[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H8264-H8265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING ANDREW WOJTANIK FOR WINNING THE 16TH ANNUAL NATIONAL 
                             GEOGRAPHIC BEE

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 815) congratulating Andrew Wojtanik for winning the 
16th Annual National Geographic Bee, conducted by the National 
Geographic Society.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 815

       Whereas the 16th Annual National Geographic Bee was held in 
     Washington, D.C., from May 25 to May 26, 2004;
       Whereas the National Geographic Bee encourages the 
     participation of millions of students and thousands of 
     schools nationwide;
       Whereas Andrew Wojtanik, an 8th grade student at Lakewood 
     Middle School in Overland Park, Kansas, displayed his mastery 
     of world geography by winning the 16th Annual National 
     Geographic Bee;
       Whereas Andrew Wojtanik competed against 54 other 
     elementary, middle, and junior high school students from 
     across the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 
     and the Pacific Territories;
       Whereas the National Geographic Bee tests the knowledge of 
     students in a variety of subjects related to world geography, 
     including physical, economic, cultural, political, and 
     environmental topics;
       Whereas the creation of the National Geographic Bee is an 
     example of the National Geographic Society's commitment to 
     broadening the understanding of students and the general 
     public about the world around them;
       Whereas geographic literacy has become increasingly 
     important as technology and world events more often cross 
     borders, oceans, and continents;
       Whereas surveys consistently show that the level of 
     geographic knowledge among people in the United States lags 
     behind citizens of other countries;
       Whereas a National Geographic-Roper survey of young adults 
     between the ages of 18 and 24 in 9 different countries 
     recently indicated that young adults in the United States 
     were outperformed in geographic literacy by young adults in 
     Sweden, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Great Britain, and 
     Canada;
       Whereas the National Geographic-Roper survey also indicated 
     that only 13 percent of young adults in the United States 
     between the ages of 18 and 24 could correctly identify Iraq 
     on a map of the Asia and the Middle East: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates Andrew Wojtanik, the champion of the 16th 
     Annual National Geographic Bee, for his comprehensive 
     knowledge of geography; and
       (2) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     make available enrolled copies of this resolution to Lakewood 
     Middle School in Overland Park, Kansas, for appropriate 
     display and to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution 
     to Andrew Wojtanik and his family.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).


                             General Leave

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Res. 815.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 815 congratulates Andrew Wojtanik for 
winning the 16th Annual National Geographic Bee conducted by the 
National Geographic Society.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a terrific and well-deserved honor for a 
terrific and deserving young man. I strongly support the resolution and 
urge all of my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, 14-year-old 8th grader Andrew Wojtanik from Lakewood 
Middle School in Overland Park, Kansas, took top honors at the 2004 
National Geographic Bee, which was held here in Washington, D.C. in 
May.
  Andrew should be an example for all young people because he won a 
$25,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the National 
Geographic Society, and a week at a Sea World Busch Gardens Adventure 
Camp.
  The winning question was: ``Peshawar, a city in the North-West 
Frontier Province of Pakistan has had strategic importance for decades 
because of its location near a historic pass.''
  Andrew answered correctly when he replied, ``Khyber Pass.''
  How many of us would have answered that question correctly? Well, I 
do not know. But for a $25,000 scholarship I am sure that there are 
many young people who would try.
  I congratulate Andrew and urge all of my colleagues to vote 
affirmatively for this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore), the 
author of this resolution, and I urge passage and congratulate Andrew 
Wojtanik.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of his proud neighbors in Kansas' 
Third Congressional District, and particularly on behalf of the 
students and teachers at Lakewood Middle School in Overland Park, 
Kansas, I am honored today to speak in favor of my resolution 
congratulating Andrew Wojtanik for winning the 16th Annual National 
Geographic Bee. I have been joined in this effort by Representatives 
Jim Ryun and Jerry Moran of Kansas, and by Representatives Major Owens, 
Earl Blumenauer, and Max Burns. This resolution is similar to H. Res. 
804, which we introduced last week, and reintroduced on Monday due to 
some jurisdictional issues which prevented bringing the original 
resolution to the floor quickly.
  On May 26, 2004, Andrew won the 16th Annual National Geographic Bee 
when he correctly answered a question about the Khyber Pass in Northern 
Pakistan.
  While Andrew's comprehensive knowledge of geography is an inspiration 
to students everywhere, studies suggest that most of Andrew's peers 
would be unable to find Pakistan on a map, let alone be aware of the 
significance of the Khyber Pass. Only 13 percent of young adults in the 
United States between the ages of 18 and 24 can correctly identify Iraq 
on a map of Asia and the Middle East. Year after year, American 
students are consistently outperformed in geographic literacy by 
students in Sweden, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Great Britain, and 
Canada.
  The truth is that many students in the United States receive only a 
minimal amount of geography education during their educational careers. 
In 2001, Congress acknowledged the importance of including geography 
education in school curriculums when it designated geography as a 
``core subject'' in the No Child Left Behind Act; yet, geography 
remains the only core subject identified in that act without a Federal 
program designed to improve educational performance.

[[Page H8265]]

  Congress must honor its commitment to the children of the United 
States and address the need for improved geography education. As we 
have recognized in other areas of education, the only way to truly 
improve the educational system at a student-level is to help schools 
use the most effective teaching techniques to increase student 
knowledge and understanding. Geography education is no exception.
  The National Geographic Society Alliance Program is an excellent 
example of current efforts to improve geography education at the state 
and local level. Alliances around the country provide teachers with 
intensive professional development opportunities in geography 
education, cultivating opportunities for teachers in State-level 
chapters to collaborate on geography education efforts and to 
participate in NGS professional development programs. And the success 
of the National Geographic Society Alliance Program is seen through the 
achievements of its students--students of teachers who have been 
involved in the Alliance program have statistically higher levels of 
geographic literacy achievement than other students. Promoting proven, 
effective teaching techniques, such as those developed through the 
National Geographic Society Alliance Program, will be essential if 
Congress is to successfully foster greater geographic literacy among 
American students.
  If we are to continue our efforts to develop the most educated 
citizenry in the world, we must closely examine how we educate our 
youngest citizens about the world. This resolution acknowledges the 
good work of the National Geographic Society and its commitment to 
geographic literacy through a variety of means, including its 
sponsorship of the National Geographic Bee and the successful operation 
of its Alliance Program. This is a useful first step to refocusing 
attention on the need for geographic literacy and its important role in 
our children's education.
  It is my hope that passage of this resolution will do more than just 
applaud Andrew Wojtanik's mastery of geography skills--this resolution 
will reaffirm Congress's commitment to geography and recognize a 
national public-private partnership dedicated to improving geographic 
literacy among American students. For these reasons, I urge my 
colleagues to join with me in supporting this resolution today.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 815.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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