[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7087-H7088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SUPPORTING NATIONAL SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY WEEK

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1645) expressing support for designation of the 
week beginning on November 8, 2010, as National School Psychology Week.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1645

       Whereas all children and youth learn best when they are 
     healthy, supported, and receive an education that meets their 
     individual needs;
       Whereas schools can more effectively ensure that all 
     students are ready and able to learn if schools meet all the 
     needs of each student;
       Whereas learning and development are directly linked to the 
     mental health of children, and a supportive learning 
     environment is an optimal place to promote mental health;
       Whereas sound psychological principles are critical to 
     proper instruction and learning, social and emotional 
     development, prevention and early intervention, and support 
     for a culturally diverse student population;
       Whereas school psychologists are specially trained to 
     deliver mental health services and academic support that 
     lowers barriers to learning and allows teachers to teach more 
     effectively;
       Whereas school psychologists facilitate collaboration that 
     helps parents and educators identify and reduce risk factors, 
     promote protective factors, create safe schools, and access 
     community resources;
       Whereas school psychologists are trained to assess barriers 
     to learning, utilize data-based decision making, implement 
     research driven prevention and intervention strategies, 
     evaluate outcomes, and improve accountability;
       Whereas State educational agencies and other State entities 
     credential more than 35,000 school psychologists who practice 
     in schools in the United States as key professionals that 
     promote the learning and mental health of all children;
       Whereas the National Association of School Psychologists 
     establishes and maintains high standards for training, 
     practice, and school psychologist credentialing, in 
     collaboration with organizations such as the American 
     Psychological Association, that promote effective and ethical 
     services by school psychologists to children, families, and 
     schools;
       Whereas the National Association of School Psychologists 
     has a Model for Comprehensive and Integrated School 
     Psychological Services that promotes standards for the 
     consistent delivery of school psychological services to all 
     students in need;
       Whereas the people of the United States should recognize 
     the vital role school psychologists play in the personal and 
     academic development of the Nation's children; and
       Whereas the week beginning on November 8, 2010, would be an 
     appropriate week to designate as National School Psychology 
     Week: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the designation of National School Psychology 
     Week;
       (2) honors and recognizes the contributions of school 
     psychologists to the success of students in schools across 
     the United States; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities that 
     promote awareness of the vital role school psychologists play 
     in schools, in the community, and in helping students develop 
     into successful and productive members of society.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Cassidy) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members be 
granted 5 legislative days to revise and extend and insert extraneous 
material on House Resolution 1645 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HIRONO. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1645, which 
honors and recognizes the contributions of school psychologists in our 
Nation's education system by designating the week of November 8, 2010, 
as National School Psychology Week.
  School psychologists are mental health professionals with specialized 
training who understand that many students face barriers to learning 
and need additional support to overcome these barriers and improve 
academic and behavioral outcomes. There are more than 35,000 
credentialed school psychologists in this country who are essential in 
helping children succeed in school.
  National School Psychology Week reminds us of the integral role 
school psychologists play daily in our schools to help ensure that our 
students have an opportunity to reach his or her full potential.
  I would like to thank Representative Loebsack for introducing this 
important measure and, once again, express my support for House 
Resolution 1645.
  The work of school psychologists helps reduce high school dropout 
rates, decreases problem behaviors, and promotes academic success. 
School psychologists work together with youth, parents, and educators 
to identify and reduce risk factors, create safe schools, and access 
community resources.
  Mental health professionals in the academic setting, including school 
psychologists, can play an important role in increasing a student's 
engagement in school. The results of this work can be seen in absolute, 
concrete terms. Research points to higher standardized test scores and 
better grades as well as decreased absences and discipline referrals.
  School psychologists are a vital resource in helping us narrow the 
achievement gap and reducing disproportionate representation of 
students from diverse backgrounds in special education.
  Mr. Speaker, I once again express my support for House Resolution 
1645 which recognizes the week of November 8th as National School 
Psychology Week.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of the resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 1645, expressing support 
for designation of the week beginning on November 8, 2010, as National 
School Psychology Week.
  National School Psychology Week takes place from November 8 to 
November 12 this year. Recognizing National School Psychology Week 
promotes the importance of providing support for students to help to 
create a healthy, safe, and positive learning environment and to help 
remove academic and personal barriers to students' success.

[[Page H7088]]

  The role of school psychologists is diverse. School psychologists may 
help deliver mental health services as well as academic support. These 
individuals may also help to assess students to determine what learning 
barriers they face and how best to address those barriers.

                              {time}  1850

  The theme of this year's National School Psychology Week is ``today 
is a good day to shine.'' This theme focuses on highlighting the 
positive work school psychologists do to promote students' academic and 
personal success. We recognize National School Psychology Week to show 
our support for the efforts school psychologists make to create a 
healthy, safe, and positive learning environment. I stand in support of 
this resolution.
  Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1645, 
designating the week of November 8th as National School Psychology 
Week. I introduced this Resolution in support of National School 
Psychology Week because, were it not for caring adults in my school and 
my community, I would not be where I am today. I know from my own 
childhood how circumstances outside school can affect a student's 
performance in the classroom, so I believe it is extremely important 
that our schools have professionals trained to meet students' 
nonacademic needs.
  School psychologists perform a myriad of functions within schools. 
They work with students to improve social, emotional, and behavioral 
problems that may affect their ability to succeed in school, assess 
barriers to learning, and design and implement behavioral interventions 
that help teachers create positive classroom environments.
  That is why I would like to take this opportunity to honor and 
recognize the professionals that work so hard for our children and 
grandchildren in schools across the country. Your efforts on behalf of 
our nation's students are appreciated.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the 
actions of the House of Representatives in honoring and recognizing the 
contributions of school psychologists by designating the week of 
November 8, 2010 as National School Psychology Week. I proudly support 
H. Res. 1645 and urge my colleagues to support this important piece of 
legislation.
  During the week of November 8, 2010, we will celebrate the critical 
role that school psychologists have in our nation's education system. 
It is imperative that our nation's children receive a complete 
education. While it is essential that our children take reading, 
writing, and arithmetic, a complete education includes proper social, 
emotional, and mental development. School psychologists ensure that our 
nation's children are receiving the mental health and psychological 
development they need to prosper in this world. School psychologists 
work with teachers, coaches, and guidance counselors to educate the 
whole child. School psychologists play a vital role in the lives of our 
nation's children as they are often the first and only mental health 
professionals with which our children come in contact.
  School psychologists are highly trained individuals that work 
directly with students, teachers, and families to form collaborations 
that meet the educational needs of our children. The National 
Association of School Psychologists establishes and maintains high 
standards for training, practice, and school psychologist 
credentialing. School psychologists play a special role in promoting 
child development, motivating students, and forming collaborations 
between teachers, families, and administrators.
  I take this time to especially thank the school psychologists in my 
home state of Georgia for all of their hard work and dedication. I 
encourage all of my constituents in the Fourth District to join in 
recognizing school psychologists and the vital role they have in 
educating our children.
  I join the Chairman in urging my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr.CASSIDY. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would once again urge my 
colleagues to support House Resolution 1645. It takes many people to 
enable a child to succeed, and school psychologists are definitely 
among those.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1645.
  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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