[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORTING NATIONAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE MONTH

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                               speech of

                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                    of the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 2009

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 338, 
supporting the goals and ideals of National Community College Month. 
Community colleges play a vital role in the education of our citizens, 
and as a member of the Congressional Community College Caucus, I am 
delighted to have this opportunity to recognize the fine work done by 
our community colleges.
  We can all agree on the increasing importance of a college education 
in today's knowledge-based economy. But many Americans do not have the 
opportunity to attend a 4-year university. These reasons can be many, 
and range from cost--an extremely important consideration in the 
current recession--to academics, family commitments, or distance from 
home. Often, these individuals turn to community colleges instead, and 
there they can receive workplace training, a GED, or an associate's 
degree, or to begin a bachelor's degree.
  Community colleges often have lower, more affordable tuition costs, 
locations convenient to many homes, and day as well as evening classes 
on an extremely broad range of subjects from physics to literature to 
cuisine. These benefits attract an extremely diverse body of students 
who can also learn from the life experience of their classmates in a 
way that is not always possible in higher education.
  Community colleges also teach important skills which not only allow 
students to earn a living, but also to contribute to the community at 
large. Law enforcement officers, fire fighters, nurses, and health care 
professionals are all educated at our nation's community colleges. Even 
the high-tech professionals who help shape the future of our technology 
and our world economy are products of community colleges.
  In my own district, Northern Marianas College has undertaken the 
challenge of educating our young people. Over nine hundred students are 
enrolled at the college, located on a fourteen-acre campus on the 
island of Saipan. The college offers instruction in Business, Human 
Performance and Athletics, Languages and Humanities, Nursing, 
Education, Sciences, Mathematics, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts. I 
know that Northern Marianas College serves a very important function 
for its students in helping them achieve the goal of a college 
education and I believe career and vocational education like that 
provided at NMC is extremely valuable.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I am proud to 
celebrate the goals of National Community College Month and encourage 
Americans to recognize their local community colleges as the important 
institutions they are.

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