[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H11606-H11607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRESSIONAL AWARD ACT REAUTHORIZATION

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 335) to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 335

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL AWARD ACT.

       (a) Extension of Requirements Regarding Financial 
     Operations of Congressional Award Program; Noncompliance With 
     Requirements.--Section 104(c)(2)(A) of the Congressional 
     Award Act (2 U.S.C. 804(c)(2)(A)) is amended by striking 
     ``and 2004'' and inserting ``2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 
     and 2009''.
       (b) Termination.--
       (1) In general.--Section 108 of the Congressional Award Act 
     (2 U.S.C. 808) is amended by striking ``October 1, 2004'' and 
     inserting ``October 1, 2009''.
       (2) Savings provision.--During the period of October 1, 
     2004, through the date of the enactment of this section, all 
     actions and functions of the Congressional Award Board under 
     the Congressional Award Act (2 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) shall have 
     the same effect as though no lapse or termination of the 
     Board ever occurred.
       (c) Technical Amendments.--The Congressional Award Act is 
     amended--
       (1) in section 103 (2 U.S.C. 803)--
       (A) in subsection (a)(1) (B) and (C), by striking ``a a 
     local'' and inserting ``a local''; and
       (B) in subsection (b)(3)(B), by striking ``section'' each 
     place it appears and inserting ``subsection''; and
       (2) in section 104(c)(2)(A) (2 U.S.C. 804(c)(2)(A)), by 
     inserting a comma after ``1993''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Ms. FOXX. 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 S. 335.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Today, the House considers S. 335, a bill which would reauthorize the 
Congressional Award Act. The Congressional Award program was 
established by PL 96-114 in 1979 to promote initiative, achievement, 
and excellence among youths aged 14 to 23. Award recipients complete a 
self-designed program of challenging, but achievable, goals in four 
program areas: voluntary service, personal development, physical 
fitness, and expedition/exploration.
  Program participants can work toward a Congressional Award 
certificate or medal. In either category, there are three achievement 
levels: gold, silver, and bronze. Minimum requirements must be met 
regarding the number of hours devoted to each of the four program 
areas, total hours worked toward the award, and the duration of the 
participant's efforts.
  Senators and Representatives present the awards at local, city, or 
State ceremonies. It was my great pleasure to make a presentation of 
the silver award recently in my district to Cameron Harris. Cameron 
exemplifies all the positive aspects of the Congressional Award. Making 
that presentation was one of the highlights of my first year in 
Congress.
  Gold medal recipients are recognized each year at the Congressional 
Award Gold Ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, and I look forward to making a 
presentation in the near future to Cameron.
  In 2000, the Congressional Award Act was amended by PL 106-533 to 
establish a congressional recognition for excellence in arts education. 
This act established a nine-member congressional board to recognize 
schools that promote excellence in arts education.
  The Congressional Award program is administered by the Congressional 
Award Board, which is a nonprofit 503(c)(3) private-public partnership 
that is statutorily prohibited from receiving Federal funds. In lieu of 
Federal funding, the board is supported by charitable contributions and 
is authorized to receive in-kind services from the Federal Government, 
including free office space and an annual audit by the General 
Accountability Office, GAO.

                              {time}  2100

  S. 335 maintains current law by continuing the prohibition on Federal 
funding and provides a straight reauthorization that extends current 
law in-kind services for another 5 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and 
I rise in support of S. 335, the bill to reauthorize the Congressional 
Award Act, and I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the House 
companion bill.
  This public-private partnership gives the opportunity to young people 
to set and achieve personally challenging goals that build character 
and foster

[[Page H11607]]

community service, personal development, and citizenship. To earn a 
Congressional Award, as the gentlewoman from North Carolina said, 
participants set and achieve individual goals in the areas of public 
service, personal development, physical fitness and expeditions.
  We in New Jersey are particularly proud of the Congressional Award 
because the sponsor of the bill originally, 26 years ago, here in the 
House of Representatives, was Representative Jim Howard of New Jersey. 
The award is so good because all young people are equally able to earn 
the Congressional Award because the goals set are based on individual 
interests and ability. The young person is not selected to receive the 
Congressional Award; she or he earns it.
  The Congressional Award facilitates neighborhood networks, enabling 
disadvantaged youth to become part of a community. It attracts youth 
from all backgrounds. The Congressional Award program fits nicely with 
extracurricular activities in schools and various youth programs, 
including Key Clubs, Service Clubs, Scouting, 4-H, and so forth. I have 
seen the program provide an opportunity for young people to learn from 
adults who will encourage and support them along the way to earning the 
Congressional Award.
  The award program looks to teachers, guidance counselors, leaders of 
school and youth groups to spread the word about the program. The award 
can act as an important component for the personal development of young 
people. The program establishes a sense of self-confidence and helps 
enhance problem-solving skills. And perhaps the most important lesson, 
certainly one of the most important lessons that people can learn, is 
how to set achievable goals and then how to achieve them.
  Created by Congress 26 years ago, the Congressional Award receives no 
Federal funding. It is fully funded by charitable contributions. 
However, Congress has assisted the program by authorizing the U.S. Mint 
to strike medals presented to the recipients. Members of the House and 
of the Senate recognize their constituents who earn Bronze, Silver and 
Gold medals. The winners of the Gold Medal Award participate in a 
ceremony here in Washington held annually.
  This year, the number of Gold Medal recipients represented more than 
25 States. The 12th Congressional District of New Jersey, my district, 
is pleased and proud to have 1,004 active participants, more than any 
other district in the country. There were five Gold Medalists from the 
12th District in 2005. There is already a Gold Medalist approved for 
2006, and I expect more. I look forward to presenting the awards to 
them and to dozens of Bronze and Silver Award winners.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Congressional Award 
Act.
  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today in support of the re-
authorization of the Congressional Awards Program and to express my 
appreciation for the outstanding benefits it brings to my constituents 
and community. Congress established The Congressional Award in 1979 to 
recognize initiative, achievement and service in young people. The 
enabling legislation (Public Law 96-114) established the Congressional 
Award as a private-public partnership, receiving all funding from the 
private sector.
  Program participants choose what they will do to earn the award based 
on their own interests and abilities. Participants are honored for 
achieving their goals. Participants earn Bronze, Silver and Gold 
Congressional Award Certificates and Bronze, Silver and Gold 
Congressional Award Medals. Each award level involves setting goals in 
four program areas: Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, 
Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration.
  Members of Congress usually present the Award in a ceremony within 
their Congressional District, but the highest award, the Congressional 
Award Gold Medal, is presented in the Capitol in Washington, DC. I have 
been delighted to present 8 Gold Medals to constituents over the last 4 
years. Not only have I seen young people from my district participate 
in the program, but many adults, teachers, guidance counselors, youth 
leaders, and friends have served as Congressional Award advisors and 
mentors.
  Regardless of the situation, youth can earn the Congressional Award. 
The program is open to young people from 14- to 23 years old and it 
accommodates people with special needs or disabilities. There are no 
minimum grade point average requirements. Participants must select an 
unrelated adult to act as their advisor. There are more than 13,000 
young people presently working to earn a Congressional Award--a number 
that is growing rapidly.
  The Congressional Award is about challenge. Awards are earned--not 
won. Participants work entirely at their own pace over an extended 
period of time so that the value of volunteer service, staying fit, 
learning new skills and exploring new places and activities are made 
part of the young person's lifestyle. The Congressional Award fosters 
service, initiative and achievement. The Award builds leadership, 
confidence and self-esteem in countless young people as they grow into 
product citizens in all walks of life.
  For those who sincerely want to promote positive activities among the 
youth of our Nation the Congressional Award Program is an ideal 
national vehicle. That so few Members of the House and the Senate 
sponsor candidates is a shameful tragedy. Certainly the program would 
not be experiencing its present fiscal difficulties if the private 
sector discerned that their Washington legislators really cared. We are 
missing a golden opportunity to do a great amount of good at a very low 
cost.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Congressional Award 
Program as a significant instrument in our efforts to reach out to 
young people across the Nation and encourage them to get involved in 
community service. I encourage my colleagues to support the 
Congressional Award not only by re-authorizing the program for another 
5 years, but also by Members becoming involved in their districts.
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support a congressional 
program that builds character and fosters community service, personal 
development and citizenship in young Americans--the Congressional Award 
program. Established in 1979, the Congressional Award is the highest 
honor Congress bestows upon young people.
  Any interested, motivated youth age 14 to 23 may participate. The 
Congressional Award adapts to meet the needs of each participant. 
Students set goals according to their own interests and level of 
abilities. Congressional award recipients represent the best of 
America. They are required to have committed to bettering themselves 
and to giving back to the communities in which they reside. It is the 
making of fulfilling of that commitment that makes these young people 
so extraordinary.
  Over 650 young people in Mississippi are actively pursuing a 
Congressional Award. Many of these participants are currently involved 
with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts as a part of their volunteer 
service commitment. Last year 15 Mississippi youths earned the 
Congressional Award Gold Medal by serving over 400 hours of volunteer 
community service and 200 hours each in personal development and 
physical fitness.
  2005 Gold Medal recipient William Fleming of Vardaman, MS, says this 
of his experience: ``I gained a renewed sense of accomplishment and 
self worth that cannot be replaced. I got all of this from the 
activities that I completed in the Congressional Award program.''
  Participation in this program is growing rapidly. Over 2,700 
Congressional awards were earned in fiscal year 2005--an increase of 
100 percent from just 5 years ago. On June 22, 2005, Members of 
Congress presented 242 young people with Gold Medals--our highest 
number to date. In 2006, that number will most likely exceed 300. As a 
long time supporter of the Congressional Award, I encourage my fellow 
colleagues to reauthorize this outstanding program.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Conaway). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 335.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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