[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 17, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H3451-H3453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORTING PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH AND WORLD SOCIAL WORK DAY

  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 240) to support the goals and ideals of 
Professional Social Work Month and World Social Work Day, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 240

       Whereas social workers have the demonstrated education and 
     experience to guide individuals, families, and communities 
     through complex issues and choices;
       Whereas social workers help people in all stages of life, 
     from children to the elderly, and in all situations from 
     adoption to hospice care;
       Whereas social workers are in schools, courtrooms, drug 
     clinics, hospitals, senior centers, shelters, nursing homes, 
     the military, disaster relief, prisons, and corporations;
       Whereas social workers are dedicated to improving the 
     society in which we live and connecting individuals, 
     families, and communities to available resources;
       Whereas social workers stand up for others to make sure 
     everyone has access to the same basic rights, protections, 
     and opportunities;
       Whereas social workers, such as Harry Hopkins, Frances 
     Perkins, Whitney M. Young, Jr., and Dr. Dorothy I. Height 
     have been the driving force behind important social movements 
     in the United States and abroad;
       Whereas, according to the United States Department of 
     Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for social 
     workers is expected to grow much faster than the average for 
     all occupations;
       Whereas Professional Social Work Month and World Social 
     Work Day, which is March 17, 2009, will build awareness of 
     the role of professional social workers and their commitment 
     and dedication to individuals, families, and communities 
     everywhere through service delivery, research, education, and 
     legislative advocacy; and
       Whereas the 2009 Social Work Month theme--Social Work: 
     Purpose and Possibility--highlights the special 
     characteristics of those who choose social work as a 
     profession, and underscores the goals of their work: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of Professional Social 
     Work Month and World Social Work Day;
       (2) acknowledges the diligent efforts of individuals and 
     groups who promote the importance of social work and who are 
     observing Professional Social Work Month and World Social 
     Work Day;
       (3) encourages the American people to engage in appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities to further promote awareness of the 
     life-changing role of social workers;
       (4) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the 
     millions of caring individuals who have chosen to serve their 
     communities through social work; and
       (5) encourages young people to seek out educational and 
     professional opportunities to become social workers.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from

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Colorado (Mr. Polis) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.


                             General Leave

  Mr. POLIS. I request 5 legislative days during which Members may 
revise and extend and insert extraneous materials on House Resolution 
240 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the goals and ideals 
of Professional Social Work Month and World Social Work Day. Social 
workers are valuable members of all communities, helping people in all 
stages of life, from birth through the elderly, and in all situations, 
from adoption to hospice care and end of life. Dedicating their 
education and experience, social workers help to guide individuals, 
families, and communities through complicated issues and complex 
choices.
  There are more than 600,000 people in the United States who have 
devoted their lives to social work and to the improvement of the 
society in which we live by obtaining social work degrees. Many social 
workers have been the driving force behind important social movements 
in the United States and abroad.
  A few examples include Harry Hopkins, who relocated to New Orleans in 
order to work for the American Red Cross as Director of Civilian 
Relief, Gulf Division; or Francis Perkins, who championed the minimum 
wage laws and reduced the workweek for women to 48 hours.
  My late grandmother, Ruth Schutz, was a social worker for over 20 
years in New York City, as well as a progressive activist. These are 
the frequently unsung heroes of our communities, and that's why it's 
important that we recognize them here today, Mr. Speaker.
  Social workers labor in schools, courtrooms, drug clinics, hospitals, 
senior centers, shelters, nursing homes, the military, disaster relief, 
prisons, and corporations all over the country as they stand up for 
others to make sure that everyone has access to the same basic rights, 
protections, and opportunities.
  This is hard work, emotionally difficult, and frequently thankless 
work, which is why it's so important that our body take this step to 
honor social workers here today.
  However, the need for social workers is expected to grow twice as 
fast as other occupations, especially in gerontology and home health 
care issues as our aging demographic requires more services for our 
seniors. Substance abuse, private social service agencies, and school 
social work also continue to increase.
  Professional Social Work Month and World Social Work Day, which is 
March 17, 2009, will build awareness of the role of professional social 
workers and their commitment and dedication to individuals, families, 
and community everywhere through service delivery, research, education, 
and legislative advocacy.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution honoring those who 
choose social work as a profession in their endeavors to better 
society.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 240, which 
supports the goals and ideals of Professional Social Work Month and 
World Social Work Day.
  As a health care professional of three decades and a former licensed 
nursing home administrator, I observed personally every day social 
workers making meaningful contributions throughout the Nation.
  They are on the front lines helping people overcome life's most 
difficult challenges--poverty, abuse, addiction, illness, disability, 
discrimination, and more. Social workers are the Nation's largest 
providers of mental health services, delivering 60 percent of mental 
health treatment.
  However, these highly trained professionals also work in schools, 
hospitals, health care agencies, senior centers, crisis centers, and 
military bases. Social workers also actively advocate changes in policy 
and legislation to strengthen the social safety nets critical to so 
many. Whether in direct practice, administration, education, research, 
or policy development, social workers promote social justice for all.
  According to the International Federation of Social Workers, social 
work grew out of humanitarian and democratic ideals, and its values are 
based on respect for equality, worth, and dignity of all people.
  Since its beginnings over a century ago, social work has focused on 
meeting human needs and developing human potential. Human rights and 
social justice serve as the motivation and justification for social 
work action. In solidarity with those who are less fortunate, the 
profession strives to alleviate poverty and to promote inclusion for 
the most vulnerable populations.
  This year's Social Work Month theme--``Purpose and Possibility''--
truly highlights the special characteristics of those who choose social 
work as a profession and underscores the goals of their work. While 
their day-to-day work often goes unnoticed, we stand today to recognize 
with gratitude the contributions of the millions of caring individuals 
who have chosen to serve their communities through social work. I ask 
my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. POLIS. By passing this resolution and by bringing attention to 
Professional Social Work Month and World Social Work Day, which is 
March 17, 2009, we can not only bring attention and appreciation to an 
important profession, but engage in a discussion about the important 
role of social workers in keeping and weaving our community fabric 
together.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill.
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak on 
behalf of House Resolution 240, which honors the dedication and 
compassion of professional social workers. Our highest calling is to 
provide service to others, especially those less fortunate than 
ourselves.
  In the early 20th century, thousands of people lived in despair and 
poverty, and it was the early progressive moment in which the social 
work movement was born, providing food, clothing, health care and 
education to the less fortunate.
  Social workers had a role in civil rights and in women's freedom. 
Today, social workers continue this fight to ensure that vulnerable 
families have the support and the health care that they need.
  Social workers are everywhere in our society, caring for all of us. 
They help people in all stages of life, from children to the elderly, 
and in all situations, from adoption to hospice care. You can find 
social workers in hospitals, police departments, mental health clinics, 
military facilities and corporations.
  Professional social workers are the Nation's largest providers of 
mental health care services. They provide more mental health services 
than psychologists, psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses combined.
  The Veterans Administration employs more than 4,400 social workers to 
assist veterans and their families with individual and family 
counseling, client education, end-of-life planning, substance abuse 
treatment, crisis intervention and other services.
  Today we thank all those who have toiled in the fields of our 
community, including my grandmother, who left the comfort of her home 
each day at the turn of the century and went to the Lower East Side to 
help immigrants. And we praise all of those who reach out to others 
every day in their community.
  Social workers' service makes our communities stronger. March is 
National Professional Work Month, and Tuesday, March 17 is World Social 
Work Day. I honor their service and thank them for caring for all of us 
each day.
  Mr. POLIS. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 240, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. POLIS. 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.

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