[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 26, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H342-H344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1445
                    NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1029) expressing support for designation of the 
week of February 1 through February 5, 2010, as ``National School 
Counseling Week''.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1029

       Whereas the American School Counselor Association has 
     declared the week of February 1 through February 5, 2010, 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 provide equitable 
     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 provide support for students 
     whose family members have been deployed to conflicts 
     overseas;
       Whereas school counselors help students cope with serious 
     and common challenges of growing up, including peer pressure, 
     mental health issues, school violence, disciplinary problems, 
     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 local budgets are cut, especially in 
     tough economic times;
       Whereas the average student-to-counselor ratio in America's 
     public schools, 475-to-1, is almost double the 250-to-1 ratio 
     recommended by the American School Counselor Association, the 
     American Counseling 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 1 through February 5, 2010, 
     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. Woolsey) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The gentlewoman from California is recognized.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous 
material on H. Res. 1029 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1029, which 
recognizes the impact that school counselors have in students' lives 
throughout the country. It encourages the observance of February 1 
through 5 as National School Counseling Week.
  School counselors play an essential role in students', teachers', and 
families' lives. National data show that school counselors improve 
teacher quality, bolster student achievement, and lower dropout rates. 
Additionally, research demonstrates that students who receive social 
and emotional support and other services carried out by school 
counselors achieve higher academic results.
  Our education system employs school counselors at all levels, in 
elementary, middle, and high school, as well as in district supervisory 
positions. The educational backgrounds of school counselors qualify 
them to work with students to address their academic, personal, social, 
and career development needs. Through the implementation of a school 
counseling program, counselors offer a range of services to students. 
They also offer these services to parents, guardians, other school 
staff, and the community at large. School counselors assist with 
curriculum design and implementation, offer individual guidance and 
counseling, and other intervention activities that meet immediate 
student needs. Examples include education on mental health

[[Page H343]]

issues, school violence prevention, social and career skills training, 
college guidance and preparation, as well as conflict resolution.
  Day in and day out, Madam Speaker, school counselors work tirelessly 
to provide academic, college preparatory, career, and emotional support 
to our children. Through their leadership and advocacy, school 
counselors strive to foster healthy school environments that promote 
equity and access to quality educational experiences for every student.
  I thank the American School Counselor Association and the National 
Education Association for supporting this important resolution and the 
work of counselors in our schools. National School Counseling Week 
reminds us that the crucial role counselors play is absolutely 
important in every student's life.
  Madam Speaker, again, I support this resolution and thank 
Congresswoman Linda Sanchez for bringing this resolution forward. I 
urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speaker, again, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1029 that 
expresses support for the designation of the week of February 1 through 
February 5 2010 as National School Counseling Week, even though that is 
only 5 days. But I guess that is a school week.
  School counselors serve as a valuable resource to students across the 
Nation. School counselors assist students with the transition from 
secondary education to higher education or the workforce. They help 
students cope with trauma and difficult family issues, assist students 
and teachers in dealing with behavioral problems, and they serve as a 
resource for students dealing with the challenges of becoming adults.
  School counselors also serve as a resource for parents and educators. 
They assist parents in communicating with their kids, and provide 
parents with important information to help their kids transition to 
higher education or the workforce. They work with teachers and parents 
to help students explore their potential and set realistic education 
and career goals. They often serve as a third party to mediate between 
parent-teacher or student-teacher or parent-student relationships.
  National School Counseling Week highlights the importance of school 
counselors and the valuable assistance that they provide students, 
parents, and teachers. This year's theme is ``Celebrate School 
Counseling.'' The theme aims to focus public attention on the unique 
contributions of professional school counselors.
  I spent far many too years of my life teaching in the public school 
system. I have known many counselors, and I have appreciated their 
efforts and have respected their efforts and their goals even as I have 
harassed them on their particular jobs.
  With that, I express my sincere gratitude to all school counselors. I 
recognize their contribution to our Nation's youth. I urge my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentlewoman 
from California (Congresswoman Linda T. Sanchez), the sponsor of the 
legislation, for as much time as she may consume.
  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. I want to thank my colleague from 
California (Ms. Woolsey).
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1029 and 
support the goals of National School Counseling Week. I want to thank 
Chairman George Miller and Ranking Member John Kline, as well as 
Representative Vern Ehlers, for their support of this resolution.
  I introduced this resolution to recognize the tireless efforts of a 
group of professionals who have dedicated themselves to children and to 
their education: school counselors.
  I wish to take this opportunity to recognize a few of the diligent 
and hardworking school counselors from California's 39th District. 
Angela Castellanos of Santa Fe High School in Whittier, California, and 
Alex Paredes of Southeast High School in South Gate, California, are 
just two examples of counselors who do exceptional work every single 
day to help our students reach their highest potential. It is because 
of their unending dedication and the dedication of counselors like 
Angela and Alex that children across our country succeed in becoming 
engineers, doctors and, yes, even Members of Congress.
  School counselors play a vital role in the development of our 
students, not just on academic, but on social and personal levels as 
well. Unfortunately, there simply aren't enough of them. Counselors 
often find themselves the casualty of budget cuts. In California, for 
example, the student-to-counselor ratio is a dismal 945 students to one 
counselor. That's 945 students to one counselor, almost four times the 
recommended ratio.
  Our secondary school counselors work vigorously to increase 
graduation rates, identify problems in our schools, and improve morale 
by inspiring students to challenge themselves and explore new 
opportunities.
  Primary counselors often help identify students with health problems 
or disabilities that interfere with learning. They also help youngsters 
to cope with traumatic events, from moving to a new school to the death 
of a parent.
  Our counselors do amazing and often unrecognized work. Our 
communities are strengthened by the students who are championed by 
their school counselors. I urge my colleagues to support this effort to 
recognize the outstanding work that counselors do to ensure that our 
children's future is full of promise. I thank again my colleague.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I have no other speakers. Is the gentlelady from 
California ready to yield back?
  Ms. WOOLSEY. I am ready to yield back.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Then with that, I urge adoption of this 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 
1029, which recognizes the impact that school counselors have in 
students' lives and encourages the observation of February 1 through 
February 5 as National School Counseling Week.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of 
House Resolution 1029. This resolution designates the week of February 
1 through February 5 as ``National School Counseling Week.'' It is 
extremely vital that we recognize those very people who mentor and 
motivate our youth to do their very best. Our Nation's school 
counselors work everyday to ensure every child has opportunities for 
personal and educational growth. With very little resources, they help 
some kids stay in school and help others cope with personal tragedies. 
They help our children dream big and prepare for careers from 
manufacturing to medicine to becoming tomorrow's future leaders. Thus 
it is vital we support and honor those who play key roles in our 
children's success and life.
  The national ``drop out'' rate has increased to 6.2 million students 
in the United States ranging in age from 16 and 24. This pressing issue 
is of utter importance and should be addressed with urgency as it 
pertains to our youth. These statistics are hard to believe. Only half 
of the high school students in the Nation's 50 largest cities are 
graduating in four years. Marguerite Kondracke, president and CEO of 
America's Promise, says that each year dropouts represent $320 billion 
in lost lifetime earning potential. The difference in lifetime salary 
for a dropout and a high school graduate is about $300,000. This is why 
it is really important for students to have counselors who are 
instrumental in encouraging students to stay in school and motivate 
them to succeed.
  This subject is near and dear to my heart. In Houston, we have one of 
the highest drop out rates in the country. Houston Independent School 
District's, HISD's, dropout rate is at least 18 percent. It is one of 
the biggest challenges we are having. Many students need the extra push 
to truly value education and to stay in school. In the current global 
economy, having at least a high school diploma is a critical step for 
avoiding poverty, and a college degree is a prerequisite for a well-
paying job. The costs of dropping out of high school today are 
substantial and have risen over time, especially for young men, who 
find it almost impossible to earn an adequate income to take care of 
themselves and their families.
  By contrast, adults with high school diplomas contribute major fiscal 
benefits to the country over their lifetime. The combined lifetime 
fiscal benefits--including the payment of payroll, Federal, and State 
income taxes--could amount to more than $250,000 per graduated student. 
Such a public fiscal benefit more than outweighs the estimated cost of 
enrolling a student who has dropped out.

  The average counselor-to-student ratio in America's public schools is 
a mere one 1 to

[[Page H344]]

475, a ratio that means school counselors must work extremely hard to 
meet the individual educational needs of students. Yet, despite their 
limited supply, counselors are always there in a pinch: counselors are 
instrumental in helping children and their families cope with trauma, 
whether a natural disaster or a family death.
  As many of you know, professional secondary school counselors are 
also an integral part of the effort to increase graduation rates. 
School counselors identify potential problems early in a student's 
academic career and make sure that they are addressed before students 
become overwhelmed and drop out. School counselors also inspire 
children to achieve better futures for themselves and their communities 
through education.
  Once again, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution in 
honoring our school counselors who do so much and rarely get 
recognition for their hard work.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. 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. Woolsey) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1029.
  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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