[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 155 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H12515-H12516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  URGING SUPPORT OF MENTORING PROGRAMS

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Education and the Workforce be discharged from further consideration 
of the resolution (H.Res. 552) urging the House to support mentoring 
programs such as Saturday Academy at the Oregon Graduate Institute of 
Science and Technology, and ask for its immediate consideration in the 
House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I yield to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling).
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.Res. 552 offered by 
the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu). It urges the House to support 
mentoring and enrichment programs that promote and encourage young 
people to enter mathematics, science, engineering and technology fields 
of study. Young people in our Nation are not making the grade when it 
comes to mathematics and science achievement. Mentoring is one of those 
ways that we can encourage success in those areas.
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I would 
just like to say very briefly with respect to this resolution that I 
have seen the program at the Oregon Graduate Institute work on several 
occasions. I have met with the students, I have met with the professors 
who teach in it, the professionals who teach in it, and I have seen the 
wondrous things that it can do for young women and young men learning 
science, mathematics and other technical subjects which are by their 
nature quite difficult, people from all income ranges and backgrounds. 
It is a terrific private-public partnership. It is something that we 
should try to replicate. It is something that we should try to 
replicate in other places around the country. I am delighted that this 
Congress on this date has chosen to recognize this program and other 
similar programs.

                              {time}  1915

  On a more personal note, I would like to thank the chairman of the 
House Committee on Education and the Workforce, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), for his many kindnesses during this my 
first term in the United States Congress. I would like to thank him for 
his great service to this institution, to the Nation and especially to 
its young people. I wish him well for whatever his future plans are, 
and I especially appreciate his personal recognition in the committee 
and in the hallways and byways of this Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.

[[Page H12516]]

  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 552

       Whereas exceptional opportunities should be provided for 
     students in grades 4 through 12 to learn from accomplished 
     professionals through hands-on, practical, and intellectual 
     learning experiences;
       Whereas workshops, internships, and laboratories are 
     offered during and after-school hours, weekends, and summers;
       Whereas Saturday Academy links universities, private 
     companies and their resources, staff, laboratories, 
     classrooms, and equipment with students to provide the 
     opportunity to use real tools to solve real life problems;
       Whereas opportunities provided by programs such as Saturday 
     Academy bridge the gap between the classroom and the real 
     world;
       Whereas students from low-income families and groups 
     underrepresented in science and engineering are actively 
     recruited and supported by Saturday Academy;
       Whereas nearly 99,000 students since 1983 have received 
     Saturday Academy instruction in rural, urban, and suburban 
     areas;
       Whereas Saturday Academy received the Presidential Award 
     for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering 
     Mentoring by the President in 1996;
       Whereas the 1995 Third International Mathematics and 
     Science Study found that in the final year of secondary 
     school, the performance of the United States was among the 
     lowest in both science and mathematics;
       Whereas, the United States is facing a shortage of 
     qualified professionals in science, technology, and 
     engineering; and
       Whereas Saturday Academy places special emphasis on 
     science, mathematics, and technology: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports and 
     encourages programs such as Saturday Academy to help students 
     enter mathematics, science, and engineering fields.


    Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute Offered by Mr. Goodling

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. 
     Goodling:
       Strike the resolved clause and insert the following:
       Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports and 
     encourages mentoring and enrichment programs that encourage 
     young people to enter mathematics, science, engineering, and 
     technology fields.

  Mr. GOODLING (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Goodling).
  The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution offered by 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling).
  The resolution was agreed to.


           Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Goodling

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the preamble.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to the preamble offered by Mr. Goodling:
       Strike the preamble and insert the following resolution:
       Whereas exceptional opportunities should be provided for 
     students to learn from accomplished professionals through 
     hands-on, practical, and intellectual learning experiences;
       Whereas mentoring and other enrichment programs offer 
     workshops, internships, and laboratories to students during 
     and afterschool hours, on weekends, and during summers;
       Whereas mentoring programs and other enrichment programs 
     may link universities, private companies and their resources, 
     staff, laboratories, classrooms, and equipment with students 
     and provide them with the opportunity to use real tools to 
     solve real life problems;
       Whereas opportunities provided by mentoring and other 
     enrichment programs help bridge the gap between the classroom 
     and the real world;
       Whereas students from low-income families and groups 
     underrepresented in mathematics, science, engineering, and 
     technology are actively recruited and
       Whereas the 1998 Third International Mathematics and 
     Science Study found that in the final year of secondary 
     school, the performance of the United States was among the 
     lowest in both science and mathematics;
       Whereas the United States is facing a shortage of qualified 
     professionals in mathematics, science, engineering, and 
     technology related fields; and
       Whereas mentoring and enrichment programs such as Saturday 
     Academy at the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and 
     Technology, Texas STARBASE at Ellington Field Air National 
     Guard Base, Regional Math and Science Center at Grand Valley 
     State University, and Georgia Youth Science and Technology 
     Center at Southern Polytechnic State University emphasize 
     mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to 
     encourage students to pursue studies and careers in these 
     subject areas:

  Mr. GOODLING (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment to the preamble be considered as read and 
printed in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment to the 
preamble offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling).
  The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.


             Amendment to the Title Offered by Mr. Goodling

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the title.
  The Clerk read as follows:

  Amendment to the title offered by Mr. Goodling:
       Urging the House to support mentoring and enrichment 
     programs that promote and encourage young people to enter 
     mathematics, science, engineering, and technology fields.

  The amendment to the title was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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