[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 19067-19068]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1727) recognizing Rotary International for 105 
years of service to the world and commending members on their 
dedication to the mission and principles of their organization.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1727

       Whereas the mission of Rotary International is to provide 
     service to others, promote integrity, and advance world 
     understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of 
     business, professional, and community leaders;
       Whereas Rotary International, founded in 1905, in Chicago, 
     Illinois, is the world's first service club and one of the 
     largest nonprofit service organizations;
       Whereas there are more than 1,200,000 Rotary International 
     club members comprised of professional, community, and 
     business leaders in more than 34,000 clubs in over 200 
     countries and geographical areas;
       Whereas the Rotary International motto, ``Service Above 
     Self'', inspires members to provide humanitarian service, 
     meet high ethical standards, and promote international 
     goodwill and peace;
       Whereas Rotary International promotes international 
     understanding through scholarships, exchange programs, 
     humanitarian grants, and service projects;
       Whereas annual dues from members worldwide help finance 
     Rotary programs and service opportunities that are designed 
     to help Rotarians meet the needs of their own communities and 
     assist people worldwide;
       Whereas the core values of Rotary International are 
     service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership; 
     and
       Whereas the Four-Way Test of Rotary International promotes 
     universal values and asks the following questions, ``Of the 
     things we think, say or do: Is it the truth?; Is it fair to 
     all concerned?; Will it build goodwill and better 
     friendships?; and Will it be beneficial to all concerned?'': 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes 
     Rotary International for 105 years of service to the world 
     and commends members on their dedication to the mission and 
     principles of their organization.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Clay) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1727, a measure 
recognizing Rotary International for 105 years of service to the world, 
and commending members on their dedication to the mission and 
principles of their organization.
  House Resolution 1727 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman 
from Texas, Representative Lamar Smith, on November 18, 2010. The 
measure enjoys bipartisan support from over 60 cosponsors.
  Madam Speaker, most of us here are familiar with the work of our 
local Rotary clubs. Their devotion to service makes a tremendous 
difference in the lives of all of our communities and in communities 
around the world. The projects that the over 34,000 Rotary clubs 
sponsor are too numerous to list here, but some of Rotary 
International's highest profile undertakings include PolioPlus, an 
effort to eliminate polio around the world.

                              {time}  1440

  They have raised hundreds of millions of dollars for that effort.

[[Page 19068]]

  Another global undertaking by Rotary International has been an 
aggressive effort to help solve the global water and sanitation crisis, 
which claims over 2 million lives each year, including 4,000 children 
every day. Earlier this year, Rotary International entered into a 
partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development to 
implement sustainable long-term water sanitation and hygiene projects 
in the Dominican Republic, Ghana, and the Philippines.
  Rotarians have also assisted in disaster relief efforts in Indonesia, 
Pakistan and New Orleans, helping to distribute food, clean water 
shelters and medical supplies. These are just a few examples of some of 
Rotary International's service projects. In addition to supporting 
projects like these around the world, Rotary International supports 
scholarships, exchange programs, and humanitarian grants.
  Madam Speaker, let us take the time now to thank Rotary International 
for all that they continue to do to fulfill their mission of providing 
service to others, promoting integrity and advancing world 
understanding, goodwill and peace. I would, therefore, urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting the resolution, which recognizes 
Rotary International for 105 years of service to the world.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the distinguished gentleman from Texas, the sponsor of this resolution, 
Mr. Lamar Smith.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. I would like to thank the gentlewoman from 
Illinois for yielding me time. I also would like to thank my colleagues 
on the committee itself for giving this resolution bipartisan support.
  Madam Speaker, this resolution honors Rotary International for 105 
years of service and commends members for their dedication to the 
mission and principles of Rotary.
  The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, 
promote integrity and advance world standing, goodwill and peace 
through its fellowship. All across the country, business, professional 
and community leaders better their communities by participating in 
their local Rotary Clubs.
  Founded in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, Rotary International is the 
world's first service club and one of the largest nonprofit service 
organizations. Rotary International promotes international 
understanding through scholarships, exchange programs, humanitarian 
grants and service projects. Their motto is ``Service Above Self.''
  Rotary International also promotes universal values with their 
``four-way test'' that asks the following questions: ``Of the things we 
think, say or do: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it 
build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all 
concerned?''
  It is a pleasure to recognize Rotary International for 105 years of 
service. I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring them on this 
achievement.
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from the great State of Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire).
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
commemorating the Rotary International Club for 105 years of service.
  Like many Members of this House, I have been a member of my local 
Rotary Club, the McCandless Rotary. Over the years, I have served in 
many of the club's offices, including a term as its president. I have 
seen firsthand the great work that Rotary Clubs provide for their 
communities and literally around the world.
  Founded in 1905 in Chicago, Rotary International is the world's first 
formal service club and has grown into one of the largest nonprofit 
service organizations in the world. The mission of Rotary is to serve 
others, promote integrity and advance worldwide understanding, goodwill 
and peace through its fellowship network of business and community 
leaders.
  Today, there are 1.2 million Rotarians in more than 34,000 clubs 
across six continents. The district that I represent is home to 25 of 
those clubs. With a well-known motto of ``Service Above Self,'' Rotary 
International promotes understanding through scholarships, student 
exchange programs, humanitarian grants, and other service projects.
  I am sure every Member of this House has at one time or another 
attended a Rotary meeting or spoken to a Rotary group. The resolution 
we are debating today recognizes Rotary International for 105 years of 
service to the world and commends its members on their dedication to 
the mission and principles of Rotary International's organization.
  I join my colleagues in support of this resolution.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I can't help but emphasize that Rotary International was founded in 
the great State of Illinois, in Chicago, in 1905; and it is the world's 
first service club and one of the largest nonprofit service 
organizations. Its motto, ``Service Above Self,'' helps encourage 
members provide humanitarian aid, meet high ethical standards and 
promote international goodwill and peace. We salute all members of 
Rotary International for their great civic works as they celebrate this 
anniversary.
  I thank the gentleman from Texas for sponsoring this resolution. I 
urge all Members to join in support of the resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong 
support for H. Res. 1727, a resolution recognizing Rotary International 
for 105 years of service to the world and commending its members on 
their dedication to the mission and principles of their organization. 
As the Representative of the 9th Congressional District of Illinois 
which is home to Rotary Club International, I want to personally thank 
them for the service and commitment to making the world a more humane 
place.
  Madam Speaker, the Rotary Club's motto, ``Service Above Self,'' is an 
inspiring example for all Americans. Rotarians not only preach this 
motto, they live it by developing 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.
  I would like to especially recognize Rotary for its 25-year long 
campaign for the global eradication of polio. Since 1985, Rotarians 
have raised close to a billion dollars to immunize the children of the 
world and have pledged to contribute an additional $500 million to the 
cause. In addition to this generous financial contribution, Rotary has 
provided an army of volunteers to promote and assist at national 
immunization days in polio-endemic countries around the world.
  Due in large part to Rotary's efforts, the number of polio cases has 
fallen dramatically. In1985, there were 350,000 known cases of polio in 
125 countries. Today, more than 200 countries are polio-free. There are 
only four endemic nations--Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan--
the lowest in history.
  I want to again thank Rotary International for its 105 years of 
service. There is no question that the world is a far better place 
today because of their tremendous work.
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1727.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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