classroom and training teachers as they
prepare for the 21st century. This bill will help teachers achieve the
technology training that they will need in order to educate students
today and tomorrow. We must demonstrate to America and recognize and
give teachers the honor they fully deserve.
I strongly urge support of our teachers. I appreciate this
resolution.
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the chief deputy whip.
Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today on National
Teachers Day in honor of this important day.
I was able to cosponsor this legislation along with the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Clement), my co-chair of the House Education
Caucus, with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling) and
the gentleman from California (Chairman McKeon) and others.
One out of five Members of the House, including the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Granger), who drafted this resolution, have been full-time
educators at one time in their career. Members of this House know from
personal experience what it is like to be in the classroom, to be an
administrator, to work with the responsibilities of teachers.
This resolution honors and recognizes the unique and important
achievement of America's teachers. It urges all Americans to take a
moment to thank teachers and pay tribute to our Nation's teachers.
I would like to mention just briefly a teacher in the Springfield
school district that is being recognized this week as the Teacher of
the Year in that district.
{time} 1545
Ms. Mae Tribble originally aspired to be a pediatric nurse so she
could help others in need. However, while she was in college at
Southwest Missouri State University and while working with the
Springfield Park Board, she discovered the challenge and the reward of
teaching. She has now taught for 27 years. She currently teaches the
second grade at Pittman Elementary School. She has taught at other
schools in the Springfield district and the Strafford district. Her
education includes teaching first grade, second grade, disabilities K-
6, reading and math. She is an outstanding teacher.
Teachers make a difference in people's lives, Mr. Speaker. They
expand our only expandable resource, the potential of young people, the
potential of our country. I am glad we recognize them today.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Clement).
Mr. CLEMENT. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez),
who has served us so well in this House and been a real leader on
education issues for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with the gentlewoman from Texas
(Ms. Granger) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) in
introducing this legislation to honor America's teachers. I know this
body often disagrees on various issues but I think this is one of them
that we can sure work together on. As cochair of the House Education
Caucus, a former college President and a parent of two teenage
daughters, I am pleased to take this opportunity to honor the
outstanding work our teachers do every day. I fondly remember many of
the teachers who instilled in me and in my children the love of
learning and the desire to set and obtain goals.
Few other professionals touch so many people in such a lasting way as
teachers do. Teacher Appreciation Day affords us the opportunity to
recognize the contributions that educators make to our community and to
thank those special teachers who have made a difference in our lives
and the lives of our children.
I would like to especially honor the teachers of the year in my
congressional district. Jennifer Snoot has taught in Tennessee's public
schools for 9 years and is currently at Old Center Elementary School.
Janet Stout, a teacher at Cameron Middle School, has taught for 14
years. And Martha Burton, who teaches at Pearl-Cohn Business Magnet
High School, has taught for 15 years. All of these three are dedicated
teachers who have epitomized the dedication and commitment of America's
teachers and helped our children so very much.
There is no more important or challenging job than that of our
Nation's teachers. Teachers open children's minds to the magic of
ideas, knowledge and dreams. They keep American democracy alive by
laying the foundation for good citizenship. And they fill many roles as
listeners, explorers, role models and mentors, encouraging our children
to reach farther than they would have thought possible. Teachers
continue to influence us long after our school days are only memories.
Seldom do we recognize the importance of their job or the depth of
their commitment to our children. While many people spend their lives
building careers, teachers spend their careers building lives. For this
they deserve our support, praise and gratitude.
Teachers often put in countless extra hours outside of the classroom
preparing lessons, reading and correcting papers and working with
students who need just a little extra help. They do this because they
love their job, care about their students and are committed to ensuring
that our children have the best chance at success. All this under often
trying circumstances and with less than adequate resources and support.
I thank the thousands of teachers who have dedicated themselves to
educating and believing in our children. I encourage all of my
colleagues to take a moment as the school year winds to a close to
thank those teachers who have made a difference in the lives of our
children and our children's children. They are truly the unsung heroes
of our communities.
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Granger), the author of this resolution.
Ms. GRANGER. I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me
this time.
Mr. Speaker, Benjamin Disraeli once said, ``The fate of our Nation
depends on the education of our children.'' Today I rise to honor the
men and women who determine the fate of our Nation and our children,
its teachers. These are the men and women who rise each day to make a
difference. They go to work early, working with children who need a
little extra help. They find the creativity to keep algebra fresh and
at the end of the day they even may wipe away a few tears. These are
the men and women who teach our children not only how to earn a living
but also how to make a life.
I have one of those special teachers in my district. Her name is
Carole Brown and she is a second grade teacher. Carole was recently
nominated Birdville Independent School District Teacher of the Year.
Her coworkers wrote in her nomination that Carole is ``the teacher that
every child deserves.'' They said Carole finds the time and resources
to meet every child's individual needs.
One parent of a special needs child said in a letter to Carole:
I often think of the difficulty we experienced last year in
dealing with my son's disruptive behavior prior to his
attention deficit hyperactivity diagnosis. My heart went
[[Page H2729]]
out to my son and you each day as I observed class. Your
encouragement gave me the desire and strength to seek the
medical attention my son needed. My son is on the road to
success now. My heartfelt appreciation and respect for you is
difficult to express in words. I pray that I have conveyed a
portion of that gratitude to you. I hope the very best for
you and I praise God for your dedication in providing
excellence in education.
Mr. Speaker, Carole Brown truly believes every child can learn. She
is the embodiment of the Texas education philosophy, leave no child
behind. Today I salute Carole Brown and the other men and women out
there who are molding our future by teaching our children as my own
mother did for 47 years and as I did for 9.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Blagojevich).
Mr. BLAGOJEVICH. Mr. Speaker, we have done a lot of talking the last
few years about renewing our investment in education. School
construction, computers and Internet access, school safety, up-to-date
textbooks and library books, all of these are vital pieces in our
efforts to improve local schools. But too often in this debate, Mr.
Speaker, we have failed to focus on the need to invest in our most
valuable resource, teachers. Next to a good parent, I cannot think of
anyone more important to a child than a good teacher. A good teacher
can provide guidance and help reinforce lessons in character and values
taught by parents. And a good teacher can open the minds of children
and show them that the pursuit of their dreams can be more than just a
dream. But somehow our society has devalued teaching. We no longer
place teachers on a pedestal of honor and respect. Instead we lionize
professional athletes. We deify movie stars. Even lawyers and
politicians whom most people, with all due respect for those of us
here, do not like are viewed by children as people who have actually
made it in America.
But they do not view teachers that way. Today a common cliche is,
``Those who can do and those who can't teach.'' Think about what that
statement means. We have so devalued the profession of teaching that we
consider it a refuge to those who cannot make it elsewhere. That is so
wrong. If we in the Congress are going to talk about how we are going
to make our country a better place for our children, then elevating
teachers must be a central part of that discussion. We must give
teachers the tools to succeed. Talk to a teacher and she will tell you
that she is more interested in additional training and professional
development than she is in more money. I think good teachers should
have both.
Last year with the help of Speaker Hastert we were able to
appropriate money for a teachers academy for the Chicago Public
Schools. Congress needs to continue to support efforts like this, both
to improve our schools and to demonstrate to our young people that
America recognizes what teaching is, a noble profession worthy of their
pursuit.
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Isakson), a strong member of the Committee on Education
and the Workforce.
Mr. ISAKSON. I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) for
the introduction and for yielding me the time.
Mr. Speaker, I am particularly honored to stand as a member of the
Committee on Education and the Workforce and thank the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Granger) for bringing this measure to floor and thank the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) for his better than two
decades' commitment to America's teachers, America's children and most
recently his successful guidance to the passage of our commitment with
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. And I associate myself
with the remarks of the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez) and my
sincere hope in addition to our verbal tribute that we pay tribute to
education by finally passing the reauthorization to ESEA in a
bipartisan fashion in the interest of all children.
But if we read House Resolution 492, it has two parts. First to thank
all teachers and then second to take a moment, every American, to thank
a teacher for the commitment that they make. In my remaining time, I
would like to do just that by paying tribute to Ms. Linda Morrison, an
advanced placement history, government and international affairs
teacher at North Cobb High School in Acworth, Georgia, a woman who for
better than two decades has brought government and history alive to
children of great diversity, not of great economic prosperity. She has
made our history and this government real. Year in and year out, her
students go to New York and win or place in Model U.N. and throughout
public service in our State today, many of her students serve their
fellow man because of the inspiration of Linda Morrison.
But like most and like all of us, she has achieved this through her
difficulties. In the last 2 years, the greatest 2 years of her career,
she has inspired children, led them to entering and winning the Model
U.N., been a model teacher in Georgia and fought breast cancer
successfully. Through chemotherapy and all its terrors, day in and day
out remaining in the classroom to teach our children. I want to take my
responsibility in this resolution to thank that teacher, Ms. Linda
Morrison, who to me exemplifies the countless thousands of teachers in
Georgia and in America who teach and educate our children.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman
from California (Ms. Woolsey).
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in doing
two things, honoring our teachers and saying thank you to our ranking
member the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez) for all he has done
for education and as usual complimenting the gentleman from California
(Mr. McKeon) for what he does.
I am pleased to join my colleagues in expressing my strong support
and deep appreciation for America's teachers. Mr. Speaker, in
appreciation of all of our teachers, I would like to suggest that we in
Congress give them a gift. The idea came from a teacher in my district
who wrote an article about what he thinks is wrong with American
education.
In this article, which I will include for the Record, Paul
Eggenberger writes that the problem with our education system is not
the students, is not the administrators, and it is certainly not the
teachers. The problem, and I quote Mr. Eggenberger, is with our
culture. Families are fractured, they are too busy to care, they are in
a hurry to raise academic standards, a hurry to eat, a hurry to get to
work, a hurry to get to the soccer game, a hurry to get home.
He goes on: ``We don't have time for our kids, to listen to them, to
get involved in their lives, to discipline and to guide them.''
There is much we can do right here in Congress to support families so
that they will have the time their children need. Initiatives such as
paid leave for new parents, coordinated family services at schools and
universal school breakfast are just a few good examples of how to give
parents more time with their children and give children the attention
and the support they need to be good students and good citizens.
Mr. Speaker, I include the Eggenberger article in its entirety:
[From the Press Democrat, May 4, 2000]
A Former Teacher Tells Why He Left
(By Paul Eggenberger)
Ten years ago, with the encouragement of my friends and
family, I decided to respond to the call to teach. I sold a
successful business, invested $20,000 in my education and
enrolled in the teacher credential program at Sonoma State
University. Now, after eight years, I have resigned my
teaching position. Given the current discussion about
education by the various ``experts'' I thought it might be
useful if I shared a few observations.
The problem with our educational system is not the
students. It is unfair for adults to blame children for our
failure to educate them. They are only responding to the
people and activities that affect their lives. They don't
make the video games, TV programs, books, magazines, sports,
friends, music and schools that they are exposed to.
The problem with our educational system is not the
teachers. They are doing the best they can when you consider
the low wages, lack of supplies, poor and outdated textbooks,
insufficient curriculum materials and lack of administrative
support. I well remember my shock upon entering the school
environment after owning my own business for 15 years. Any
employee who ever worked for me would have quit within a few
days if placed into the environment of today's teachers. The
norm in the school I worked in was at least 50 hours a week
not including
[[Page H2730]]
committees, sporting events, clubs, fund-raisers, PTA
meetings, etc. That means the average teacher with the
equivalent education of a master's degree earned about $15 an
hour.
The problem with our educational system is not the
administration. They are in a constant juggling match to make
the best of insufficient funding, high turnover and
unrealistic demands from the state. No corporation or dotcom
would think of trying to improve its product without
investing in capital improvement or research and development.
But that's what our schools must do because of lack of
funding and unclear direction from the state.
The problem is with our culture. Families are fractured.
They are too busy to care. They are in a hurry to raise
academic standards, a hurry to eat, a hurry to get to the
soccer game, a hurry to get to work, a hurry to get home, a
hurry to get rich. Parents are self-involved or stressed out.
Single moms can't get child support from irresponsible,
absent dads. TV has replaced conversation and literacy. Sex
has replaced love.
We don't have time for our kids, to listen to them. To get
involved in their lives. To develop deep relationships with
them. To discipline and guide them. To teach them wisdom. To
teach them respect. To teach by example.
No, instead we have taught them to look out for themselves,
to get gratification from video games and gangs, drugs and
sex, fast food and fast cars. To take the easiest way out. To
stay uninvolved, uncommitted, unloving. To always blame
someone else. After all, that's what adults do. Is it any
wonder they don't want to learn?
I came to Congress seven years ago determined to make education our
nation's number one priority. Today, as a Member of the Education
Committee, I remain committed to that goal and I spend much of my time
looking at ways we can tackle the problems in our schools.
But while we in Congress focus a lot on what's wrong with education,
we must remember that there's a lot that's right.
Every day, in classrooms around the country, teachers are reaching
out and connecting with their students. We are lucky to have
outstanding teachers around the country preparing our children for a
successful future.
Despite new challenges and increasing demands, teachers in my
District come to school everyday determined to make a difference.
Today, National Teachers Day, I'd like to honor Marin County Teacher
of the Year Mary Beth Vanosky and Sonoma County Teacher of the Year
Susie Conte--who are two examples of the hard-working teachers we are
fortunate to have in the North Bay.
As a teacher with 25 years' experience, Ms. Vanosky doesn't consider
teaching her fifth through eighth grade students her only job.
Throughout her career, Ms. Vanosky has consistently served as a master
teacher for student teachers and a mentor teacher to colleagues who
were either new to teaching or new to their grade level. She knows that
learning truly is a life-long process. For that reason, she hasn't
stopped playing the role of student herself. Despite her years at the
head of the class, Ms. Vanosky is constantly expanding her know-how
with post-graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, Arizona
State University and San Francisco State University.
In Sonoma County, Susie Conte gets high marks from students,
colleagues and parents for the work she does teaching preschool and
helping special needs students at Bennett Valley Elementary School. She
has developed education programs for autistic children, formed a
support group for parents of special-needs children and helped make
classrooms safer for all children.
Even after the school bell rings, Ms. Conte keeps giving. Once her
school work is done, Ms. Conte makes time to volunteer with the Special
Olympics and the YWCA's Women's Safe House.
Mary Beth Vanosky and Susie Conte are just two examples of what's
right about American education. While we have set aside National
Teachers Day to pay tribute to educators, we must keep in mind that
everyday teachers like Ms. Vanosky and Ms. Conte are working to make
the future bright.
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts), a good friend of education.
Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues for sponsoring
this resolution to honor America's teachers. This week we honor those
who challenge our children to learn and grow and prepare to be leaders
of tomorrow. When I graduated from college, my first job was teaching
in public schools, and I have never forgotten the lessons I learned in
the classroom years ago. Teachers, second only to parents, have the
future of our Nation in their hands. This resolution honoring and
recognizing the unique and important achievements of our teachers urges
Americans to take a moment to thank and pay tribute to them.
Elaine Savukas is a teacher from my district in Hempfield High
School, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She teaches an AP government
class and guides her students as they participate in the We the People
competition. Each of her students is a scholar, if you will, in the
Constitution, able to match wits with students across America. I can
hardly think of a better way to prepare a student for a life of good
citizenship than to challenge them to know the ins and outs of our
unique form of government.
{time} 1600
America is a great country because of our foundational document, the
Constitution. But America is also great because of the generations of
dedicated teachers like Elaine Savukas. I want to thank Elaine today
for her dedication, her professionalism, and there are countless
thousands of other teachers in America who deserve equal thanks. Let us
pass this resolution, express to America's teachers just how much we
appreciate what they do every day.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge).
Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me
this time.
Mr. Speaker, as the father of an outstanding public school teacher
and as a former State superintendent of my State schools, I rise in
strong support of this resolution and I am a proud cosponsor of it as
well, which really expresses the sense of this House for the support of
America's teachers. I also want to thank all of the teachers who have
touched my life through the years and made a difference.
Mr. Speaker, what a difference a couple of years can make. Not long
ago, this Chamber's majority engaged in teacher-bashing with reckless
abandon. Rather than praise teachers as this bipartisan resolution
rightly does, until recently, politicians in this Congress routinely
took potshots at teachers and bad-mouthed our public schools for
partisan gain. So today's resolution is a welcome change from the past.
Mr. Speaker, talk really is cheap. Although this resolution is a very
nice statement, this Congress needs to do more than talk the talk. We
must walk the walk. This Congress must pass the many important
legislative initiatives that are bottled up in one committee or
another.
With our schools bursting at the seams and with our children crowded
into trailers, this House must act on common sense school construction
legislation, and as our teacher shortage is critical in this country
and reaching a crisis proportion, we need to pass legislation for
100,000 teachers. As we debate the issues of youth violence and values
in our society, this Congress needs to pass character legislation to
help our children learn the lessons of respect, responsibility,
honesty, integrity, courage, kindness, and those basic values that we
look to.
Mr. Speaker, today is National Teachers Day, and this week is the
15th annual National Teachers Appreciation Week. But every day should
be Teachers Appreciation Day. We need to raise the standards in this
country for the profession of educators. Congress must exert the
leadership and the moral authority to give every teacher in this
country the high regard that he or she richly deserves.
This resolution is a good step in that direction, and I commend its
bipartisan support. However, we must take action to support our
teachers and pass legislation that will improve education for our
children.
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Shimkus), a good friend of education.
Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today as
cosponsor of House Resolution 492 which recognizes and honors America's
teachers. As a former high school teacher myself, I understand the hard
work and values teachers add to a child's life.
At the end of this month, I will have the opportunity to attend the
graduation of Collinsville class of 2000 when I will receive the Alumni
Award and I will have the chance to address the students and the
graduates. I will thank administrators Ron Ganshin and Rees Hoskin and
Margaret Linder. But more
[[Page H2731]]
importantly, I will thank my teachers, Ron Adams, Kathy Baker, Richard
Crabtree, Lloyd Dunne, Fay Fultz, Robert Johnson, Russ Keene, Jenet
Kanel, Joe Naylor, Mark Nelson, Terry Smith, Joe Spurgeon, Neal
Strebel, Steve Shults, Charles Suarez and Don Davisson, and many others
whom my faltering memory and the lack of a yearbook have made it
difficult for me to recall. Some are still in the profession, some no
longer, and some have passed away. They have encouraged my thoughts and
my dreams. They have supported my goals and my aspirations. I thank
them for their work, and in thanking them, I thank all teachers today.
Teachers have one of the most important jobs in our society, but it
is often thankless. I urge all of us to make teacher appreciation not
something we do once a year, but a practice and a habit that we
practice year-round.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California (Mrs. Capps).
Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today is National Teacher Appreciation Day,
and I wish to pay tribute to 4 remarkable teachers on the central coast
of California. What a joy this is.
Last month Tory Babcock, an English teacher at Santa Ynez High
School, was named Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year. She was
cited for her work in challenging students to embrace reading and
writing, as well as her professionalism, her enthusiasm and success in
motivating students in the classroom and beyond. She will be considered
for California Teacher of the Year in the fall.
Dr. Ed Avila was recently chosen by Hispanic Magazine as Hispanic
Teacher of the Year. Dr. Avila is the director of the Endeavour
Academy, an engineering and applied science preparatory school within a
public school. A national panel of Hispanic leaders and educators
selected Dr. Avila for exhibiting excellence in curriculum innovation,
subject competence and the ability to motivate students.
Just last week, Kevin Statom was chosen by Lucia Mar School District
as Teacher of the Year. As head of the Arroyo Grande High School math
department, Mr. Statom has been praised specifically for his efforts to
get disinterested students turned on to math. Students at the high
school praised him for spending at least 20 hours a week outside the
classroom giving them the extra help they need.
Finally, Mark Fairbank, a Paso Robles High science teacher, was
recently chosen as one of the three best teachers in California. He is
also under consideration for the Presidential Award for Excellence in
Mathematics and Science Teaching. Mr. Fairbank is an expert in
alternative learning tools and cross curricular learning that can help
students who learn visually, such as those with dyslexia.
Mr. Speaker, the Central Coast of California has much to be proud of.
I am glad that we here in Congress are taking the time to honor our
teachers. The education of our children and, indeed, of our future as a
Nation rests on the quality of our Nation's teachers.
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman
from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup), a strong supporter of education.
Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I wish to rise and add my voice to the
others in recognition of our teachers who have made such a difference
in our lives. Most of us can think back to the years that we went
through school, and the teachers that touched us in many different
ways, in bringing out our talents and helping us to be successful in
school. Those teachers were very different, some were very strict, we
thought some of them were very specific; other ones were more creative
and brought us in through different ways. But all of them had one thing
in common: They gave us a sense of how important education is. They
taught us what was important for us to know, and they gave us a love of
learning.
Today, on this teacher appreciation resolution, I wish to, first of
all, thank the teachers in my life, teachers that touched my life and
who were largely unthanked in the years where they were making such an
important difference to so many children.
Secondly, I would like to thank the teachers that are in the
classroom today. We are almost at the end of this school year, and many
children will walk out of the classroom door and will fail to recognize
at this moment in their lives how much their teachers have meant to
them this year and will mean to them for the rest of their lives.
So, for the children that walk out of the classroom door this year,
let us, here in Congress, invite the American people across this
country to thank them in these children's stead so that they will know
how important they are today and for the future generations.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, might I inquire of the time remaining?
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). The gentleman from
California (Mr. Martinez) has 1\1/2\ minutes remaining; the gentleman
from California (Mr. McKeon) has 5\1/2\ minutes remaining.
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Martinez).
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).
(Mr. KIND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time.
As a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, I am
proud to be able to support this resolution recognizing the
significance of teachers and the quality of education in our country. I
would urge all Americans to use this week as an opportunity to thank
their teachers in their own communities.
Mr. Speaker, outside of the active involvement of parents in their
children's life and the education process, I think it is irrefutable
that the best determination of how well a child is going to perform in
our school system today is the quality of teachers that are in the
classroom. They are doing remarkable work, even though more and more
are being asked of them. I feel an important obligation that we as
policymakers provide them with the tools and the resources they need to
do their job better.
Many of the teachers have been contacting us as Members of Congress
in light of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, asking for
additional funding or resources for ongoing training and professional
development programs so that they can enhance their skills in working
with our children. They are also calling for resources to reduce class
sizes so that there is more individualized attention for the students
and better safety in the classrooms and better discipline.
So I would encourage the policymakers to support the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act and to thank the teachers who have made such a
big difference in many of our lives and encourage the continued work
that they are doing.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Green).
(Mr. GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one
of our Nation's most valuable resources, the dedicated men and women
who serve as teachers. I know that dedication, because I have been
married for 30 years to a high school algebra teacher. I come home at
night in our district at 9:30 or 10:00 and exhausted, and she is still
grading papers or inputting grades into the computer.
Our teachers are hard-working professionals who are on the front
lines of our struggle to provide a quality education for every child in
America. Day in and day out they work hard so that our children can be
prepared for whatever they want to be in the future. Teacher
appreciation week is our time to show the appreciation for teachers. I
would like to say that we could do much better.
We should be able to put aside our differences and pass worthwhile
legislation like H.R. 1196, which would repeal the 60-month limit on
student loan interest deductibility and help relieve the burden of
student loan debt for our teachers; H.R. 4555, the Teacher Technology
Training Act, so that local money could be provided to train teachers
in computer-related skills in the classroom; the School Construction
Act to modernize our school facilities; and H.R. 1623, the Classroom
Size Reduction and Teacher Quality Act.
[[Page H2732]]
Mr. Speaker, there are lots of things we can do outside of just
recognizing our teachers this week.
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Horn), a good friend and colleague and a former
university president.
Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on National Teachers Day to pay tribute to
America's teachers. Every day I can go through in my mind the teachers
I had from first grade through the senior year of high school, not to
mention the college teachers. I wish to give these men and women the
honor and recognition that they deserve. I also wish to thank them for
their service and their dedication to the Nation's young people.
Our educational system is only as good as the teachers in it. Every
day, American teachers face a variety of challenges, including
overcrowded classrooms, crumbling facilities, safety concerns and
severely limited resources. Given the importance of education to our
children's future, it is unacceptable that teachers should have to
tolerate these conditions.
The best way I can think of to celebrate National Teachers Day is to
enact educational reform to give teachers the resources and the
flexibility that they so desperately need. Teachers make an invaluable
contribution to the Nation and they deserve our gratitude. They touch
our children's lives in countless ways and open up a world of
possibilities to young people. For this reason, I am honored to support
this resolution recognizing and thanking America's teachers.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
General Leave
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on H. Res. 492.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
{time} 1615
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr.
Martinez). We have had the good fortune of working together during this
Congress. It has been a real joy working together with him. I do not
know how many other opportunities we will have, but I want to thank him
and let him know that I really have appreciated working with him, and
appreciate his friendship. He is a great man and he has done a lot for
this country. He has been a great Congressman.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, today I praise one of the too often under
appreciated professions in our society: teachers. In doing so, I would
like to offer my sincere thanks for their often thankless, but noble
efforts.
To quote Cicero, ``what nobler a profession, or more valuable to the
state, than that of a man who instructs the rising generation.''
Teachers, next to parents, are the most influential people in the lives
of our children. Like parents, they prepare students for the future.
Teachers serve as role models, mentors, and friends. They strive to
work with parents and guardians so that the full potential of each
child may be realized.
Mr. Speaker, teaching has never been an easy job, and it hasn't
gotten easier in recent years. Currently, the people to whom we entrust
our children must teach in classes so large many of us would find it
impossible to maintain order, let alone create an atmosphere that is
conducive to learning. Many teachers must work in dilapidated
buildings, where heating, plumbing and cooling systems are
insufficient. At a time when many of us would find it impossible to
function without a computer, teachers are confronted with the task of
preparing kids to work in an increasingly technological society without
the use of this most basic piece of equipment.
Not only do teachers deserve our thanks, they also deserve access to
the best tools possible. Our nation's future is, after all, in their
hands. We, in Congress, would be wise to enact a proposal similar to
Vice President Gore's teacher assistance plan. We need to invest the
necessary money to hire more teachers to reduce class sizes, modernize
old schools and build new ones, and provide opportunities for teachers
to get additional training so they can better prepare kids for the
future. We must also draw educated and idealistic young men and women
into teaching by providing student loan assistance to future teachers.
Many of my colleagues and our Nation's Governors, acting either in
haste, desperation, or stupidity, have continually tried to undermine
real education reform by grasping at ``revolutionary schemes'' such as
vouchers, which have proved to be as destructive to public schools as
well as ineffective in raising student performance. They have attempted
to privatize public schools, where 90 percent of America's children are
educated. In an attempt to highlight the problems faced by public
schools, they have used teachers and schools alike as punching bags to
further their own risky, underhanded schemes that only divert education
money away from where it's most needed. I stand before you today to say
we should not tolerate this rascality any longer. Our teachers, our
kids, and our Nation's future deserve better.
Mr. Speaker, I am hopeful that we can all work together, write
quality legislation, help our schools, and thank our teachers for their
efforts by showing them we know how important educating our children--
and their role in this mission--is to America's future.
Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res.
492, sense of the House in support of America's teachers.
America's teachers are one of our most valuable resources. Since
coming to Congress I have worked hard to improve our schools by helping
teachers in my district express their concerns and support legislation
to promote the noble profession they have chosen. In fact, my wife,
Georgia, is a principal at Central Junior High School in Belleville,
IL. I am proud of her accomplishments with the hundreds of students she
comes in contact with every day as well as all of the teachers in the
12th District of Illinois.
Mr. Speaker, as a parent and grandparent of school-age children I
cannot think of a career more important than that of our Nation's
teachers. Every day teachers are faced with numerous crises including
nurturing children from broken homes, children facing the growing
threat of youth violence in our schools, and school buildings that do
not meet safety standards.
I applaud the countless generations of teachers for living up to the
day to day challenge of preparing our children for the outside world. I
urge all of my colleagues to join me in strong support of this
resolution. Our teachers deserve this praise and recognition.
Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 492, expressing
the sense of the House of Representatives in support of America's
teachers.
As a former high school English teacher, I am very familiar with the
ability of teachers to have an impact on the lives of children.
Teachers are some of the first role models many children have. They
give us the tools to become well-rounded adults and upstanding
citizens. Teachers are exceptional people who bring their love of
learning and share their enthusiasm to work to share with their
students everyday. Tirelessly, they impart their knowledge of any
variety of subjects, from grammar to music to algebra. Inspired by the
flicker of understanding in their students' eyes, they rely on the
gratitude of their students and their families rather than on monetary
rewards as their compensation.
Indeed, our teachers are our Nation's greatest resource. They build
the foundation of knowledge in our future generations, which will one
day not only rule the world, but fundamentally change it for the
better. Teachers fundamentally mold the character of our Nation's
future leaders. We should all take the time to stop and remember the
important influence that our teachers had upon our lives. In fact, we
should all make an effort to go back and thank our teachers, or even
just a single teacher who may have had a special impact on our
educational experience in order to say ``thank you.'' This is the
greatest way that we can recognize our teachers and repay our gratitude
for all that they shared with us.
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support the resolution of the
gentlewoman from Texas expressing Congress' appreciation for the
valuable work of America's teachers. I would also like to take this
opportunity to urge my colleagues to support two pieces of legislation
I have introduced to get the government off the backs, and out of the
pockets, of America's teachers. The first piece of legislation, H.R.
1706, prohibits the expenditure of federal funds for national teacher
testing or certification. A national teacher test would force all
teachers to be trained in accordance with federal standards, thus
dramatically increasing the Department of Education's control over the
teaching profession. Language banning federal funds for national
teacher testing and national teacher certification has been included in
both the House and Senate versions of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act (ESEA).
I have also introduced the Teacher Tax Cut Act (H.R. 937) which
provides every teacher in America with a $1,000 tax credit. The Teacher
Tax Cut Act thus increases teachers' salaries without raising federal
expenditures. It lets
[[Page H2733]]
America's teachers know that the American people and the Congress
respect their work. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, by raising
teacher take-home pay, the Teacher Tax Cut Act encourages high-quality
people to enter, and remain in, the teaching profession.
Mr. Speaker, these two bills send a strong signal to America's
teachers that we in Congress are determined to encourage good people to
enter and remain in the teaching profession and that we want teachers
to be treated as professionals, not as Education Department
functionaries. In conclusion, I urge my colleagues to vote for this
resolution recognizing the hard work of America's teachers. I also urge
they continue to stand up for those who have dedicated their lives to
educating America's children by cosponsoring my legislation to prohibit
the use of federal funds for national teacher testing and to give
America's teachers a $1,000 tax credit.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to
speak in support of House Resolution 492. I would also like to take
this opportunity to thank Representative Kay Granger of the 12th
District of Texas for introducing this resolution which pays tribute to
all teachers in the United States and aptly commemorates National
Teachers Day, which we are celebrating today.
My family comes from a long line of teachers, my mother is a former
teacher, I am a former teacher and academic vice president and my
daughter is a teacher in my district in Guam. As a former educator, I
well appreciate the challenges all teachers face. It is often said that
teaching is a thankless job. Although, it is the case with most
teachers to be overworked by the growing volume of students in
classrooms and overwhelmed by the constant shortage of teachers
entering the ranks of the teaching profession from year to year, the
impacts they make in shaping our lives and our futures is enormous and
immeasurable. I would like to take this time to commemorate the
remarkable commitment and contributions teachers make to our lives and
highlight the contributions of Guam's Teacher of the Year for 2000, Mr.
Josh Ledbetter.
Mr. Ledbetter has come to teaching at a later period in his life than
most rookies. Now at the young age of 49 and after many years serving
our country in the U.S. Navy, followed by a brief career as a
journalist, Mr. Ledbetter found teaching to be his calling. Mr.
Ledbetter received his teaching degree from the University of Guam in
1993. Since then he has taught for nearly six years as a first grade
teacher at the Maria Ulloa Elementary, the Harry S. Truman Elementary
and before transferring to the brand new Machananao Elementary School
in Guam.
Mr. Ledbetter is a testament to what it means to go the extra mile in
the classroom. He brings constant innovation to teaching and emphasizes
the need to bring relevance to his teaching. As a project, Mr.
Ledbetter asked his students to bring in unneeded items from their
homes. Students brought in an array of unneeded items including bottle
caps buttons, plastic bread fasteners. Mr. Ledbetter incorporated these
household materials to teach students concepts in mathematics through
grouping the materials the students were so familiar with; first with a
base of four, five, six, and then using a base of ten. The students
became so comfortable with the idea of grouping that they had mastered
the concepts before the time they reached the use of base ten.
Mr. Ledbetter has broadened his commitment to education through his
participation in various organizations, including the International
Reading Association, the University of Guam Language Arts Conference
and Symposium, the National Council of Teachers of English and numerous
other projects to the pursuit of education.
Mr. Ledbetter is currently pursuing his masters and doctorate degrees
at the University of Guam and plans yet another career change, this
time as a professor at the University of Guam's College of Education,
teaching cadres of young adults about the importance of teaching. I
wish him much success.
It gives me much pleasure to recognize and highlight the
contributions that teachers like Josh Ledbetter make to our community.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all teachers for their constant
contributions to instill and shape the lives of our children and our
communities.
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, today, National Teacher's Day, we honor our
nation's teachers and recognize the lasting contribution they make in
our children's lives. Teachers are fundamental to the future successes
of our children. They inspire our children to learn and instill them
with the tools they need to be successful in their careers and in their
lives.
People who enter the teaching profession don't do it for the money--
they do it out of love. That love is reflected in the countless hours
they spend outside the classroom, preparing lesson plans, being
involved in extra curricular activities, and even buying supplies with
their own money. Mr. Speaker, the average teacher spends $408 of his or
her money each year to meet the needs of their students.
Let me tell you about the teachers we have in my district. They
certainly don't teach for the money--in fact many salaries barely pay
rent--but they are the most dedicated workforce I know.
I invited the Secretary of Education, Richard Riley, to my district
to witness first hand the problems the schools in my district face with
overcrowding. He visited on April 27, 2000, along with the new
chancellor of the New York City Board of Education and we had a very
informative and productive tour and meeting.
When deciding which school to highlight for Secretary Riley, I
selected PS 19, which operates at 157% capacity, and is one of the
most, if not the most, overcrowded elementary school in the City of New
York.
I contacted the Principal at PS 19, Catherine Zarbis, who agreed to
open up her school during their spring break, to show the Secretary and
the Chancellor their overcrowded conditions and numerous portable
classrooms.
When we visited the school the day before, we found many teachers
there--on their spring break--cleaning their classrooms, making new
room and hall decorations, and preparing lesson plans. These teacher
came in, on their own free time, to clean the building and prepare for
the Secretary's visit. In fact, everyone from the teachers to custodial
staff to the security personnel pitched in for this event. I want to
personally recognize everyone for their hard work: Principal Catherine
Zarbis, Assistant Principal Roseann Napolitano, Assistant Principal
Dina Erstejn; Mr. Miria Villegas, Mrs. Janina Juszczak; and Mrs.
Kathleen Ktistakis, who is affectionately called Mrs. K by her
students. The custodial staff: Mr. Thomas Zerella, the Custodial
Engineer; Ms. Renee Rhein; Mr. William Bischoff; Mr. Fernando Seara;
Mr. Louis Bischoff; Mr. Leonard Rooney; Mr. David Fasano; Mr. Wilmer
Romero; Mr. Omar Yahia. And the parent volunteers: Mrs. Zoraya Torres;
Mrs. Ana Hernandez; and Mrs. Julliana Bonetti. These educators truly
represent what teachers really stand for and should serve as role
models to us here in Congress as well as our children.
I urge my colleagues to put aside partisanship and help these
teachers--reduce their class size average of 36, give them full
classrooms, instead of converted closets, bathrooms, hallways, and
attics. We need to pass substantial school construction legislaiton as
well as class size reduction, implement after school programs, safe and
drug free schools, and provide access to technology. Our teachers and
our children deserve it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 492.
The question was taken.
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair
will reduce to 5 minutes the minimum time for electronic voting on four
additional motions to suspend the rules on which the Chair has
postponed further proceedings. Such votes will be taken immediately
following this vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 422,
nays 0, not voting 12, as follows:
[Roll No. 149]
YEAS--422
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Aderholt
Allen
Andrews
Archer
Armey
Baca
Bachus
Baird
Baker
Baldacci
Baldwin
Ballenger
Barcia
Barr
Barrett (NE)
Barrett (WI)
Bartlett
Barton
Bass
Bateman
Becerra
Bentsen
Bereuter
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop
Blagojevich
Bliley
Blumenauer
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonior
Bono
Borski
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Brown (FL)
Brown (OH)
Bryant
Burr
Burton
Callahan
Calvert
Camp
Canady
Cannon
Capps
Capuano
Cardin
Carson
Castle
Chabot
Chambliss
Chenoweth-Hage
Clay
Clayton
Clement
Clyburn
Coble
Coburn
Collins
Combest
Condit
Conyers
Cook
Cooksey
Costello
Cox
Coyne
Cramer
Crane
Crowley
Cummings
Cunningham
Danner
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
Davis (VA)
Deal
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
DeLay
DeMint
Deutsch
Diaz-Balart
Dickey
Dicks
Dingell
Dixon
Doggett
Dooley
Doolittle
Doyle
Dreier
Duncan
Dunn
Edwards
Ehlers
Ehrlich
Emerson
Engel
English
Eshoo
Etheridge
[[Page H2734]]
Evans
Everett
Ewing
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Fletcher
Foley
Forbes
Ford
Fossella
Fowler
Frank (MA)
Franks (NJ)
Frelinghuysen
Frost
Gallegly
Ganske
Gejdenson
Gekas
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gilman
Gonzalez
Goode
Goodlatte
Goodling
Gordon
Goss
Graham
Granger
Green (TX)
Green (WI)
Greenwood
Gutierrez
Gutknecht
Hall (OH)
Hall (TX)
Hansen
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Hayworth
Hefley
Herger
Hill (IN)
Hill (MT)
Hilleary
Hilliard
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hobson
Hoeffel
Hoekstra
Holden
Holt
Hooley
Horn
Hostettler
Houghton
Hoyer
Hulshof
Hunter
Hutchinson
Hyde
Inslee
Isakson
Istook
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Jenkins
John
Johnson (CT)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Jones (OH)
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kasich
Kelly
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilpatrick
Kind (WI)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kleczka
Klink
Knollenberg
Kolbe
Kucinich
LaFalce
LaHood
Lampson
Lantos
Largent
Larson
Latham
LaTourette
Lazio
Leach
Lee
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Lofgren
Lowey
Lucas (KY)
Luther
Maloney (CT)
Maloney (NY)
Manzullo
Markey
Martinez
Mascara
Matsui
McCarthy (MO)
McCarthy (NY)
McCrery
McDermott
McGovern
McHugh
McInnis
McIntyre
McKeon
McKinney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Menendez
Metcalf
Mica
Millender-McDonald
Miller (FL)
Miller, Gary
Miller, George
Minge
Mink
Mollohan
Moore
Moran (KS)
Moran (VA)
Morella
Murtha
Myrick
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal
Nethercutt
Ney
Northup
Norwood
Nussle
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Ose
Owens
Oxley
Packard
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor
Paul
Pease
Pelosi
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Phelps
Pickering
Pickett
Pitts
Pombo
Pomeroy
Porter
Portman
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Quinn
Radanovich
Rahall
Ramstad
Rangel
Regula
Reyes
Reynolds
Riley
Rivers
Rodriguez
Roemer
Rogan
Rogers
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Rothman
Roukema
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Rush
Ryan (WI)
Ryun (KS)
Sabo
Salmon
Sanchez
Sanders
Sandlin
Sanford
Sawyer
Saxton
Scarborough
Schaffer
Schakowsky
Scott
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Sherman
Sherwood
Shimkus
Shows
Shuster
Simpson
Sisisky
Skeen
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Souder
Spence
Spratt
Stabenow
Stark
Stearns
Stenholm
Strickland
Stump
Stupak
Sununu
Sweeney
Talent
Tancredo
Tanner
Tauscher
Tauzin
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Terry
Thomas
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thornberry
Thune
Thurman
Tiahrt
Tierney
Toomey
Towns
Traficant
Turner
Udall (CO)
Udall (NM)
Upton
Velazquez
Vento
Visclosky
Vitter
Walden
Walsh
Wamp
Waters
Watkins
Watt (NC)
Watts (OK)
Waxman
Weiner
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Wexler
Weygand
Whitfield
Wicker
Wilson
Wolf
Woolsey
Wu
Wynn
Young (AK)
NOT VOTING--12
Buyer
Campbell
Cubin
Gephardt
Kuykendall
Lucas (OK)
McCollum
McIntosh
Moakley
Payne
Wise
Young (FL)
{time} 1638
So (two-thirds of those present having voted in favor thereof) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________