[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H1020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, last week marked National 
School Counselors Week.
  School counselors play a valuable role in the lives of our Nation's 
students. They help students navigate challenges, both academic and 
personal, through all phases of education. But some counselors truly go 
above and beyond.
  Recently, I had the pleasure of joining the American School Counselor 
Association for a meeting, where I met Laura Ross, the 2020 School 
Counselor of the Year. Laura's co-workers have called her a true hero 
and a champion for the work that she has done at Five Forks Middle 
School.
  School counselors like Laura have big responsibilities and even 
greater opportunities to make a difference in the lives of young 
people. When people choose to dedicate their careers to providing 
support and guidance for these students, they are better equipped to 
tackle personal and professional challenges and better prepared to 
enter the workforce.
  A successful career begins with a well-rounded view of what the 
workforce entails. Effective counseling can assist learners in better 
understanding their educational opportunities and career prospects, 
while preventing students from taking on sizable debt.
  H.R. 5092, the Counseling for Career Choice Act, seeks to ensure high 
school students are made aware of their educational options and career 
prospects prior to graduation. To do that, the bill would establish a 
grant program for $40 million to invest in career counseling programs 
for high school students.
  It also invests in professional development opportunities for 
counselors working with these students so counselors can do their jobs 
to the best of their ability and stay up to date on workforce trends 
and postsecondary opportunities. This includes 2- and 4-year degree 
programs, but that also includes certificate programs, internships, and 
apprenticeships.
  Mr. Speaker, we all owe a debt of gratitude to our Nation's school 
counselors. All year long, their service and support of our Nation's 
young people is greatly appreciated.

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