[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14768]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        CONGRESSIONAL AWARD PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2013

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(S. 1348) to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1348

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Award Program 
     Reauthorization Act of 2013''.

     SEC. 2. TERMINATION.

       Section 108 of the Congressional Award Act (2 U.S.C. 808) 
     is amended by striking ``October 1, 2013'' and inserting 
     ``October 1, 2018''.

     SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act shall take effect as of October 1, 2013.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
S. 1348.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1348, the 
Congressional Award Program Reauthorization Act of 2013, and I yield 
myself such time as I may consume.
  In 1979, Congress enacted the Congressional Award Act to promote 
initiative, achievement, and excellence among young Americans between 
the ages of 14 and 23 years old. To earn an award, participants must 
complete a self-designed program of challenging goals in four program 
areas: voluntary service, personal development, physical fitness, and 
expedition/exploration.
  Program participants can work toward a congressional award 
certificate or medal. In either category there are three achievement 
levels: gold, silver, and bronze. Minimum requirements must be met 
regarding the number of hours devoted to each of the four program 
areas, total hours worked toward the award, and the duration of the 
participant's efforts.
  Senators and Representatives present the awards at local, city, or 
State ceremonies. It has been my great pleasure to make such 
presentations many times. The latest was a presentation of the silver 
medal earlier this summer to one of my constituents from Lewisville, 
North Carolina, Shelby Birkedal. Shelby worked more than 200 hours of 
community and 100 hours of physical activity to earn her very well-
deserved honor, and we are very proud of her achievement.
  As my colleagues on both sides of the aisle would surely agree, it is 
of great importance to provide support and encouragement to America's 
young people, particularly when they're learning the value of giving 
back to their communities and becoming productive, upstanding citizens.
  The legislation before us today provides an opportunity simply to 
extend this worthwhile program through the fiscal year 2018, and I urge 
my colleagues to lend their support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of 
this legislation, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the majority and the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) for bringing this legislation to the floor. 
This is bipartisan legislation which promotes initiative, achievement, 
and excellence among young people.
  The Congressional Award Act empowers young people to take greater 
responsibility for their own lives, to discover new talents, to 
advocate on behalf of others, and to take positive action in the 
community.
  The Congressional Award Program has helped thousands of young people, 
including some of the most disadvantaged youth, find ways to get 
involved in public service. It shows young Americans how to set goals 
and to achieve them. Through this program, these young people gain 
self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work as 
part of a team, traits that are valued by employers and institutions of 
higher education.
  Since its inception in 1979, this program has grown substantially. 
Today, total participation in the Congressional Award Program exceeds 
35,000 participants. In my home State of California, 6,491 participants 
have enrolled since 1979, completing over 450,000 hours of community 
service.
  As a nonprofit organization that operates almost exclusively through 
private donations, the Congressional Award Act is an excellent example 
of successful public-private partnerships, and I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation.
  Again, I thank the committee for bringing it to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I'd like to thank my Senate colleagues, and Senator Tom Carper of 
Delaware in particular, who worked diligently to ensure this important 
program is renewed in a timely manner.
  Providing these awards to young people in my district has been a 
great honor and privilege for me throughout my tenure representing 
North Carolina's Fifth Congressional District. The participants of this 
program continually inspire me, and I look forward to many more 
ceremonies in the years to come.
  Once again, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 1348, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, S. 1348.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. 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, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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