[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 8 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H241-H247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING CONTRIBUTIONS OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 23) honoring the contributions of Catholic 
schools.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H. Res. 23

       Whereas America's Catholic schools are internationally 
     acclaimed for their academic excellence, but provide students 
     more than a superior scholastic education;
       Whereas Catholic schools ensure a broad, values-added 
     education emphasizing the lifelong development of moral, 
     intellectual, physical, and social values in America's young 
     people;
       Whereas the total Catholic school student enrollment for 
     the 2004-2005 academic year is about 2.5 million and the 
     student-teacher ratio is 15 to 1;
       Whereas Catholic schools teach a diverse group of students;

[[Page H242]]

       Whereas more than 26 percent of school children enrolled in 
     Catholic schools are from minority backgrounds, and nearly 14 
     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 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.''; and
       Whereas January 30 to February 5, 2005, has been designated 
     as Catholic Schools Week by the National Catholic Educational 
     Association and the United States Conference of Catholic 
     Bishops: 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 America's 
     thousands of Catholic elementary and secondary schools; and
       (2) 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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Boehner) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on House Resolution 23.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 23, offered 
by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kennedy). This resolution 
increases the awareness of Catholic education, while honoring the 
contributions of America's Catholic schools. They are dedicated to not 
only educating their students academically but to developing their 
moral, intellectual, physical, and social values.
  January 30 through February 5, 2005, is Catholic Schools Week, an 
annual tradition in its 31st year, and jointly sponsored by the 
National Catholic Education Association, the United States Conference 
of Catholic Bishops as well. The purpose of this resolution and 
Catholic Schools Week is to celebrate the vital role Catholic 
elementary and secondary schools play in providing a values-added 
education with high standards of quality and excellence to millions of 
American children.
  As President George W. Bush noted last year, ``Catholic educators 
share the basic conviction that every child can learn,'' which is the 
grounding principle behind the No Child Left Behind Act.
  And these schools continue to demonstrate their faith in every 
student and commitment to excellence with overwhelming results. 
According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic schools 
have a graduation rate over 99 percent, and about 97 percent of 
Catholic high school graduates go on to post-secondary training at 4-
year colleges, community colleges, or technical schools.
  As a proud product of Catholic education from elementary school 
through my college years at Xavier University, I have found that my 
foundation in Catholic education has helped me to strengthen my sense 
of purpose in life and prepared me to help achieve my goals. My own 
State of Ohio has more than 500 Catholic schools, including my high 
school alma mater, Moeller High School, in Cincinnati. In Ohio, 
Catholic schools serve more than 167,000 students, including more than 
51,000 students attending 134 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of 
Cincinnati.
  So I appreciate the great work being done by Catholic schools, their 
administrators and teachers, as well as their parents and volunteers. 
Catholic schools carry out their servant mission by building the 
academic achievement, character, and values of their students. I 
commend the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kennedy) for introducing this 
resolution and urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), 
minority leader.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time and commend the distinguished Chair of the committee and the 
gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), ranking member, for 
bringing this very important resolution to the floor today.
  I am proud to rise to recognize the vital contributions of America's 
Catholic schools in our country, and I want to say right off from the 
start what my bias is in this area. My husband and I and our five 
children have attended over 100 years of Catholic school education, 
over 100 years of Catholic school education. There are about 6 years of 
Episcopal in there over and above, but 100 years of Catholic school 
education. So, needless to say, we worship at the shrine of the 
Catholic educational system in our country.
  There are nearly 8,000 Catholic schools in America, and they educate 
nearly 2.5 million students every year. We solute Catholic schools for 
their dedication to educating the next generation of Americans and for 
their success in doing so. The education Catholic schools provide is 
exceptional and a true asset to our educational system. Catholic 
schools contribute not only to a student's intellectual development, 
and they do that very well, but also to a student's ethical and 
spiritual development. In short, they have a value-added component, 
values.
  The theme of this year's Catholic Schools Week says it well: ``Faith 
in every student.'' That means faith in the promise of every child and 
the promise to deepen every child's faith. As a devout Roman Catholic 
and a product of Catholic schools, as I said, 100 years my husband and 
I and our five children, this resolution is personal to me. I rely 
every day on the values, the confidence, and the sense of 
responsibility that were deepened for me by a Catholic education and 
being raised in a family that was the product of Catholic education as 
well. I know that many Members can make that statement.
  My Catholic education helped me appreciate the gift of faith and the 
conviction that we all contain a spark of divinity and to recognize 
that spark of divinity in every person we encounter. It nurtured in me 
a commitment to community and to public service.
  The Bible teaches us that to minister to the needs of God's creation 
is an act of worship. To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who 
made us. That lesson should inform every debate we have here in 
Congress, whether it is education, health care, job creation, or the 
budget, which should be a statement of our national values.
  As President Kennedy said so eloquently in his inaugural address, 
``With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final 
judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking 
his blessing and his help but knowing that here on earth, God's work 
must truly be our own.''

                              {time}  1430

  Our Catholic schools prepare generation after generation for that 
critical task, and they deserve our national gratitude.
  I join my colleagues in thanking all of the teachers, parents, and 
students at Catholic schools who make our country better.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kennedy), the sponsor of the resolution.
  Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I grew up as a minority; not 
in the traditional sense, but as an Irish Catholic in the land of 
Scandinavian Lutherans. The option of attending Catholic schools was 
not really available to my family, until we attended

[[Page H243]]

college. When that time came, my parents sent all seven of their 
children to the nearby Catholic Benedictine schools of St. John's 
University and the College of St. Benedict, a formidable feat given my 
father's salary from the local small-town insurance agency.
  My first real encounter with Catholic elementary and secondary 
students was my interactions with the graduates from Catholic schools 
that I went to school with at St. John's. I was universally impressed 
by the quality of these students. They were not only well prepared for 
college, but they were friendly to a country hick like me. They were 
courteous, kind, respectful, caring. They say that you can tell a tree 
by its fruits. By this measure, I assumed Catholic schools must be 
great.
  Then I sat in on a conversation in a dorm room with three graduates 
of Catholic high schools reminiscing on their high school experience. 
One of these students was so cynical about his Catholic education that 
I resolved never to send my children to Catholic school. Well, it turns 
out the cynical student became a priest, and so I changed my mind. 
Catholic schools really do nurture one's faith.
  My next exposure to Catholic schools came when I attended graduate 
business school. We did a case study on a sports program there for a 
Catholic high school, and I will never forget how the room erupted into 
laughter when a fellow student proposed a solution that assumed that 
the Catholic schools would not be able to afford to invest in their 
extracurricular activities. Indeed, my fellow students already knew 
what I learned: that Catholic schools have great extracurricular 
programs, not just in sports, but in music, theater, math league, 
speech team, and much more.
  My wife Debbie and I have four wonderful children. They have been 
able to experience the best of both worlds. They all graduated from 
Watertown Mayer Public Middle School and experienced the great public 
education that my wife and I received in Minnesota, but they also chose 
to attend Catholic high schools and get not just a great education, but 
be able to talk about how God influences the world around us and 
history as well.
  We are pleased to see that they were nurtured in the Catholic spirit 
of helping others. They participate in many programs to help those in 
need. My daughter organized a food drive for Mary's Place, an outreach 
for the needy while she was at Holy Family Catholic High School. Emily 
collected enough from her fellow students to fill up our van.
  They have kept that spirit alive even after graduating from high 
school and going on to college. Our son Charles, a graduate of St. 
John's Prep School, led a group of students from the University of 
Notre Dame to lend a hand in Appalachia last spring break, forgoing the 
more pleasurable trip further south. Catholic schools really do teach 
students to care.
  Catholic schools provide a great education to 2.5 million students 
across America and have a student-teacher ratio that averages 15 to 1. 
I can attest to a quality education with two of our children now 
attending the University of Notre Dame. More than 26 percent of the 
students enrolled in Catholic schools are from minority backgrounds, 
and nearly 14 percent are non-Catholics. Catholic schools have done an 
extraordinary job of reaching out to disadvantaged youth throughout the 
country.
  This week has been designated as Catholic Schools Week. The theme for 
Catholic Schools Week this year is ``Faith in Every Student.'' Tomorrow 
is National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools, and I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting my resolution that commends our 
Catholic schools and the teachers, parents, and religious communities 
that support them for their service to our Nation's youth.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to 
the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution 
as we honor the contributions and accomplishments of the nearly 8,000 
Catholic schools in our Nation, 75 in my diocese, that altogether shape 
the lives of nearly 2.5 million of America's young people.
  Like so many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I am a 
product of Catholic school, having attended it from elementary school 
to college. It was there, from the nuns, the good nuns at St. Louis 
Elementary School, Laurelton Hall, and Marymount College that I learned 
to nourish my mind and my heart; to reach out, to work hard, to fulfill 
my potential and be whatever I wanted to be.
  But Catholic school also taught me to nourish my community, my 
neighbors, to give something back to my world, to the people of that 
world. It was that lifetime of Catholic education, from kindergarten 
through college, that in no small way moved me to serve the larger 
community, instilling in me a commitment to the issues that have always 
been central to my faith, issues such as jobs and education, child tax 
credit, homelessness, and protecting our environment.
  Many of the values we were taught at Catholic school, values such as 
promoting the common good and peace, economic policies that include all 
children and families, and taking care of one another, formed the basis 
of many legislative accomplishments in public policy throughout the 
last century, particularly since Franklin Roosevelt. The results for 
programs like Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid, home loan 
mortgage assistance, housing for the elderly, the GI Bill, all have 
their roots in the Judeo-Christian traditions we were taught in 
Catholic schools.
  Those are the ideals Catholic school instilled in me: a commitment to 
the moral purposes of government, a shared responsibility, which could 
not be clearer when we stand before the challenge of the poor and the 
less fortunate, who, as the Catholic bishops have stated, ``have the 
single most urgent economic claim on the conscience of a nation.''
  I could not concur more. And this week that the House honors Catholic 
schools, I join my colleagues in recognizing the contributions of so 
many dedicated teachers, guidance counselors, and school staff that 
have provided millions of Americas with the framework necessary to 
become a productive, moral, and compassionate citizen within our 
increasingly diverse society. And for that, I, along with so many 
others, am eternally grateful.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy).
  Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise again this year to 
recognize the annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week. Catholic 
Schools Week is a collaboration of the National Catholic Education 
Association and the United States Catholic Conference to recognize the 
importance Catholic schools play in providing a values-enriched 
education to their students.
  This year's theme is ``Faith in Every Student,'' and this faith is 
alive and well in Pennsylvania. I am pleased to recognize over 32 
Catholic schools in Pennsylvania's 13th district as they celebrate this 
week with many community and parish events to recognize their 
outstanding contributions to America's education.
  It is important to note that America's Catholic schools admit 
students of every faith, and Catholic schools in Pennsylvania save 
taxpayers more than $1 billion each year. In addition, the St. 
Anthony's School Programs in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, helps Catholic 
and non-Catholic students with developmental disabilities to live their 
lives to their fullest, intellectually, socially, academically, 
vocationally, and spiritually, and has donated over $1.1 million this 
year to help special needs students receive quality education and life 
skills.
  The Catholic schools have a dropout rate of less than 3 percent and 
provide extensive scholarships to low-income families. The Pennsylvania 
Catholic Conference reports that there are 192,562 Catholic school 
students attending 827 Catholic elementary and secondary schools in 
Pennsylvania's commonwealth. These are impressive statistics that 
display the hard work of Pennsylvania's parents, schoolteachers, 
principals, and school administrators in educating their students in 
faith.
  I myself attended public schools for some years, but also attended 
St. Barnabas Elementary School and Walsh

[[Page H244]]

Jesuit High School and am proud to be a product of Catholic education. 
Today we should all continue our work together in celebrating this time 
with the Catholic schools around the Nation in order to make America a 
stronger and more compassionate country in a faith-built community, one 
child at a time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski).
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House 
Resolution 23. Catholic schools have been educating American children 
since the founding of our country. They continue to serve as an 
important complement to our public schools and other private 
institutions, providing top-quality, values-added education for young 
students across the Nation.
  In my district, which is located in the Chicago archdiocese, dozens 
of Catholic schools have planned events for students, teachers, and 
parents to enjoy and celebrate Catholic Schools Week. At Saint 
Symphorosa, students are participating in a community prayer service, a 
neighborhood ice cream social, and a variety of educational events. In 
addition, they are taking part in Vocation Appreciation Day.
  Saint Francis Xavier in LaGrange, my home parish, they are 
celebrating with Student and Teacher Appreciation Days, an academic 
fair emphasizing student curriculum and student projects, and a special 
liturgy honoring teachers, students, and parents, all of whom make 
great contributions to the integrity and values of Catholic education.
  As we honor Catholic schools, we need to especially pay tribute to 
the more than 163,000 Catholic school teachers nationwide. These 
dedicated sisters, priests, brothers, and lay teachers are the backbone 
of Catholic education. They sacrifice so much personally in order to 
provide a top notch education that serves our children very well in 
preparing them for the future.
  My wife and I are each products of 12 years of Catholic elementary 
and secondary education: Judy in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, at Saint 
Patrick's grade school and Bishop McCourt High School; myself in 
Chicago at Saint Symphorosa Grammar School and Saint Ignatius College 
Prep. Although at the time I did not always appreciate their hard work, 
I have fond memories of my teachers who provided me with the 
fundamentals of a good education that laid the groundwork for future 
academic achievements. But just as important, they instilled in me the 
belief that I should use my God-given abilities to contribute to 
society. In doing this, they provided me with the inspiration for a 
career as an educator and as a public servant, just as they have 
inspired countless other Americans to contribute to our society.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to pass House Resolution 
23.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany), a new member of the Committee 
on Education and the Workforce.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to participate in this debate 
on House Resolution 23, a resolution to honor the contributions of 
Catholic schools and recognize Catholic Schools Week. I want to thank 
the chairman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the 
sponsor of the resolution, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kennedy), 
for their work.
  Like many others, I too am a product of Catholic schools. My 
upbringing is a testament to the quality education and dedicated 
efforts of Catholic educators to produce students, whether they are 
Catholic or not, dedicated to improving themselves, their community, 
and our Nation.
  At Cathedral Carmel I developed a lifelong love of learning and 
reading. Through college and medical school, the lessons I learned in 
high school helped me to work through classes and assignments. Even 
during my professional career as a heart surgeon and now in Congress, I 
find myself relying on the personal development and classroom lessons 
from high school.
  One of my children, Ashley, attended Teurlings Catholic in Lafayette, 
Louisiana, and received a great education. In fact, it helped put her 
on a career path to give back to education and to become a teacher. I 
know that Teurlings Catholic helped to spark and nurture her interest 
in becoming a teacher.
  The seventh district of Louisiana contains a strong Catholic school 
system; and I have met with many students, parents, and educators who 
believe these schools are helping to create students and young adults 
who will stay in Louisiana and become productive members of our 
community.
  Many young people in Louisiana are leaving our State for other 
opportunities, and keeping them in Louisiana is a big part of restoring 
our State's economy. These young adults provide the entrepreneurship, 
creativity, workforce, and ingenuity to build businesses and create 
jobs.
  Again, I congratulate the Catholic schools of our great Nation and 
look forward to continuing to support them in my community and here in 
Congress.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I stand on this floor as a proud graduate 
of Saint George's Elementary School and Saint John's High School in 
Patterson and Fordham University, New York. Catholic School taught me, 
and I think teach generally, a spirit of tolerance to those who did not 
go to Catholic School, compassion for the poor, service to our fellow 
man. I never hear these values discussed lately during the so-called 
values debate we have had in this country.
  To those who believe they have a corner on values, I ask you to look 
to the Catholic Schools of this country and think again.
  The Catholic education I received provided me with the tools to not 
only forge success in life, but it also gave me an unending desire to 
serve my fellow man. I stand before you as the father of three sons who 
attended Catholic School.
  Not too long ago in our Nation's history, Roman Catholics were not 
welcome in many parts of our society. My Catholic education taught me 
that every American, no matter what their religion, no matter their 
creed or their color had an equal right to the American dream. Today, 
there are almost 8,000 Catholic Schools in this country serving 2.4 
million students.
  As a lifelong resident of Patterson, which is the third largest city 
in New Jersey, I strongly embrace this year's Catholic Schools Week 
theme: ``Faith in Every Student: Catholic Schools.''
  I am proud to report that 44 percent of the Catholic Schools are in 
urban areas. Many of these schools educate our most vulnerable 
students. Catholic Schools continue to be as diverse as America. More 
than one in four students in a Catholic School is a minority. I am 
pleased to add my voice to the chorus of those celebrating the 
wonderful achievements of these wonderful American institutions.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman).
  (Mr. ROTHMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, so what is a nice Jewish boy doing here on 
the floor of the House praising Catholic Schools? Because Catholic 
Schools do so much for our country, so much for our children, providing 
them with the basic tenets of the Catholic faith, the faith that has 
added so much to the civilization of the world and making the world a 
better place.
  Catholic Schools recognize that people are physical, spiritual, moral 
as well as intelligent beings. They provide so many good values to our 
children. We have 408 Catholic Schools in the State of New Jersey 
alone, and I can tell you from all of my dear friends over a lifetime 
who have told me about their Catholic School experiences. This is where 
they learned respects for elders, not only the tenets of the Catholic 
faith but also discipline and respect for other faiths.
  I want to pay particular attention and I want to particularly praise 
the teachers at Catholic Schools who have done so much and sacrificed 
so much to teach these young people, our children, all of these 
valuable and important lessons that have helped our country and have 
helped the world and have helped

[[Page H245]]

these young men and women be better human beings. They often do this 
for far less pay than in the public schools, but they are perhaps some 
of the greatest and finest teachers you will find in our country.
  So I am delighted and proud that we rightfully honor the contribution 
of Catholic Schools here in the United States Congress, and I thank all 
of those in the Catholic faith who have made that possible for these 
youngsters to enjoy the blessings of these wonderful institutions.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, how much time is 
remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Putnam). The gentleman from California 
(Mr. George Miller) has 11 minutes remaining.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues and the sponsors of this 
resolution and my chairman, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), from 
the committee in congratulating and celebrating the contributions of 
Catholic Schools and certainly their theme of this year which is 
``Faith in Every Student.'' It is something that those of us who have 
attended Catholic Schools understand is at the very core of Catholic 
education. Not only is it the faith in every student, but it is the 
dignity of every one of us as God's children, recognizing whether they 
be poor, whether they be rich, whether they be working or unemployed, 
whether they be young or old, each of us carries with us a dignity 
given to us by God and recognizing our responsibility to one another.
  As the Catholic Schools have told us very often, we cannot operate in 
a solitary world. We must operate within the community. And operating 
within the community has taught us, those of us who have gone to that 
school and certainly many of us who have not, that we have obligations. 
We have obligations to reach down and give a hand up to people who need 
it. We have an obligation to put our arm around somebody who is in need 
of comforting and stabilizing in a time of crises. These are the basic 
tenets that you learn in Catholic School.
  When you learn that in Catholic School, hopefully you are able to 
carry it through the rest of your life. I know, as one who has spent 
most of my life in public service, have recognized those tenets when I 
have been engaged in the problems of families at risk and children at 
risk. When I was chair of the Select Committee on Children, Youth and 
Families in this Congress, we spent a great deal of time with Catholic 
organizations talking about what do we do for the very young, what do 
we do for the adolescents. It was the Catholic Church that said, if you 
are going to start this committee, it was going to be the committee on 
children and families. They insisted that youth be in the title of that 
committee because they said, for far too often, public policy has been 
afraid to confront and discuss and try to deal with the problems of 
adolescents and teenagers at risk and the kinds of policies that this 
Congress could call into play and that this Nation could use to help 
those young people as they go through a troubling time in their life 
and a challenging time in their life and a risky time in their life.
  That turn out to be the right move. That turned out to be the right 
contribution as we had the opportunity to try and see what we could do 
to better support those young people.
  Many of my colleagues and all of us are very proud of our time in 
Catholic Schools. In the Miller families, Catholic Schools run very 
deep, from my grandfather, to my father, to my sisters who went to 
Saint Catherine's, to myself who went to Bellermine High School under 
the Jesuits. My one son went to Gonzaga and another to De La Salle and 
to my grandchildren who are at Holy Trinity in Sacramento. We 
understand the importance of this education. We understand the 
importance of the moral education and what we can take away from our 
time in Catholic School, what our grandchildren can take away.
  That is why we rise on this floor to support and to congratulate the 
Catholic Schools and the contributions that they make to American 
society, an important contribution to American society, recognizing our 
obligations to one another to create a community where each and every 
one of us has the opportunity to thrive, and recognizing so very often 
that sometimes people are not thriving and that sometimes it is almost 
through no fault of their own and we have an obligation to help those 
individuals also.
  Mr. Speaker, I extend my congratulations to the Catholic Schools in 
recognition of their contributions.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Minnesota (Mr. 
Kennedy), the sponsor of this resolution. I congratulate Catholic 
Schools all across America for their contribution to our country and 
pay particular attention today to a group right here in Washington, DC, 
the City Center Consortium that represents 13 Catholic Schools here in 
the poorest areas of Washington, DC, where arguably the children need a 
chance at a decent education more than almost anywhere in America.
  These 13 Catholic Schools and these poor communities here in town 
were threatened to be closed a few years ago, and an organization was 
set up to try to bring funding to keep these schools open. They 
happened to be about 95 percent minorities and about almost 90 percent 
non-Catholic; and having these schools available in these communities 
has been, I think, a major effort at giving these children here in 
town, here in Washington, DC, a real chance at a quality education.
  I have worked closely with the City Center Consortium for the last 3 
or 4 years. They are to be congratulated along with all Catholic 
Schools across the country in this week of their celebration of 
Catholic Schools week.
  With that, I urge my colleagues to support the resolution, Mr. 
Speaker.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of House 
Resolution 23. This resolution honors the contributions of America's 
Catholic schools, and their dedication to educating their students and 
improving their communities.
  Catholic schools are internationally acclaimed for their academic 
excellence, but provide students more than a quality academic 
education. Catholic schools provide a values-infused education that 
emphasizes moral, intellectual, physical, and social values in 
America's young people. In turn these schools produce students strongly 
dedicated to their faith, values, families, and communities.
  There are currently over 2.6 million students enrolled in 8,000 
Catholic schools across this Nation. In my home State of Delaware, over 
30 Catholic schools provide an excellent education to over 15,000 
students. These schools serve children from all incomes and 
backgrounds. In addition, Catholic school students come from many 
different races, religions, and ethnicities. In this school year, about 
26 percent of Catholic school students are from minority backgrounds 
and about 14 percent are not Catholic.
  I appreciate the great work being done by the Catholic schools, their 
administrators and teachers as well as their parents and volunteers. I 
commend my colleague from Minnesota, Representative Mark Kennedy, for 
introducing this resolution and urge my colleagues to support it.

                      Catholic Schools in Delaware

     Archmere Academy, Claymont
     Christ Our King School, Wilmington
     Corpus Christi School, Wilmington
     Holy Angels Elementary School, Newark
     Holy Cross School, Dover
     Holy Rosary Elementary School, Claymont
     Holy Spirit Elementary School, New Castle
     Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Wilmington
     Mother of Divine Grace
     Mother Seton School
     Our Lady of Fatima School, New Castle
     Our Lady of Grace Kindergarten, Newark
     Padua Academy, Wilmington
     Sacred Heart Academy
     Saint Ann Elementary School, Wilmington
     Saint Anthony of Padua School, Wilmington
     Saint Catherine of Siena School, Wilmington
     Saint Edmond's Academy School, Wilmington
     Saint Elizabeth Elementary School, Wilmington
     Saint Elizabeth High School, Wilmington
     Saint Hedwig Elementary School, Wilmington
     Saint Helena Elementary School, Wilmington
     Saint John Bosco's Academy
     Saint John the Beloved School, Wilmington
     Saint Joseph's Academy
     Saint Mark's High School, Wilmington
     Saint Mary Magdalen School, Wilmington
     Saint Matthew Elementary School, Wilmington
     Saint Paul Elementary School, Wilmington
     Saint Peter School, New Castle

[[Page H246]]

     Saint Peter's Cathedral School, Wilmington
     Saints Peter and Paul School of Easton
     Saint Thomas More Academy, Magnolia
     Saint Thomas the Apostle School, Wilmington
     Saint Vincent's Academy
     Salesianum School, Wilmington
     Ursuline Academy of Wilmington
     Windermere Place

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 23, honoring the contributions of Catholic schools to the 
intellectual, spiritual, moral, physical, and social development of 
children in Guam and throughout our Nation. As we celebrate 2005 
Catholic Schools Week with the spirit of ``Faith in Every Student,'' I 
would like to thank Mr. Kennedy for introducing this resolution that 
helps draw national attention to the important role of Catholic 
Schools.
  Roman Catholicism has a long history in Guam dating back to 1521 when 
Ferdinand Magellan landed on the island. In 1668, Blessed Padre Diego 
Luis de San Vitores arrived in Guam, establishing a mission in the 
village of Hagatna. This became the site of the first Catholic Church 
and is now the seat of the Archdiocese of Agana.
  In the modern era, Bishop Apollinaris Baumgartner, OFM Cap., 
established the foundations of Guam's Catholic Schools. Guam's first 
Chamorro Bishop, Archbishop Felixberto C. Flores, OFM Cap., made 
Catholic education a priority and instilled a tremendous pride in the 
academic and moral education provided by the Catholic schools. His 
successor, Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron has continued the tradition of 
excellence that has been the standard of Catholic Schools in Guam. 
Today, nearly a quarter of Guamanian school children attend Catholic 
schools throughout the Island.
  Catholic schools offering a secondary curriculum include the Notre 
Dame High School in Talofofo, Father Duenas Memorial School in Tai, and 
Academy of Our Lady of Guam in Hagatna. Those offering an elementary 
and middle school education include Bishop Baumgartener Memorial School 
in Sinajana, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Agat, St. Anthony 
School in Tamuning, Saint Francis School in Yona, San Vicente School in 
Barrigada, Santa Barbara School in Dededo, and Dominican School in 
Yigo. Finally, those offering a nursery school education include the 
Dominican Child Care Development Center in Ordot, Infant of Prague in 
Tai, Maria Artero in Agana Heights, and Mercy Heights in Tamuning.
  I would like to commend the leadership of Archbishop Apuron, 
Superintendent of Catholic Schools Lea Santos, and Associate 
Superintendent Sister Ana Lee, OP, for advancing the mission of 
Catholic Schools in Guam. I would also like to recognize the School 
Sisters of Notre Dame, Sisters of Mercy, Dominican Sisters, the 
religious orders of Capuchins, Franciscans, Jesuits and Marists for 
their service in educating the children of Guam.
  Finally, I want to commend all the students, parents, teachers and 
administrators of Catholic schools in Guam and across the Nation for 
their contributions to our Nation and our world.
  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, education remains one of the top priorities 
of our country, and today's tribute calls attention to some of our 
finest learning institutions, the Catholic schools in our country. I'm 
proud to stand today to pay tribute and express my appreciation for the 
Catholic schools across our Nation. They are truly doing great work to 
educate and prepare our children to be fine adults.
  They have shaped generations to be fine citizens. As the product of a 
Catholic school myself, I know that it was the Sisters of Notre Dame de 
Namur who helped shape my character and my values. My children are the 
beneficiaries of a Catholic school education as well. As a graduate of 
the Convent of the Sacred Heart, my daughter has continued the 
tradition of Catholic education, currently serving as the Principal of 
St. Joseph's School of the Sacred Heart in Atherton, CA.
  Today, over 2.5 million children are enrolled in Catholic schools, 
with 14 percent of them being non-Catholics. Today's resolution 
supports the goals of Catholic schools and congratulates all those 
involved on a job well done, the religious and the lay teachers who 
strive to instill the timeless tenets of faith, hope, and charity.
  I'm very proud that the House of Representatives has continued the 
tradition of recognizing the great service Catholic schools provide and 
it is my privilege to thank all those, past and present, for the 
extraordinary contributions they've made to our country by preparing 
the young for citizenship steeped in decency, charity, tolerance and 
love.
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my 
colleagues in support of H. Res. 23, recognizing the contributions of 
Catholic schools. Catholic schools are recognized around the world as 
great institutions of learning, with a rich tradition of academic 
excellence. Teachers in Catholic schools see the potential in their 
students, and push them to achieve that potential, serving the needs of 
children across the socioeconomic spectrum. The secret for the success 
of Catholic schools is really no secret. They get parents involved in 
the process of educating their children, and they push the students to 
do their best, refusing to be satisfied with mediocrity.
  For Catholic schools, cultivating moral excellence in students is 
just as important as academic excellence, producing young adults that 
know right and wrong just as well as their multiplication tables. They 
instill an understanding of the intrinsic value of each and every 
individual, regardless of race, gender, color, or creed. Catholic 
schools serve more than 650,000 minority students each year, creating 
academically successful schools in many neighborhoods that have given 
up on children.
  And so, with H. Res. 23, let us express our gratitude to the hundreds 
of Catholic schools across the country, for their efforts to promote 
the moral and intellectual health of America's youth.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res 23, 
celebrating the contribution of Catholic schools in promoting academic 
excellence and helping to develop and shape our Nations youth.
  Catholic schools are exceptional at providing students with an 
opportunity to understand better ethnic diversity. Nearly 2.5 million 
students were enrolled in Catholic schools for the 2004-2005 school 
year, and more than 26 percent of them were from minority backgrounds.
  I recently had the opportunity to visit Villa Victoria Academy, an 
exemplary Catholic school in the 12th Congressional District of New 
Jersey, on the occasion of their 70th Anniversary Celebration. Villa 
Victoria has an outstanding graduating class of 2005, with 5 National 
Merit Commended Students and a National Merit Hispanic Scholar. In 
addition, many of the students have received early acceptances to some 
of the top colleges and universities in the country, including 
University of Pennsylvania, University of Notre Dame, and Boston 
College.
  In addition to traditional scholastic achievement, Catholic schools 
have also been in the forefront in providing students opportunities in 
music and arts. Garett Vitanza, the 2004 Congressional Arts Competition 
winner from my district, is a graduate of Cardinal McCarrick High 
School in South Amboy, New Jersey. As a student at Cardinal McCarrick, 
Garrett was able to excel in a nontraditional academic field that he 
was truly passionate in. It is reaffirming to see that Catholic schools 
continue to offer various courses in arts and music, along with 
customary courses in math, science, English and history at all levels, 
including honor and advanced placement courses.
  I would like to commend the teachers, parents, and school 
administrators for their hardwork in making a strong learning 
environment for students at Catholic schools. Students are given a 
diverse education, that emphasizes not only on academics, but also 
character traits that students continue to develop throughout their 
life. I would also like to congratulate the hard work and continued 
success of the students of Catholic schools. These students continue to 
achieve great things and continually have positive effects on their 
communities.
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support for House 
Resolution 23, which has been offered by the gentleman from Minnesota. 
I thank my colleague, Mr. Kennedy, for bringing this important 
resolution to the floor today, during Catholic Schools Week 2005. I 
come from a community whose neighborhoods are often better known by the 
names of their Catholic schools and parishes rather than by the names 
of their streets.
  There are more than 8,000 Catholic elementary, middle, and secondary 
schools across the Nation which make invaluable contributions to 
education and play an integral role in shaping a brighter, stronger 
future for our great Nation. The mission of each of these 
institutions--to build solid foundations for lives of confidence, 
faith, and service--has had a tremendous impact in shaping family and 
community values over the generations.
  My own family has been active in Catholic schools since I was a 
child. My mother was a teacher at Our Lady of Perpetual Help school, 
and I am now the proud father of two beautiful children who are 
enrolled at St. Martin of Tours Catholic School in our home 
neighborhood of South Buffalo. I am a first-hand witness to the daily 
work of Catholic schools as they help form the characters of my John 
and Maeve. My family is constantly enriched by the lessons and 
principles that Catholic schools profess.
  This year, Catholic schools will teach 7.6 million students at all 
levels of education. An astounding 99 percent of all of their students 
graduate, and 97 percent of those graduates go on to college. The 
impact of the graduates' goals extends outside the classroom and into 
living rooms and places of work, both in Buffalo and throughout this 
great nation.
  I thank the National Catholic Educational Association and the United 
States Conference

[[Page H247]]

of Catholic Bishops for cosponsoring this appropriate week-long event 
and for helping to increase awareness for Catholic Education across 
America. My family and I are grateful for the crucial contributions of 
America's thousands of Catholic schools have made for more than 100 
years.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleagues in supporting 
this resolution, and thank my colleague, Mr. Kennedy, for his 
unwavering leadership on this issue.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, Catholic schools provide a high quality education to 
millions of our children. Catholic schools teach critical values and 
provide their students with beneficial and life enriching experiences. 
The contributions which Catholic schools make to our nation and our 
children strengthen our society and our place in the world.
  H. Res. 23 recognizes and celebrates our Catholic schools. 
Fortunately, our country values education and the institutions which 
provide it. Catholic schools are an instrumental part of this effort to 
improve the academic achievement and societal values of our children. 
Their place in American education and our nation as a whole is strong 
and necessary.
  Fortunately, both public and Catholic schools provide a strong 
foundation for our nation's children. While our public schools educate 
the vast majority of our children, our Catholic schools provide an 
excellent and enriching alternative. Together these two sectors of our 
education system will work to ensure our excellence in the world.
  In closing Mr. Speaker, I again want to stress my support for 
Catholic schools and also our public schools. Our children are better 
off having both Catholic and public schools provide them with a high 
quality education.
  Mr. BOEHNER. 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 Ohio (Mr. Boehner) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 23.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. BOEHNER. 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 and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________