[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 132 (Monday, September 30, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H6019-H6020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRESSIONAL AWARD PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2013
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(S.
[[Page H6020]]
1348) to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 1348
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Award Program
Reauthorization Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. TERMINATION.
Section 108 of the Congressional Award Act (2 U.S.C. 808)
is amended by striking ``October 1, 2013'' and inserting
``October 1, 2018''.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect as of October 1, 2013.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from North Carolina.
General Leave
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
S. 1348.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1348, the
Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act of 2013, and I yield
myself such time as I may consume.
In 1979, Congress enacted the Congressional Award Act to promote
initiative, achievement, and excellence among young Americans between
the ages of 14 and 23 years old. To earn an award, participants must
complete a self-designed program of challenging goals in four program
areas: voluntary service, personal development, physical fitness, and
expedition/exploration.
Program participants can work toward a congressional award
certificate or medal. In either category there are three achievement
levels: gold, silver, and bronze. Minimum requirements must be met
regarding the number of hours devoted to each of the four program
areas, total hours worked toward the award, and the duration of the
participant's efforts.
Senators and Representatives present the awards at local, city, or
State ceremonies. It has been my great pleasure to make such
presentations many times. The latest was a presentation of the silver
medal earlier this summer to one of my constituents from Lewisville,
North Carolina, Shelby Birkedal. Shelby worked more than 200 hours of
community and 100 hours of physical activity to earn her very well-
deserved honor, and we are very proud of her achievement.
As my colleagues on both sides of the aisle would surely agree, it is
of great importance to provide support and encouragement to America's
young people, particularly when they're learning the value of giving
back to their communities and becoming productive, upstanding citizens.
The legislation before us today provides an opportunity simply to
extend this worthwhile program through the fiscal year 2018, and I urge
my colleagues to lend their support.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of
this legislation, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the majority and the gentlewoman from
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) for bringing this legislation to the floor.
This is bipartisan legislation which promotes initiative, achievement,
and excellence among young people.
The Congressional Award Act empowers young people to take greater
responsibility for their own lives, to discover new talents, to
advocate on behalf of others, and to take positive action in the
community.
The Congressional Award Program has helped thousands of young people,
including some of the most disadvantaged youth, find ways to get
involved in public service. It shows young Americans how to set goals
and to achieve them. Through this program, these young people gain
self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work as
part of a team, traits that are valued by employers and institutions of
higher education.
Since its inception in 1979, this program has grown substantially.
Today, total participation in the Congressional Award Program exceeds
35,000 participants. In my home State of California, 6,491 participants
have enrolled since 1979, completing over 450,000 hours of community
service.
As a nonprofit organization that operates almost exclusively through
private donations, the Congressional Award Act is an excellent example
of successful public-private partnerships, and I urge my colleagues to
support this legislation.
Again, I thank the committee for bringing it to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
I'd like to thank my Senate colleagues, and Senator Tom Carper of
Delaware in particular, who worked diligently to ensure this important
program is renewed in a timely manner.
Providing these awards to young people in my district has been a
great honor and privilege for me throughout my tenure representing
North Carolina's Fifth Congressional District. The participants of this
program continually inspire me, and I look forward to many more
ceremonies in the years to come.
Once again, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 1348, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, S. 1348.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. FOXX. 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, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
____________________