[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 12690-12691]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING AMERICA'S TEACHERS

  Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 374) recognizing the roles and contributions of 
America's teachers to building and enhancing our Nation's civic, 
cultural, and economic well-being.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 374

       Whereas education and knowledge are the foundation of 
     America's current and future strength;
       Whereas teachers and other education staff have earned and 
     deserve the respect of their students and communities for 
     their selfless dedication to community service and the future 
     of our Nation's children;
       Whereas the purpose of ``National Teacher Appreciation 
     Week'', held during May 3, 2009, through May 10, 2009, is to 
     raise public awareness of the unquantifiable contributions of 
     teachers and to promote greater respect and understanding for 
     the teaching profession; and
       Whereas a number of organizations representing educators, 
     such as the National Education Association and the National 
     Parent Teacher Association, are hosting teacher appreciation 
     events in recognition of ``National Teacher Appreciation 
     Week'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives thanks and 
     promotes the profession of teaching to encourage students, 
     parents, school administrators, and public officials to 
     participate in teacher appreciation events during National 
     Teacher Appreciation Week.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Tonko) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 374 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today to recognize the important role teachers play in the 
edification of our Nation. Madam Speaker, we celebrated National 
Teacher Appreciation Week from May 3 through May 10. The national PTA 
created Teacher Appreciation Week in 1984 to show gratitude to the many 
teachers of our United States. It is a chance for us to thank those 
individuals who have contributed to society in ways that cannot be 
measured. It is a chance for us to recognize the selflessness and 
dedication that teachers continue to show, and it is a chance for us to 
promote greater respect and understanding for the teaching profession.
  Madam Speaker, we know that having good teachers greatly improves the 
outcomes of our Nation's youth. During the last decade, a body of 
evidence has grown to support the notion that teacher quality is an 
important factor in determining student achievement. In fact, research 
tells us that teacher quality accounts for the majority of variance in 
student learnings and test scores. Highly qualified teachers serve as 
excellent role models and instill a love for knowledge and lifelong 
learning in our students.
  We all know that teaching is an important profession that deserves 
our support and respect. Teachers have the important job of shaping 
tomorrow's leaders. Those in the teaching profession work tirelessly 
for little reward, and good teachers constantly reflect on their 
lessons and modify instruction to reach the diverse needs of students 
in their classrooms.
  Quality teachers hone their skills and are experts not only in their 
subject matter but also at connecting with young people and making 
learning come alive. Teaching is a dynamic profession, and educators 
continually attend professional development in order to sharpen their 
skills and increase their own knowledge.
  Unfortunately, research has also shown us that negative effects of 
teacher shortages exist. It is imperative that schools and communities 
support teachers. National Teacher Appreciation Week is an opportunity 
for us to all pause and recognize the selfless dedication of our 
Nation's educators. In a survey of teachers across the country, nearly 
one-half said the best gift they could receive was a simple ``thank 
you.''
  Madam Speaker, once again, I express my support for National Teacher 
Appreciation Week, and I hope this resolution serves as a big ``thank 
you'' to all of the teaching profession. I encourage everyone to take a 
moment and reflect on a motivational teacher that helped you realize 
your potential and reach your dream.
  I want to thank Representative Graves for bringing this resolution to 
the floor, and I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 374, 
recognizing the roles and contributions of America's teachers in 
building and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well-
being, and supporting National Teacher Appreciation Week.

                              {time}  1500

  Teachers make a lasting impression on America's young people and are 
key to the development of students in the classroom. I bet that almost 
every Member of this Chamber could name at least one teacher that had a 
profound impact on their lives and helped shape the person they are 
today.
  This resolution is important because it provides public recognition 
to those individuals who have dedicated their lives to helping educate 
our youth. National Teacher Appreciation Week, which took place May 3-
10, is an act of gratitude that reminds us how important teachers are 
and the integral role they play in our lives. It is important that we 
recognize teachers for the critical work they do in improving our 
Nation civically, culturally, and economically.
  Well-trained, dedicated, and skilled teachers are vitally important 
to the fabric of our country. This Chamber often discusses the 
importance of ensuring that our high school and college graduates are 
able to compete in the global marketplace. Having top-notch graduates 
who are able to think both creatively and analytically is vital as our 
country competes with other countries like China and India, who are 
also stepping up their efforts to produce high-quality graduates. We 
only get these types of graduates when we have in place a dedicated and 
skilled teacher workforce. Congress has placed an emphasis on these 
attributes which has led to an increased demand for high-quality, 
experienced teachers. In this vein, I am pleased to see the President's 
support of the Teacher Incentive Fund, which rewards principals and 
teachers for the hard work they do.

[[Page 12691]]

  Teachers today devote an extraordinary amount of time to teaching 
young people and also spend a lot of time on professional development, 
their own education, and on class preparation outside the classroom, 
oftentimes for salaries that average about $37,000 a year. The future 
of our Nation's children is dependent on the individuals that make 
these time, energy, and monetary commitments, and they deserve 
recognition for such.
  I stand in support of this resolution, recognizing the roles and 
contributions of America's teachers and recognizing National Teacher 
Appreciation Week, and I thank my colleague, Mr. Graves from Missouri, 
for introducing this resolution.
  I ask for my colleagues' support.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TONKO. Does the gentleman from Kentucky have any further 
speakers?
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I do have one other speaker.
  Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I reserve my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).
  Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentleman from Kentucky for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, Aristotle once wrote that ``teachers are to be given 
the highest honor because they teach us how to live well,'' and of 
course, that's a correct statement.
  Today, I am proud to rise in support of America's teachers and 
pleased to be a cosponsor of H. Res. 374. This measure recognizes the 
significant roles and contributions that America's teachers have made 
to building and enhancing our country.
  The United States Census Bureau reports that today there are more 
than 6 million schoolteachers throughout the United States, not 
counting all the other types of teachers in this country.
  I come from a long line of teachers. My mother was a schoolteacher. 
My wife's a schoolteacher. My three daughters are trained teachers. Two 
of them teach young kids at the elementary level, God bless them, and 
one of them is a professor at Baylor University. The most influential 
person that taught me in public school was my seventh grade Texas 
history teacher, Ms. Wilson.
  But teaching isn't just a tradition in my family. Teaching has been a 
tradition in this country since its very inception. At our Nation's 
founding, of course, most of the teaching happened at home under the 
instruction of parents. Today, parents have many options when it comes 
to the education of their children. Some are taught in private schools, 
others in public schools. Some are charter schools, and others continue 
to be educated at home.
  Regardless of where the education takes place, teachers play a 
primary role in equipping our youth to be good citizens, to take pride 
in the democratic heritage of our Nation, and to be competitive in the 
marketplace of ideas.
  An American author and historian Henry Adams once said, ``A teacher 
affects eternity. The teacher can never tell where that influence 
stops.''
  Mr. Adams was right. Let's be sure to let the teachers who have 
touched our lives and the lives of our children know how thankful we, 
as a Nation, are.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I yield back our time.
  Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I guess the role of teachers in our lives 
is quite profound. I think we can each think of that teacher or those 
teachers who made that impact on us to perhaps allow us to achieve our 
individual best or create a career path.
  That being said, I was recently with some students from the State of 
Maryland who gathered here at the Capitol to celebrate their thank you 
notes in joint fashion. It's a great recognition nationwide to pay 
tribute to a very sound profession, one that impacts our present and 
our future.
  For those reasons, I suggest strongly that we support the resolution 
before the House, House Resolution 374.
  I yield back my time, Madam Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 374.
  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. TONKO. Madam 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.

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