[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 154 (Tuesday, November 30, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7711-H7712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING PARENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1576) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that a National Day of Recognition for Parents of 
Special Needs Children should be established, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1576

       Whereas the reported prevalence of children with special 
     needs, which may include children with healthcare needs, 
     behavioral needs, learning needs, and mental health needs, 
     has grown significantly throughout the last 50 years;
       Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     estimates that an average of 1 in 110 children in the United 
     States have an autism spectrum disorder and 1 in 1000 
     children are born with Down syndrome;
       Whereas active and supportive parents serve a critical role 
     in the development of children with special needs and in 
     preparing them to succeed in school and in life;
       Whereas parents of children with special needs deserve 
     annual national recognition for their selfless dedication, 
     compassion, and sacrifice; and
       Whereas it is appropriate that the Nation reserve a special 
     day each year to celebrate and honor the parents of children 
     with special needs across the United States: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the importance of honoring the Nation's 
     parents of children with special needs;
       (2) expresses its sense that a National Day of Recognition 
     for Parents of Children with Special Needs should be 
     established to honor such parents; and
       (3) urges the President to issue a proclamation calling on 
     the people of the United States to observe such a day with 
     appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Woolsey) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 1576 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1576, which 
supports the establishment of a National Day of Recognition for Parents 
of Children With Special Needs.
  Parents of children with special needs serve a critical role in the 
development of their children and in preparing them to succeed in 
school and in life. Through selfless dedication and sacrifice, these 
parents work with their schools and communities to ensure that their 
children are granted equal access to a free and appropriate education 
that recognizes their individual learning, behavioral, and mental 
health needs in a healthy and supportive learning environment.
  We know that the number of parents raising children with special 
needs is significant, and it is growing. A National Day of Recognition 
for Parents of Children With Special Needs not only serves to honor the 
dedication of these parents, but to highlight resources that they can 
turn to for information and support.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Burton of Indiana for 
introducing this resolution and once again express my support for House 
Resolution 1576, which supports the establishment of a National Day of 
Recognition for Parents of Children With Special Needs. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1576, 
expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a National 
Day of Recognition for Parents of Special Needs Children should be 
established.
  Parents of special needs children must give their children extra 
time, attention, care, and love. For this reason, they deserve 
recognition for their selfless dedication, compassion, and sacrifice.
  According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 14 percent 
of children between age 1 and 17 years of age in the United States are 
diagnosed as having special health care needs. Children with special 
needs are defined as those who have a chronic physical, developmental, 
behavioral, or emotional condition that requires special health-related 
services of a type or amount beyond that required by children 
generally.
  Those of us who have children understand the time, effort, and 
sacrifice being a parent requires. However, having a child with a 
disability or chronic illness requires additional time and effort. 
These parents must find and manage treatment, attend doctor 
appointments, handle conflicts at daycare or school, and most 
importantly, seek the right educational choices for their children. In 
addition, they advocate for their child and must be proactive and take 
necessary steps to make sure their child receives appropriate services.
  Active and supportive parents of children with special needs play an 
integral role in their children's development and in preparing them for 
school and for life. Parents of children with special needs often work 
tirelessly on behalf of their children in the face of financial 
hardship and maintaining a work-life balance. Although these parents 
often have additional stress, it is indeed a labor of love in which the 
rewards are many.
  In recognition of the day-to-day love and sacrifice by the parents of 
children with special needs, and for the exemplary example of courage 
and devotion these parents provide--in many instances a lifetime of 
care for their children--I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I would just close by saying that 
in 30-plus years of practicing medicine and delivering many thousands 
of babies--many of those special needs children--in a smaller community 
where I am from, I have seen the stresses personally that this has put 
on families and have so much respect for these families and what the 
children offer the parents and the community. I have had my own 
daughter work in high school in a special needs classroom. I have 
attended many special needs classrooms while I have been in Congress. 
So I would urge support for this. This is a terrific resolution, and I 
appreciate very much the support of this House.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House 
Resolution 1576, expressing the Support of the House of Representatives 
for the establishment of a National Day of Recognition for parents of 
special needs children. I would like to thank the members of the 
Education and Labor Committee, especially Chairman Miller and Ranking 
Member Kline for their effort to bring this resolution to the floor 
today. As the author of the resolution, I also would like to extend my 
sincere appreciation to all my colleagues who agreed to co-sponsor this 
resolution. Finally, I would like to thank Representative Turner of 
Ohio--a leading co-sponsor of the resolution--who inspired this 
resolution based on the experiences of one of his constituents, a Mr. 
George Brooks.
  Mr. Brooks, who himself is a disabled veteran, worked for 2 years as 
an attendant on a handicapped school bus for Centerville City Schools 
in Ohio. Every day he realized how demanding his job was just providing 
a safe trip to and from school for these children. However, the more he 
thought about it, the more he realized that the challenges he faced 
paled in comparison to what the parents of these children had to cope 
with every single solitary day of their child's life.
  As many of my colleagues already know, my own grandson is autistic, 
so I know firsthand the kind of challenges Mr. Brooks was 
contemplating. In addition, as an autism advocate I have talked with 
countless families who

[[Page H7712]]

struggle to deal with the most severe behaviors associated with autism 
such as seizures with severe breakdowns and explosive behaviors which 
have caused injury to their child, as well as other children. For these 
families, broken bones and stitches have become a part of their 
everyday life. I have also spoken with families who have mortgaged 
their homes and gone into bankruptcy in their pursuit of treatments to 
help their children cope with their autism--some treatments, which have 
helped but are not covered by any insurance, driving these families 
thousands of dollars into debt with no end in sight.
  And autism, although it affects an average of 1 in 110 children in 
the United States according to Centers for Disease Control's latest 
figures, is simply one of the many medical and educational special 
needs that families may face. Cancer and heart defects, muscular 
dystrophy and cystic fibrosis; chronic conditions like asthma and 
diabetes; congenital conditions like cerebral palsy and dwarfism; and 
health threats like food allergies and obesity; ADHD, Fetal Alcohol 
Spectrum Disorder, Tourette Syndrome, Down syndrome, dyslexia; Mr. 
Speaker, the list could go on and on.
  It has been said that if you pick any two families of children with 
special needs, you would think that they have very little in common; as 
a family dealing with developmental delays has different immediate 
concerns than one dealing with chronic illness, or one dealing with 
mental illness or learning problems or behavioral challenges. Yet the 
truth is that all of these families share a common thread, their 
incredible love and devotion to their children. And it is this love and 
devotion that gives them the strength to fight for appropriate care and 
accommodations for their children; for their children to be accepted in 
their extended family, school and community; plan for their children's 
uncertain future; and constantly adjust routines and expectations to 
meet their children's needs.
  H. Res. 1576 is a very straight-forward resolution; it: (1) 
recognizes the importance of honoring the Nation's parents of special 
needs children; (2) expresses the sense that a National Day of 
Recognition for Parents of Special Needs Children should be established 
to honor such parents; and (3) urges the President to issue a 
proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe such 
a day with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities.
  Parents of children with special needs are often more flexible, 
compassionate, stubborn and resilient than other parents because they 
have to be. And I strongly believe it is appropriate for this House to 
honor their sacrifices. To that end, I respectfully ask all of my 
colleagues to support H. Res. 1576.
  Mr. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support for 
H. Res. 1576, a resolution expressing support for a National Day of 
Recognition for Parents of Special Needs Children.
  Three years ago, my husband Brian and I were blessed with our amazing 
son, Cole. Not only has Cole given us a new perspective on life, but he 
has introduced us to so many other parents of special needs children, 
who have selflessly dedicated their lives for the betterment of their 
children. It is these parents who have opened their hearts and shared 
their lives in order to pave the road forward for Cole and other 
children.
  H. Res. 1576 recognizes the tireless efforts of these parents and 
urges the rest of the Nation to recognize them as well.
  Everywhere Brian and I go--we meet families who share with us their 
stories about a loved one who has special needs. They all speak 
passionately about the positive impact that their children have on 
their lives. And it is these parents who have helped Brian and I to see 
the amazing impact that Cole will continue to have on our lives and in 
this world.
  I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1576.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank Representative Burton 
from Indiana for introducing this resolution and Representative Roe for 
his support of this resolution. I want to express my support for House 
Resolution 1576, which supports the establishment of a National Day of 
Recognition for Parents of Children With Special Needs. I urge my 
colleagues to join us in supporting this resolution.
  Mr. 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. Woolsey) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1576, 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. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground 
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum 
is not present.
  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.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________