[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9085-9090]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       SUPPORTING GOALS AND IDEALS OF A ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DAY

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 142) supporting the goals and ideals 
of a ``Rotary International Day'' and celebrating and honoring Rotary 
International on the occasion of its centennial anniversary.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 142

       Whereas Rotary International, founded on February 23, 1905, 
     in Chicago, Illinois, is the world's first service club and 
     one of the largest nonprofit service organizations;
       Whereas there are more than 1.2 million Rotary 
     International club members comprised of professional and 
     business leaders in more than 31,000 clubs in more than 165 
     countries;
       Whereas the Rotary International motto, ``Service Above 
     Self'', inspires members to provide humanitarian service, 
     meet high ethical standards, and promote international good 
     will;
       Whereas Rotary International funds club projects and 
     sponsors volunteers with community expertise to provide 
     medical supplies, health care, clean water, food production, 
     job training, and education to millions in need, particularly 
     in developing countries;
       Whereas in 1985, Rotary International launched Polio Plus 
     and spearheaded efforts with the World Health Organization, 
     Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the United 
     Nations Children's Fund (``UNICEF'') to immunize the children 
     of the world against polio;
       Whereas polio cases have dropped by 99 percent since 1988, 
     and the world now stands on the threshold of eradicating the 
     disease;
       Whereas Rotary International is the largest privately-
     funded source of international scholarships in the world and 
     promotes international understanding through scholarships, 
     exchange programs, and humanitarian grants;
       Whereas since 1947, more than 35,000 students from 110 
     countries have studied abroad as Rotary Ambassadorial 
     Scholars;
       Whereas Rotary International's Group Study Exchange program 
     has helped more than 46,000 young professionals explore 
     career fields in other countries;
       Whereas 8,000 secondary school students each year 
     experience life in another country through Rotary 
     International's Youth Exchange Program;

[[Page 9086]]

       Whereas over the past five years, members throughout all 
     fifty States of Rotary International have hosted participants 
     in Open World, a program sponsored by the Library of 
     Congress, and therefore have earned the honor of serving as 
     Open World's most outstanding host;
       Whereas there are approximately 400,000 Rotary 
     International club members in more than 7,700 clubs 
     throughout the United States sponsoring service projects to 
     address critical issues such as poverty, health, hunger, 
     illiteracy, and the environment in their local communities 
     and abroad; and
       Whereas February 23, 2005, would be an appropriate date to 
     observe Rotary International Day: Now, therefore, be it;
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of a ``Rotary 
     International Day'' to celebrate the centennial anniversary 
     of Rotary International; and
       (2) recognizes Rotary International for 100 years of 
     service to improving the human condition in communities 
     throughout the world.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

                              {time}  1500


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks, and to include extraneous material on the resolution 
under consideration, H. Res. 142.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Capito). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As a member of the Committee on Government Reform, and as one of the 
73 cosponsors, I am pleased to rise in support of House Resolution 142 
that honors Rotary International on the occasion of its centennial 
anniversary.
  Rotary is a global organization of business and professional leaders 
that provide humanitarian services and works to provide good will and 
peace in the world. The organization boasts approximately 1.2 million 
members, called Rotarians, who belong to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs 
currently located in 167 countries. The efforts of Rotary clubs 
encourage high ethical standards in all vocations.
  Rotary International was founded on February 23, 1905, in Chicago, 
Illinois, in the hometown and the district of my colleague, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis). It became the world's first club 
devoted to public service and quickly grew into one of the largest 
nonprofit service organizations.
  Today, there are nearly 400,000 Rotarians in the U.S. Membership 
provides the opportunity to make a difference within communities by 
working with each other and with local humanitarian and business 
leaders. A person can even learn about and become involved in 
international issues through Rotary programs.
  Madam Speaker, next month, I understand that the Rotary will be 
hosting a great celebration in Chicago to mark its hundredth 
anniversary, and it will be from June 18 to June 22. On this occasion, 
the 2005 Rotary International convention will be a great event, and we 
wish the best to the Rotary and all Rotarians in their festivities.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate the distinguished gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) for her benevolence in advancing such a 
worthy resolution. I congratulate Rotary International for 100 years of 
tremendous service to our Nation and to the world.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time.
  As the author of this legislation, and with the honor of representing 
the Ninth Congressional District of Illinois, home to the headquarters 
of Rotary International, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 
142, a bill marking 100 years of service to humanity by Rotarians 
around the world. I am so happy that the other body, under the 
leadership of our Illinois Senator, Richard Durbin, also passed an 
identical resolution.
  I want to thank the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on 
Government Reform for their assistance in moving this bill to the 
floor, and my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), for 
his support of this legislation.
  The celebration of Rotary's centennial will culminate in the place 
where it all began, Chicago, during the organization's upcoming 
convention to be held in mid-June. There, Rotarians from all over the 
world will mark 100 years of service to humanity and to rededicate 
themselves to Rotary's ongoing mission of service above self.
  Rotary International was founded on February 23, 1905, in Chicago, 
Illinois. It is the world's first service club and one of the largest 
nonprofit service organizations in the world. Rotary provides 
humanitarian services, encourages high ethical standards in all 
vocations, and helps build good will and peace in the world.
  Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 31,000 Rotary 
clubs located in 167 countries. Approximately 400,000 Rotarians belong 
to clubs throughout the United States and in virtually every 
congressional district. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are 
nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, all races, and 
all creeds.
  The main objective of Rotary is service in the community, in the 
workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community 
service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, 
such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, 
illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, 
educational opportunities, and international exchanges for students, 
teachers and other professionals, and vocational career development.
  The Rotary motto of ``Service Above Self'' is an example for all 
humanity, and certainly one for the Members of this body. Today, 
Rotarians are united in a campaign for the global eradication of polio. 
In the 1980s, Rotarians raised $240 million to immunize the children of 
the world. By the end of 2005, the Polio Plus program will have 
contributed $500 million to this cause. Rotary has provided an army of 
volunteers to promote and assist at national immunization days in polio 
endemic countries around the world.
  In 2000, I had the privilege of traveling to India with President 
Clinton and happened to be there on a weekend when Rotary was doing 
immunizations of children in India against polio. Along with many 
coalition partners, the Rotarians succeeded in immunizing approximately 
125 million people in a weekend. Imagine the kind of volunteer effort 
it took for such a massive campaign and for such great results.
  Due in large part to Rotary's efforts, the number of polio cases has 
fallen from an estimated 350,000 in 1988 to less than 1,300 in 2004, a 
more than 99 percent decline in reported cases. More than 200 countries 
and territories are polio-free.
  From the launch of the global initiative in 1988 to the eradication 
target date of 2005, five million people who would otherwise have been 
paralyzed will be walking because they have been immunized against 
polio. It is my hope that today we will not only pass this resolution 
but that we will also dedicate ourselves to meeting Rotary 
International's call for adequate funding for the fight against polio 
in 2006.
  Rotary is seeking a total of $106.4 million for the polio eradication 
efforts of the CDC and $32 million for the polio eradication activities 
of USAID. This Congress should support Rotary's great work by providing 
those needed funds.
  Rotary International shares the mission that drives so many of us in 
this body. Rotary International promotes world understanding through 
international and humanitarian service programs and educational and 
cultural exchanges. It is supported solely by volunteer contributions 
from Rotarians

[[Page 9087]]

and others who share its vision of a better world. Since 1947, the 
foundation has awarded more than $1.1 billion in humanitarian and 
educational grants.
  Again, I want to urge my colleagues to join me in passing this 
legislation in honoring the work and members of Rotary International 
for 100 years of service to humanity and for their role in improving 
the world. I hope over the next 100 years Rotary's membership will 
continue to grow and its great service will continue.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as 
she may consume to my distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from the 
State of Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), who is also a Rotarian.
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida 
for yielding me this time, and I want to commend the gentlewoman from 
Illinois for her fine work on this piece of legislation, and I would 
like to encourage my colleagues to all join me in supporting House 
Resolution 142 and honoring the goals and the ideals of Rotary 
International and Rotary International Day on their hundredth 
anniversary. It is a wonderful organization.
  Growing up, I learned that giving back to your community should be a 
goal that each and every one of us would have. And with its ``Service 
Above Self'' motto, Rotary International truly is living up to that 
standard of giving back. As an active Rotarian, I have had the 
opportunity to participate in so many events, programs, and projects 
that have been carried out by my Rotary club and by other Rotary clubs 
in my congressional district in Tennessee.
  The gentlewoman from Illinois spoke a little about some of those 
projects, and it does not matter if you are in Nashville or Memphis or 
Clarksville, or anywhere in the Seventh District of Tennessee or around 
our great State, you are going to see that Rotary clubs are making a 
difference in each and every kind of project, from immunizations for 
children, which is a worldwide project for Rotaries, and then to things 
like the National Rotary Club, supporting the Boys and Girls Club and 
Second Harvest Food Bank, and providing scholarships. Also, in Memphis, 
they have awarded thousands of dollars in small grants to teachers who 
are working to improve literacy in that great city.
  I want to send my thanks to the 1.2 million Rotary club members who 
are working to make that difference in communities around the globe, 
and I want to commend our international Rotarians who are now in 165 
different countries for their commitment to service above self and 
improving the quality of life for each and every man and woman.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume. It is with great pleasure I join with my colleagues and 
friends in support of H. Res. 142, supporting the goals and ideals of a 
Rotary International Day and celebrating and honoring Rotary 
International on the occasion of its centennial celebration.
  Rotary International is one of the most well-known and respected 
service organizations in the world. What many people do not know, 
however, is that the organization began in 1905, when Paul Harris, a 
Chicago attorney, invited three friends to a meeting: Silvester 
Schiele, a coal dealer; Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor; and Gustavus 
Loehr, a mining engineer. All four men gathered in Loehr's business 
office in room 711 of the Unity Building at 127 North Dearborn, in my 
district of downtown Chicago. They discussed Harris' idea that business 
leaders should meet periodically to enjoy camaraderie and to enlarge 
their circle of business and professional acquaintances.
  The club met weekly. Membership was limited to one representative 
from each business and profession. And though the men did not use the 
term ``rotary'' that night, that gathering is commonly regarded as the 
first Rotary club meeting. The name Rotary was suggested later by Paul 
Harris, as meetings were rotated from one office in the early days of 
the organization to another.
  As the Rotary club began to grow nationwide, the focus of the club 
expanded from simply serving the professional and social needs of its 
club members to trying to address the problems that existed in their 
communities. Since its inception, Rotary International has been a 
source of inspiration to people all over the world. In 1945, 49 Rotary 
members served in 29 delegations to the United Nations Charter 
Conference. Today, the Rotary club is still an active participant in 
several United Nations programs.
  In addition to their commitment to diplomacy, Rotarians have taken 
the lead on many international crises. In 1985, they made a commitment 
to immunize all of the world's children for polio. To this day, Rotary 
is the largest private-sector contributor to the global polio 
eradication program.
  As we honor Rotary International for their profound contributions to 
our world, I am pleased to say that the organization continues to grow. 
Today, 1.2 million Rotarians belong to 31,000 Rotary clubs in 166 
countries.
  Madam Speaker, I would also like to take this moment to thank my 
colleague, the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), for her 
leadership in bringing this important legislation to the floor. I would 
also like to thank the members of the Rotary club for serving our 
communities and helping to make the world a better place for all of us 
to live in.
  Madam Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from the State of Illinois 
(Mr. Kirk), who is also a Rotarian.
  Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this 
time; and I commend my colleague, the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. 
Schakowsky), for offering this resolution commending Rotary on its 
anniversary, headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, on Chicago's North 
Shore.
  In 1905, in Chicago, Illinois attorney Paul Harris invited three 
friends to dinner. He envisioned a new kind of group of professionals 
that would meet to cultivate their civic ties. The group met regularly, 
became the Rotary Club of Chicago, and changed its focus to community 
service.
  We have come a long way since 1905. Now, with 400,000 Rotarians, like 
the Highland Park Morning Rotary Club that I belong to, and over 7,000 
clubs throughout the United States, they are fighting poverty and 
hunger and illiteracy and working to support the environment. But 
Rotary should be known especially for one project, Polio Plus.

                              {time}  1515

  It is with this privately funded and organized group that dedicated 
itself to wiping out a disease from the face of the planet, building on 
the precedent of wiping out smallpox, Rotary chose to wipe out polio 
which crippled our President Roosevelt and many other Americans. With 
this massive immunization program, joined in with the United Nations 
and the U.S. Government, Rotary's vision has now led us to a world 
where 99 percent of polio has been eradicated. In just a few years' 
time, Rotary is going to give a great gift to the world. It is a world 
without polio. It embodies Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, giving a 
victory and a gift to all future generations.
  The House here commends Rotary and I commend my colleague for 
bringing this, headquartered on Chicago's North Shore, embodying the 
great American civic spirit.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to be here 
today to support the goals and ideals of Rotary International Day. The 
Rotary Foundation has led the Global Effort to eradicate polio by 
vaccinating every child in the world. They have sent scholars, teachers 
and tradesmen from every nation to every nation to serve as ambassadors 
of goodwill to promote peace and understanding. They are leaders in 
their community, in business and in government. They are entrepreneurs 
that further the American economy and American ideals, and I thank 
them.
  In my own district of Houston Texas, the Rotary Club of Gulfway-Hobby 
Airport engages in a number of charitable projects throughout the year. 
Founded on January 22,

[[Page 9088]]

1951, the South Houston Rotary Club was organized that night and was 
off and running with George Washington Christy being installed as the 
first president. Gulfway-Hobby Airport Rotary Club, over this 50 years 
plus time span, has been one of the most active, ``Service Above Self'' 
clubs in District 5890.
  Their biggest charitable event is called Challenge Air and is held 
annually. The Rotary Club, with the support of the local aviation 
community provides pilots, airplanes, food, and gifts for wheelchair 
bound students. Held on a weekend, the students are given the 
opportunity to visit the hanger of one of the fixed base operators at 
Hobby Airport and then are taken for flights over Houston in private 
planes.
  In addition, the Gulfway-Hobby Airport Rotary Club hosts a New Years 
Eve Party at Golden Age Manor Nursing Home and provides $8,000-$16,000 
in academic scholarships awarded to local high school graduates.
  Organizations such as these are invaluable to our communities, and we 
must do what we can to support and encourage their activities.
  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
142, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of a ``Rotary International Day'' 
and celebrating and honoring Rotary International on the occasion of 
its centennial anniversary.
  Since 1905 when the first Rotary Club was founded in Chicago by Paul 
Harris, Rotarians have been dedicated to the principle of ``Service 
above Self.'' Though this principle has been embodied in various ways 
and mottos throughout Rotary's history, this ethic of service has 
always been rooted at the core of the organization and in the hearts of 
Rotarians throughout the world. Today 1.2 million Rotarians put service 
above self in more than 30,100 Clubs in over 160 countries.
  In 1985 Rotary International launched PolioPlus, a program to 
immunize all the world's children against polio by the centennial 
anniversary of Rotary's founding. To date, the PolioPlus program has 
committed more than $500 million to the protection of more than two 
billion children in 122 countries. These funds are providing much 
needed polio vaccine, operational support, medical personnel, 
laboratory equipment and educational materials for health workers and 
parents.
  With its community-based network worldwide, Rotary is the volunteer 
arm of the global partnership dedicated to eradicating polio. Rotary 
volunteers assist in vaccine delivery, social mobilization, logistical 
help and other services which cannot be quantified in dollars alone.
  From the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians were concerned 
with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. One 
of the world's most widely printed and quoted statements of business 
ethics is The Four-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian 
Herbert J. Taylor. Rotarians challenge themselves in their daily lives 
to ask the following four questions of the things they think, say or 
do: 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it 
build goodwill and better friendships? 4. Will it be beneficial to all 
concerned?
  In the forty-ninth Congressional district alone Rotary International 
is represented by the Rotary Clubs of Vista, Bonsall, Fallbrook, 
Oceanside, Valley Center, Perris, Murrieta, Temecula, Temecula Sunrise, 
Sun City--Menifee and Lake Elsinore.
  Rotary is among the finest of organizations and I join in celebrating 
with all Rotarians the one hundredth anniversary of their founding and 
wish them another one hundred years of success.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor, I rise in 
strong support of H. Res. 142 to support the goals and ideals of 
`Rotary International Day' and to celebrate and honor Rotary 
International on the occasion of its centennial anniversary.
  Rotary began in my district, the U.S. Virgin Islands with what was 
called non-district clubs. The first non-district club to receive a 
charter was The Rotary Club of St. Thomas in 1957, followed by The 
Rotary Club of St. Croix in 1958 and from their inception they 
emphasized their commitment of Service Above Self.
  Rotary West of St. Croix for example has provided (5) $1,000 
scholarship for graduating seniors from St. Croix high schools for over 
25 years. They have also donated over 350 wheelchairs to residents of 
St. Croix and Haiti, and provided over 3 trailers loads of dry goods to 
the residents of Grenada in the wake of the disaster they suffered last 
year. Just this past March, they presented a $10,000 check to Juan Luis 
Hospital to help the facility purchase an EEG machine.
  On St. Thomas, three 2004 graduates of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High 
School were given full four-year scholarship awards to attend the 
University of the Virgin Islands, thanks to Rotary Club of St. Thomas 
East. St. Thomas' Rotary East works closely with students at Eudora 
Kean, its adopted school, year-round and at the end of the year it 
awards up to four scholarships to deserving graduates. With Rotary 
International in its 100th year, each club is mandated to create a 
special project. For its Centennial project, Rotary East created a 
tropical arboretum with the help of Kean students, planting 100 trees 
on the school's campus concentrating on native species, such as pink 
cedar and sea grape trees.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased that Rotary International and the U.S. 
Coalition for the Eradication of Polio have chosen to recognize me as a 
2003 Rotary ``Congressional Champion of Polio Eradication. The drive to 
eradicate polio has been one of the largest private-public sector 
initiatives ever organized. Rotary International has been working since 
1985 to help eradicate polio from the world and it is now possible. 
They have mobilized tens of thousands of Rotarians to work together 
with their national ministries of health, UNICEF and the World Health 
Organization, and with health providers at the grassroots level in 
thousands of communities. By the time polio has been eradicated, Rotary 
International will have expended more than $500 million of its own 
money on the effort.
  I am pleased to support H. Res. 142 and applaud Rotary International 
for all of their good work in service to their community. I urge my 
colleagues to support passage of the resolution.
  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, let me take this means to congratulate 
Rotary International on the occasion of its centennial anniversary.
  The world's first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, was 
formed on February 23, 1905, by Paul P. Harris. Through the years, 
Rotary's popularity has spread across the nation and the world and its 
mission has expanded well beyond serving the professional interests of 
local chapters.
  Rotary has been instrumental in pooling resources to assist 
communities in need across the world. In 1985, Rotary made an historic 
commitment to immunize all of the world's children against polio. 
Working in partnership with nongovernmental organizations and national 
governments, Rotary is the largest private-sector contributor to the 
global polio eradication campaign. In fact, in 2005, Rotarians joined 
with representatives from global health networks to mark the 50th 
anniversary of the declaration of Dr. Jonas Salk's polio vaccine as 
safe and effective.
  Rotary has also worked to meet the changing needs of society, 
addressing critical problems surrounding illiteracy, world hunger, and 
at risk children.
  Madam Speaker, I have visited countless Rotary Clubs throughout 
Missouri's Fourth Congressional District. On each occasion, I am 
humbled by the hard work and friendly spirit of the community leaders 
who belong to this organization.
  I congratulate them on 100 years of community service and I urge my 
colleagues to support H. Res. 142.
  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 142, a 
resolution supporting the goals and ideals of a ``Rotary International 
Day'' and celebrating and honoring Rotary International on the occasion 
of its centennial anniversary.
  Today we commemorate the 100th anniversary of Rotary International 
and express our appreciation for the organization's service to our 
congressional districts, including my district of El Paso, Texas. 
Rotary International's service also extends to people around the globe, 
with 1.2 million Rotarians at 31,000 Rotary clubs in 167 countries.
  The El Paso Rotary Club has served my district since 1914. Mr. Frank 
Hoy, President of the El Paso Rotary Club, leads a group of 300 members 
that conducts many important activities throughout the year that are of 
great benefit to our community. I am pleased to be participating in 
their annual Independence Day parade again this year.
  Madam Speaker, I sincerely congratulate Rotary International and the 
El Paso Rotary Club on this important occasion, and I thank them for 
their continued service to the 16th District of Texas, our Nation, and 
the world.
  Mr. SHAYS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 142, 
supporting the goals and ideals of a ``Rotary International Day'' and 
celebrating and honoring Rotary International on the occasion of its 
centennial anniversary.
  On Rotary International's 100th anniversary, we celebrate their 
extraordinary contributions to communities around the world. A 
worldwide organization of business and professional leaders, Rotary 
provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all 
vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world.
  This extraordinary organization is the world's first service club and 
one of the largest

[[Page 9089]]

nonprofit service organizations. Dedicated to their motto ``Service 
Above Self,'' Rotary has maintained their focus on service. In fact, to 
celebrate their 100th Anniversary, Rotary designated April 2005 
``Centennial Service Above Self Volunteer Month.'' Each club member 
wasencouraged to volunteer at least 10 hours of personal time in 
service to others, focusing on meeting community needs, lending 
vocational expertise, and assisting communities abroad.
  As Co-Chair of the Congressional National Service Caucus, I am 
grateful for Rotary's commitment to our communities. Approximately 1.2 
million Rotarians belong to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs, which fund 
club projects and sponsor volunteers to provide medical supplies, 
health care, clean water, food production, job training, and education 
to millions in need, particularly in developing countries.
  I am proud to have Rotary International Clubs in 14 towns in my 
District, including Bridgeport, Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, Byram-Cos 
Cob, Derby-Shelton, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Seymour-
Oxford, Trumbull, Westport and Wilton.
  I congratulate Rotary International and its members on the occasion 
of their centennial celebration and urge passage of this resolution.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 142, 
a resolution commending the goals and ideals of Rotary International as 
it celebrates its 100th anniversary. Rotary International is a network 
of professionals who have pooled their talents in pursuit of improving 
the communities in which they live. I also commend the four Rotary 
International clubs on Guam that have provided leadership and set a 
high standard for service that is very much appreciated by our 
community.
  As America's first service organization, Rotary International 
embraces the ideal of providing for the wellbeing of the community 
before self. Today, Rotary International continues to expand its reach 
across continents to foster international understanding, and is now 
active in one hundred sixty-seven countries. One of Rotary 
International's current initiatives, the Polio Plus program, will 
immunize children throughout the world against polio. Since the 
implementation of Polio Plus, the Rotary International has, in 
cooperation with other multinational organizations such as the United 
Nations World Health Organization, managed to reduce the number of 
polio cases worldwide by ninety-nine percent. Other successful 
humanitarian endeavors include bringing treatment for preventing 
blindness to indigent patients in the Philippines, building schools in 
Turkey, and providing educational fellowships and grants for young 
people.
  Rotary International has dedicated significant resources to funding 
its fellowship and scholarship programs for citizens interested in 
studying abroad and pursuing scholarly work in global conflict 
resolution. Educational and community outreach to young citizens are 
examples of Rotary International's commitment to fostering 
international understanding and its belief that the virtue of 
volunteerism will provide positive change in the world at-large.
  I would like to commend Rotary International for its service to the 
international community and continued efforts to assist underserved 
populations of the world. Its vision of global understanding and 
commitment to service are truly noble core values. I also want to 
specifically congratulate the Rotary International clubs established in 
Guam, as well as their respective club presidents, for the hard work 
and commitment to community service that they have demonstrated over 
the years. They are: Dr. Ron McNinch, Tumon Bay; Mr. Mike Perrin, Guam; 
Mr. Curtis Dancoe, Guam Sunrise; and Mr. Lee Yudin, Northern Guam. I 
also want to extend my appreciation to the Assistant District Governor 
for the Pacific Basin Group, George Benoit.
  Today we honor the Rotary International organization, which embodies 
the principle that we must, as individuals, strive for goals greater 
than our own self interest. Through community service, we can help form 
a world that is a better place to live for all of us. Congratulations 
to Rotary International. To the Rotary Club of Guam, the Rotary Club of 
Tumon Bay, the Rotary Club of Guam Sunrise and the Rotary Club of 
Northern Guam, thank you very much for all you have done to promote 
community values in Guam.
  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
142, honoring Rotary International on the occasion of the 
organization's one hundred year anniversary. I am proud to note that 
the Rotary Club was founded in 1905 by Paul P. Harris in my hometown of 
Chicago, Illinois. Over the past century, the Rotary Club has grown 
into one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the world.
  Rotary's Membership includes 1.2 million professional and business 
leaders who belong to 31,000 clubs in over 165 countries. These members 
adhere to the Rotary's motto, ``Service Above Self,'' through community 
service projects, high moral conduct, and promotion of international 
good will.
  In 1985, Rotary International launched PolioPlus, an effort to 
immunize the children of the world against Polio. Rotary's efforts in 
conjunction with the WHO, CDC and UNICEF have nearly eradicated the 
disease, reducing worldwide incidence from 350,000 cases in 1988 to 
1,266 cases in 2004. By the end of 2005, PolioPlus will have donated 
over $500 million to this remarkable effort. Since its inception in 
1947, the Rotary Foundation has awarded over $1.1 billion in 
humanitarian and educational grants, focusing on international 
humanitarian service programs and educational and cultural exchanges.
  The scholarship program established by Rotary International is the 
largest privately-funded source of international scholarships in the 
world. Through this program, 8,000 secondary school students have 
studied abroad, 35,000 students have participated in the Rotary 
Ambassadorial Scholars program, and 46,000 young professionals have 
explored careers in other countries.
  Next month, over 37,000 members representing 150 countries will 
attend the 2005 Centennial Rotary International Convention in Chicago 
as apart of the greatest celebration in Rotary's history. On behalf of 
the people of Chicago, I would like to welcome these members to the 
birthplace of their organization.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate Rotary International and all of its 
members worldwide for their impressive accomplishments over the past 
one hundred years in the areas of community service, Polio eradication 
and international exchange. I look forward to another hundred years of 
commendable service to the country and the world.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
this resolution.
  As the resolution notes, Rotary was founded in Chicago, Illinois, on 
23 February 1905, and Rotarians now have set an example of a full 
century of service to their communities.
  But Rotary is more than history. Today there are more than 400,000 
Rotarians in the United States and more than 1.2 million Rotarians in 
over 32,000 clubs in 166 nations throughout the world--including 20 
clubs in Colorado's 2nd Congressional District alone.
  Rotarians provide tangible demonstrations of the power of their ideal 
and motto of ``Service Above Self'' by their efforts around the world 
toward elimination of diseases and the improvement of health as well as 
the provision of potable water and education for all. And over the 
years, through The Rotary Foundation, they have provided generously for 
undertakings that have improved the condition of people in all parts of 
the world.
  In particular, Rotary International and its members have provided 
essential support toward the eradication of polio, measles, and other 
diseases, including donations of more than $600 million toward this 
cause, and have provided vaccines for immunizing over 2 billion 
children in the world. And in addition, Rotary Clubs annually provide 
tens of millions of dollars of local and global humanitarian support 
through grants, the services of Rotary Volunteers and matching grants.
  In the field of education, Rotary Clubs collectively are among the 
largest private provider of scholarships in the history of the world, 
annually providing scholarships to tens of thousands of students. Also, 
Rotary International has sent over 200,000 students on Youth Exchange 
programs that foster understanding of people throughout the world as 
well as the development of leaders who go on to serve society. And 
Rotary International has provided $80 million to promote Group Study 
Exchanges of over 42,000 young adults for extended visits to other 
countries and to the United States where they learn, teach and create 
deep relationships, understanding and appreciation for different 
cultures.
  So, it is very appropriate for Congress, through this resolution, to 
recognize Rotary International and Rotarians in every State and around 
the world as they commemorate and celebrate Rotary's centennial and to 
encourage them to work for even greater success in their second century 
of service.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, again, I am pleased to be associated 
with House Resolution 142. I urge all of my distinguished colleagues to 
support its adoption.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Capito). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 142.

[[Page 9090]]

  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  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.

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