[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 23, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H420-H422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK

  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 932) expressing support 
for designation of the week of February 4 through February 8, 2008 as 
``National School Counseling Week''.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 932

       Whereas the American School Counselor Association has 
     declared the week of February 4 through February 8, 2008 as 
     ``National School Counseling Week'';
       Whereas the House of Representatives has recognized the 
     importance of school counseling through the inclusion of 
     elementary and secondary school counseling programs in the 
     last reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965;
       Whereas school counselors have long advocated that the 
     education system of the United States must leave no child 
     behind and must provide opportunities for all students;
       Whereas school counselors have long emphasized the 
     importance of personal and social development in academic 
     achievement;
       Whereas school counselors help develop well-rounded 
     students by guiding them through their academic, personal, 
     social, and career development;
       Whereas school counselors play a vital role in ensuring 
     that students are aware of financial aid and college 
     opportunities;
       Whereas school counselors may encourage students to pursue 
     challenging academic courses to prepare them for college 
     majors and careers in the science, technology, engineering, 
     and mathematics fields;
       Whereas school counselors help students cope with the 
     serious and common challenges of growing up, including peer 
     pressure, mental health issues, school violence, disciplinary 
     problems, the deployment of family members to conflicts 
     overseas, and problems in the home;
       Whereas school counselors are also instrumental in helping 
     students, teachers, and parents deal with personal trauma and 
     community and national tragedies;
       Whereas school counselors are among the few professionals 
     in a school building that are trained in both education and 
     mental health;
       Whereas, despite the important contributions of school 
     counselors to student success, counseling positions are not 
     always protected when budgets are cut;
       Whereas the average student-to-counselor ratio in America's 
     public schools, 476-to-1, is almost double the 250-to-1 ratio 
     recommended by the American School Counselor Association, the 
     American Counseling Association, the American Medical 
     Association, the American Psychological Association, and 
     other organizations;
       Whereas the celebration of ``National School Counseling 
     Week'' would increase awareness of the important and 
     necessary role school counselors play in the lives of 
     students in the United States; and
       Whereas the week of February 4 through February 8, 2008 
     would be an appropriate week to designate as ``National 
     School Counseling Week'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
       (1) honors and recognizes the contributions of school 
     counselors to the success of students in our Nation's 
     elementary and secondary schools; and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National School Counseling Week'' with appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities that promote awareness of the 
     crucial role school counselors play in preparing students for 
     fulfilling lives as contributing members of society.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Keller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 932, 
expressing support for designation of February 4 through February 8, 
2008 as ``National School Counseling Week.''
  I thank Chairman George Miller and Ranking Member Buck McKeon, as 
well as Vern Ehlers, the lead cosponsor, for their support of this 
important resolution and the majority and minority committee staff for 
doing the hard work behind the scenes to get this resolution to the 
floor.
  This resolution is about recognizing and honoring school counselors.

[[Page H421]]

  I want to begin, however, with full disclosure: I was not always the 
biggest fan of school counselors. Unfortunately, one of my own high 
school counselors suggested to me that I give up on my plans to go to 
college because I was likely to get pregnant and drop out anyway.
  Well, I've learned a few things since then. First, I learned that 
that particular counselor's fortune telling skills weren't so great, 
and, second, I've learned a lot more about the counseling profession 
and come to understand that one bad apple doesn't represent what 
counseling is all about.
  In fact, good counselors do exactly what this person didn't do. They 
inspire us to dream big, help us get on the road to accomplish those 
dreams, and, when necessary, they enlist the support of our parents, 
teachers, mentors, and others to keep moving us down the road.
  Counselors can be vital to a student's success, especially in high 
school. High school is a transition period into adulthood and the world 
of work. As students make this transition, some need additional help to 
keep up in class, others get distracted by family issues or bad 
behavior, and still others might get involved with gangs and crime.
  But a good school counselor can intervene, working with parents and 
teachers to get students back on track. Individual attention and 
follow-up from a counselor can help a student accomplish amazing 
things. I want to recognize just two of the counselors from my district 
who accomplish amazing things every day they go to work.
  Cheryl Redgate of Santa Fe High School and Shanna Moore-Garcia of La 
Serna High School are just two of the many exceptional counselors in my 
district who have devoted their lives to serving young people. They 
treat each of their students as if they were their own children by 
holding them to high standards and providing encouragement, guidance, 
and support. I understand that local parents have expressed deep 
appreciation for the work of these two stellar counselors and are glad 
to know that Cheryl and Shanna are looking out for their children's 
academic achievement as well as their emotional well-being.
  I regret that I don't have time to name every outstanding counselor 
in my district or across the country. There are just so many who every 
day go above and beyond the job description to help students achieve 
academic success and plan for a bright future.
  One other thing prevents me from naming more counselors who have made 
a difference in the lives of their students, and that's the fact that 
there aren't nearly enough of them. Nationwide, the average student-to-
counselor ratio is 476-1, almost double the 250-1 recommended ratio. In 
California, unfortunately this ratio is a dismal 920-1.
  While today's resolution is a great start, to truly honor the work of 
counselors we must do more to put school counselors where they're 
needed so that students have access to these professionals who have so 
much to offer.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KELLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as 
I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 932 
offered by the Representative from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez). 
National School Counseling Week, which is celebrated annually the first 
full week of February, helps focus public attention on the unique 
contribution of professional school counselors. School counselors are 
employed in school districts and public and private schools of all 
levels across America to help students reach their full potential. They 
are actively committed to helping students explore their abilities, 
strengths, interests and talents as these traits relate to academic 
success and career awareness and development. School counselors serve 
as a vital resource for parents by helping them focus on ways to 
further the educational, personal and social growth of their children. 
They work with teachers and other educators to help students explore 
their potential and set realistic goals for themselves. They often seek 
to identify and utilize community resources that can enhance and 
complement comprehensive school counseling programs that help students 
become productive members of society.

                              {time}  1415

  These comprehensive developmental school counseling programs are 
considered an integral part of the educational process which enables 
all students to achieve.
  National school counseling week highlights the tremendous impact that 
counselors have in helping students achieve academic success and plan 
for their career. This year's theme, ``School Counselors: Creating 
Pathways to Success,'' truly sums up the effort they put forth daily to 
ensure that no child is left behind.
  I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all school counselors, not 
only from my home State of Florida but also all across this great 
Nation. I also wish to thank the Representative from California (Ms. 
Linda T. Sanchez) and the Representative from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) for 
bringing forth this resolution today.
  I urge all my colleagues to support it.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I appreciate my 
colleague for his support of this resolution. I would urge all my 
colleagues to support House Resolution 932.
  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H Res. 932, 
Honoring National School Counseling Week. First, I'd like to thank my 
colleague, Representative Linda Sanchez, for introducing this important 
resolution.
  As a social worker, I recognize the invaluable role that guidance 
counselors and other social services personnel play in our schools.
  These dedicated men and women devote their lives to ensuring the 
bright futures of our Nation's children, supporting them both 
academically and socially, and assisting them on the great journey 
towards higher education and a successful career.
  Guidance counselors also play a vital role in our efforts to increase 
high school graduation and college enrollment rates.
  However, despite our reliance on these important individuals for 
doing the crucial work of preparing our Nation's youth for entry into 
college and the real world, we often fail to give school counselors the 
support they need to do their jobs effectively.
  Many of our schools are under-staffed with guidance counselors, and 
these hardworking individuals are tasked with serving an overwhelming 
number of students with a limited amount of resources. The average 
counselor-to-student ratio in our Nation's public schools is 1 to 436. 
We must acknowledge this reality, and direct our efforts in Congress 
toward increasing both our support and recognition of these hardworking 
men and women in our schools.
  For these reasons, I am a proud co-sponsor of House Resolution 932, 
to recognize the important work of school guidance counselors, 
inspiring the youth of America, and providing them with much-needed 
support in their journey toward high school graduation and a prosperous 
future.
  My fellow colleagues in Congress, I urge you to support House 
Resolution 932, so that we may celebrate the accomplishments and 
diligent efforts of guidance counselors in our Nation's schools.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution 
expressing support for designation of the week of February 4 through 
February 8, 2008, as ``National School Counseling Week.'' I am proud to 
be a cosponsor of this resolution, and I would like to take this 
opportunity to thank our school counselors for their hard work.
  I am committed to ensuring that all school districts, particularly 
those with the greatest economic needs, have access to the necessary 
resources to retain talented teachers and school counselors. I have 
enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with school counselors in my 
home State of Rhode Island. I have seen firsthand the difference that 
the quality school counselors in our State are making in our children's 
lives and understand the tremendous need for the training and placement 
of more of these professionals in our schools.
  We must make sure that our school counselors have the resources 
necessary to help our children, and that is why I am a strong proponent 
of increasing funding for the Elementary and Secondary School 
Counseling Program--one of the programs that No Child Left Behind 
promised to expand. Funding from this program helps to ensure that all 
school districts have the ability to retain talented teachers and 
school counselors. However, despite this promise, school counselors and 
other advocates have had to fight hard to

[[Page H422]]

maintain this program at the elementary level, and this year marks the 
first time it has enough funding to reach high school students. It has 
been and will continue to be a priority of mine to ensure that the 
federal commitment to education matches what we ask of school 
districts.
  While we designate one week to honor our school counselors, let us 
pledge to help them the rest of the year with the resources they need--
and deserve.
  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 932.
  This resolution signifies Congress's appreciation for the critical 
work school counselors do to provide students and their families with 
guidance and support, both academic and emotional, toward obtaining a 
higher education and entrance into the workforce.
  In his 2008 budget, President Bush proposed eliminating federal 
support for elementary and secondary school counselors. Under 
Democratic leadership, the President's proposal was wisely rejected and 
this Congress provided nearly $14 million of additional support to 
school counseling programs, for a total of over $48 million. I am proud 
of this accomplishment, but feel there is still more to be done to meet 
the needs of our children.
  In California, eight in nine high school students attend a school 
with fewer counselors than the national average. This makes California 
the State with the highest counselor to student ratio in the Nation; 
over two times the School Counseling Association's suggested ratio. 
Students attending intensely segregated minority schools are most 
likely to attend schools with fewer counselors than the national 
average. Addressing the school counselor deficit is a critical 
component of closing the achievement gap that plagues our Nation.
  As we reflect on the vital role counselors play in the lives of our 
children, we should remember that investing in our schools is an 
investment in our future; it is the best investment our country can 
make.
  School counselors create pathways to success and H. Res. 932 will 
ensure our Nation comes together this February to recognize their vital 
contributions.
  Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 932 
to express support for school counselors and the designation of the 
week of February 4 through 8, 2008, as ``National School Counseling 
Week.''
  I thank Representative Linda Sanchez for introducing this timely 
resolution and for allowing me to collaborate with her on it. I also 
thank the many Members of Congress that decided to cosponsor this 
resolution, especially Chairman Miller and Ranking Republican McKeon. 
  School counselors are instrumental in helping our students face daily 
challenges. They help develop well-rounded students by guiding them 
through their academic, personal, social, and career development.
  School counselors also play a vital role in ensuring that students 
are prepared for their future. They may encourage students to pursue 
challenging academic courses to prepare them for college majors and 
careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
  I certainly recognize that school counselors contribute to the 
success of students in our schools, and I encourage all Members to join 
me in supporting this resolution.
  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 932.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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