[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6284]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL TEACHER DAY

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                         HON. DAVID G. REICHERT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2012

  Mr. REICHERT. Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of National Teacher Day, I 
want to thank the teachers around this country for giving so generously 
of themselves to their students, their communities and their schools. 
Teachers make a difference in young people's lives every day and in 
myriad ways. I know personally the positive change they made in my 
life. Teachers educate our young people not just in math and English, 
but in more difficult subjects such as sharing, expressing themselves 
and solving differences. The value they add to students cannot be 
measured. I also want to single out the teachers in the District I 
represent, Washington's 8th, because I've had the pleasure of visiting 
and interacting with so many there. Every single time I visit a school, 
I see students responding positively to teachers' guidance and 
encouragement.
  Our teachers never stop working. They work both in and outside the 
walls of their classrooms. They help coach athletes. They inspire 
students in the community. Our teachers act as positive role models for 
children that may not otherwise have them. They spend weekends and 
evenings grading papers and tests. They brighten their classrooms with 
inspirational and thoughtful artwork. They engage young people in the 
kind of conversations necessary to be leaders in future generations. 
They help supply students with the everyday life skills that they need 
to succeed.
  That is why I sponsored the Teacher Tax Relief Act, a bill increasing 
the maximum tax deduction available to teachers for out of pocket 
expenses from $250-$500 and a bill making professional development 
costs an eligible expense--in that way, teachers can continue to their 
own educations and continue to be effective in the classroom.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, on National Teacher Day, I thank all teachers for 
their service to America's future generations. All of our teachers 
deserve the respect and support of students, parents and their 
communities. My pledge today is to support teachers in this House as 
much as possible.

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