[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 15, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H3795-H3796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak

[[Page H3796]]

about an organization that is near and dear to my heart: the Lions 
Clubs International.
  I am a member of my hometown organization, the Howard Area Lions 
Club. The Howard Area Lions Club has consistently earned the 
recognition as the largest Lions Club in Pennsylvania.
  There are probably many factors that have led them to this, but none 
more significant than their commitment to the Lions Club motto, ``We 
Serve.''
  The members of my club served as the chartering organization for the 
Howard Boy Scout Troop 353; and, in the past, I was proud to serve as 
Scoutmaster of that unit.
  Simply put, service is of the utmost importance to the Lions. The 
clubs are places where individuals can join together to give their 
valuable time and effort to improving their communities and the world.
  Where there is a need, there is a Lion. There are 1.4 million Lions 
around the world, 47,000 Lions Clubs in more than 200 countries. For 
more than 100 years, Lions have been serving humanity.
  The idea of the Lions Club began in 1917. A 38-year-old Chicago 
business leader named Melvin Jones told members of his local business 
club that they should reach beyond business issues and address the 
betterment of their communities and the world. They agreed.
  Three years later, Lions Clubs became an international organization. 
Melvin Jones inspired generations of people to become civic-minded 
individuals, dedicated to using their talents and ambitions to improve 
their communities without financial reward.
  Melvin Jones had a personal code: ``You can't get very far until you 
start doing something for somebody else.''
  Madam Speaker, service to others is what makes the Lions Clubs 
International such a powerful force for good in the world.
  There are nearly 70 Members of Congress who are involved in service 
organizations, and that is why I am proud to be working with my 
colleague Congressman   Jimmy Panetta to establish the Congressional 
Service Organization Caucus. We plan to launch the caucus soon.
  It will support the many operations that are dedicated to giving back 
to their communities. I encourage my colleagues to join because there 
are few gifts greater than the gift of time and service to others.
  Madam Speaker, Lions Clubs International is on Capitol Hill today to 
raise awareness about how helpful service organizations are to 
communities across the Nation.
  I am grateful that Lions Clubs around the globe serve millions 
annually, and I am so proud to be a member of an organization that not 
only lives up to its remarkable ideals but exceeds them time and time 
again.

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