Honoring the legacy of Fred Rogers and his dedication to creating a more compassionate, kind, and loving world for children and adults.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 111) honoring the legacy of Fred Rogers and his dedication to creating a more compassionate, kind, and loving world for children and adults.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, we are here to both mourn the loss of a great American, Mr. Fred Rogers, who died last week at the age of 74, and also to celebrate what he has done, what he has meant to so many Americans and people around the world, and remember his legacy with joy and hope, and look forward to the continued impact that he will have on the lives of so many.

Mr. Rogers was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and he studied child development at the University of Pittsburgh. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. His television program, which debuted in 1964, continues on today, even though the last tape was taped in 2001 and aired last year or so. His program lives on, and I want to make a few comments about the man we all know as Mr. Rogers.

There is a magic that is Fred Rogers that really is not magical at all. He is not the creation of boardrooms or animators or high-tech special effects. He is who he is and nothing less. It is the transparency of being himself, with no pretense or facade, that enabled him to connect with millions around the world of all ages, of all walks of life.

When people think of Mr. Rogers, oftentimes the first thing that comes to mind is his television program of nearly 40 years for young children, though people of today know him well. We are recognizing him here in this Chamber not just for these generations of today, but so that future generations who read the Record in the years to come will be able to know about the moment, this moment in time and what we valued.

I had the pleasure of working at least a little bit with Fred Rogers in one area that was a shared passion of ours and that was quality early childhood education. He recognized that quality education makes an impact on the child's neurological development that lasts a lifetime. I might say when I had the time to sit down and meet with Fred, as anybody else would say the same thing, you sat in his office that had a piano, that had some soft furniture and a puppet or two, and you could not help within just a few moments of finding that you slowed down with your life, that he began to talk directly to you, and you felt things that perhaps you had forgotten in your own life of what was really important. He studied child development while he was studying for his degree as a Presbyterian minister and later worked regularly with Dr. Margaret McFarland, also an expert in child development. Their regular meetings was what created the programs that we now know.

Fred believed that childhood is not just a time you get through, because so many things happen during that time. He had tremendous respect for viewers, knowing that most were young children, all with their own needs but also knowing that he touched the child in all of us, seniors, adults, parents, those with disabilities, everyone.

When one watched his show, you watched him enter the room and you saw him change into his sweater and change his shoes and talk; you immediately entered the world, or rather through his simple magic with his show, he entered the world of children. He was childlike without being childish. He remained the adult, mature and wise, caring and comforting, safe and nurturing. Though his program earned awards that made him the envy of all in television, he was never an actor. He

was a communicator, saying above all else, You are special and so is everyone else in this world. The puppets he created in his Neighborhood of Make Believe would never have made it through today's TV boardrooms. Indeed he was asked to spice up his show with more action. He responded by working to build up public television.

The station WQED in Pittsburgh has been inundated with calls and e- mails that pour in by the minute, not just expressing condolences but people telling their stories, for example, a sports talk radio show in South Carolina finding that their show was taken over by people with their memories of Fred Rogers. Or a young woman who told me that when she was a child living in the neighborhood that Fred Rogers is from, one day she went up and knocked on his door hoping to see him.

He had a magic which was so important to all of us, and it is sad to see that go. But it is important for the children of the world to know that that program shall live on. The messages that Fred sent will continue, about people being special, about parents' love for their children, about being caring, and also the staff that I have come to know with ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood,'' such folks as Hedda Sharapan, David Newell, Bill Isler and many, many more will continue on with his legacy.

Our thoughts and our prayers are with his wife, Joanne, and with all whose lives he has touched. The joy will come in knowing that he will continue to touch so many more.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson).

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to add this final quote from Fred Rogers. He said, ``We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say 'it's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.' Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.''

Mr. Rogers has been a hero to us all.

I urge the adoption of this measure, House Resolution 111.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his kindness and consideration.

Please don't think it's funny

When you want the ones you miss.

There are lots and lots of people

Who sometimes feel like this.

Mr. Speaker, I borrowed that opening verse from one of the original songs written by Fred McFeely Rogers during his long and legendary career. He wrote over 200 such songs to help explain complex, confusing, and often frightening issues to children in a gentle, noncondescending, and reassuring manner. That is what Mr. Rogers did best, make generations of children in this Nation and beyond feel special, important, and most of all, loved.

Mr. Rogers always started his shows by changing into his familiar cardigan and comfy tennis shoes to give children a sense of comfort and consistency. As I don this cardigan, I know there are lots and lots of people in this Chamber and the world who will forever miss the neighborly comfort, love, and wisdom Mr. Rogers gave while wearing a sweater like this one on the show. It is in his honor that I have introduced House Resolution 111, and I sincerely hope all my colleagues join with me in celebrating the legacy of Fred Rogers.

Fred was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, about a half hour east of Pittsburgh, and lived nearly his entire life in the city I am proud to represent, Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh will always be Mr. Rogers' neighborhood. It was in Pittsburgh in 1954 that Mr. Rogers began his lifelong involvement with children's television, coproducing a 7-year run of ``The Children's Corner,'' which at the time was broadcast on the Nation's first community-sponsored educational television station, WQED in Pittsburgh. In addition to his duties as producer, Mr. Rogers also performed musical numbers for the show and manipulated the puppets. Such famous puppets as Daniel Striped Tiger, King Friday XIII, and Henrietta Pussycat from his show went on to live in what is perhaps the most famous neighborhood in the world, ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.''

From his early and humble start in February of 1968, Mr. Rogers and all of his neighbors have the distinction of being the longest-running program ever on PBS, with nearly 900 episodes and 33 seasons to their credit. Although not comfortable in the spotlight, Mr. Rogers nevertheless has received much well-deserved recognition for his efforts, including the distinction as being one of ``TV Guide's'' 50 greatest TV stars of all time, four Emmys, and induction to the Television Hall of Fame. His messages of self-worth, respect, and understanding have long served as a calm refuge and important contrast in a world of children's television filled with frenetically paced and often violent cartoons.

My friends, we have had more than our share of destruction, violence, and fear in these uncertain times. World events play out very differently in the eyes of a child, and in our rush to give voice to our own personal opinions on the happenings of the day, sometimes we overlook the importance of taking the time to explain issues to our children in a calm and easy manner and thus help ease the trepidations of a child growing up in today's world.

Fred Rogers realized the importance of taking the time to communicate with children, a fact that was at the very heart of his goals and beliefs. Although he was an ordained Presbyterian minister, he never preached to his audience. But then again, he never had to. His message of unconditional love, peace, self-respect, and respect for one's neighbor is universal. He once said, ``When you are helping children feel safe, you are helping them use their energies for moving forward, toward a more hopeful future for themselves and for our society.''

Mr. Rogers helped children confront difficult real-world issues such as divorce, disease, and adoption by listening to them and engaging them on these topics, by talking to them in a manner that respected a child's developing intellect. I truly hope that the important messages that Mr. Rogers shared with us and our children continue on for the next generation of future Congressmen and- women, and I am confident that his legacy will continue, as I have heard that PBS is encouraging all local PBS stations to continue running the rebroadcasts of ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.'' His legacy will also continue in the works of the nonprofit organization founded by Mr. Rogers, Family Communications, Incorporated of Pittsburgh.

In the words of Mr. Bill Isler, president of Family Communications,

Mr. Rogers was a composer, minister, author, puppeteer,

brother, husband, father, grandfather and a friend to every

child in the entire human family. Those of us who worked with

Fred Rogers share both the privilege and responsibility of

continuing his work so that no child anywhere grows up

without being told, ``You are special.''

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to leave you with something Mr. Rogers once said in regards to helping children understand and cope with terrible news events on television. He said:

When I was a boy and would see scary things on the news, my

mother would say to me, `Look for the helpers. You always

find people who are helping.' To this day, that is where I

focus my attention, to the many caring people in this world.

Our world lost one of the greatest and most caring helpers when Mr. Rogers was called home, but his teachings and messages have instilled in us the responsibility, duty, and ability to carry on his legacy by being one of the helpers that our children look for and need.

Thank you, Mr. Rogers. We will always miss your special, caring way of helping and comforting us all. You will always be, for the children.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle), the sponsor of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I join with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle) and all Pennsylvanians and all people of good will throughout America as we pay tribute honoring the legacy of Fred Rogers and his dedication to creating a more compassionate, kind and loving world for children and adults. I quote:

``It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood,

A beautiful day for a neighbor.

Would you be mine? Could you be mine?

While singing this simple refrain, Fred McFeely Rogers would change out of his sport coat and into his zip-up cardigan, slip off his dress shoes and slip on a pair of blue sneakers and become Mr. Rogers of ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.''

``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood'' was a daily whisper in children's ears. It whispered peace, serenity, honesty, comfort, and trust into small and developing ears that listened attentively about issues big and small. Mr. Rogers spoke to children about the virtues of civility, sharing, tolerance, obedience, and self-worth.

He talked with musicians, such as cellist Yo-Yo Ma, asking questions from a child's perspective, like how he learned to play the cello, had it been too big for him.

As the creator and host of the popular television show, Rogers became one of America's most beloved figures. His evolution as a children's television personality began in the 1950's, many years before public TV station WQED in Pittsburgh produced the first ``Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.'' Rogers had been a puppeteer and voice character on the WQED show called ``The Children's Corner.''

Fred Rogers made his first on-camera appearance in the 1960's while working for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Toronto. It was there that he produced a 15-minute daily program called ``Misterogers.'' By the mid 1960's, the shows were lengthened to 30 minutes and were moved to Pittsburgh. A Washington Post article on Rogers stated that ``Rogers often said he was guided by listening to children, discovering who they were and what was important in their lives. By providing answers to children's questions and addressing their uncertainties in their expanding world, he sought to aid their emotional development as individuals.''

As the Nation stands on the brink of war and the threat of terrorism as a constant reminder of the cruel world in which we live, who is listening to the children and addressing their uncertainties? Who on national television will be that reassuring and calming presence for the next generation of children?

On February 27, Fred Rogers, the gentle and soft-spoken host of ``Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'' died of stomach cancer at his home in Pittsburgh at the age of 74. Rogers received four daytime Emmy awards, a Peabody award, a lifetime achievement award of the National Academy of Television and Sciences, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and more than two dozen honorary degrees for doing what too few of us have sought to do, make a commitment to enrich the lives of children. He was truly a gentle giant, and I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 111, ``Honoring the Legacy of Fred Rogers.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Rogers is someone that all Pennsylvanians were so proud of. Our hearts are sad today because of his leaving us, but he left behind a heritage that we are all so proud of and will always remember in such a wonderful fashion.

I think in Pennsylvania, in western Pennsylvania, if you are traveling around today, at the Eat'n Park restaurants on their lighted signs, they say it all: ``Fred Rogers, we miss you.'' He studied childhood development at the University of Pittsburgh. Then he went on to be an ordained Presbyterian minister. His landmark show, ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood,'' inspired, taught and encouraged children, families and adults since its first nationwide broadcast on February 19, 1968, with messages of love, peace and comfort.

Mr. Rogers created over 200 of his own songs for his show, which always began in a comfortable family living

room as he changed into his trademark cardigan sweater and sneakers, to encourage the healthy emotional growth of children and their families through imagination and friendship.

He encouraged millions of children across the world to love themselves and their neighbors and to deal with complex emotional issues in a safe and reassuring way. On July 9, 2002, in recognition of the contributions of Mr. Rogers, President George W. Bush presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House ceremony and said, ``Fred Rogers has proven that television can soothe the soul, nurture the spirit and teach the very young.'' We all know that does not happen on television every day on many programs, but it did on his.

The final show of ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood'' aired in August 2001 after completing 33 television seasons and nearly 1,000 episodes. He was always called on whenever we faced a crisis in this country that would put fear in the hearts of children, September 11 the most recent. But he had a calmness and a kindness and a love that changed the atmosphere in any room he entered. Yes, as the Eat'n Park signs say today: ``Fred Rogers, we miss you.''

Mr. Speaker, in a world where too often neighbors have become strangers, the meaning of ``Love thy neighbor'' has dwindled. Fred Rogers never lost that spirit. He accepted us into his neighborhood, into his home, and presented our children with a message that you should be loved for who you are.

``The whole idea,'' said Mr. Rogers, ``is to look at the television camera and present as much love as you possibly could to a person who needs it.''

Fred Rogers recognized the power of television to carry out that message of caring, and become involved in children's broadcasting during its infancy. In the early 1950s he began working in public television at WQED, the first community public television station in the nation. On his lunch breaks, he attended Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and graduated magna cum laude with the Class of 1962 with his Master's in Divinity. The day after graduation he was called to Canada to being MISTEROGERS, the show that would evolve into Mister Rogers' Neighborhood on his return to Pittsburgh a year later.

Mr. Rogers' teaching did not end at the close of each broadcast, or even when he left the studio. Through Family Communications, Inc., Fred Rogers was able to foster girls' involvement in math and science, educate children about the dangers of prejudice, and teach pre- schoolers anger management. Through Safe Havens Training Project, Mr. Rogers was able to educate childcare workers on how to deal with children that witnessed violence, proving them a place where they could feel safe.

Fred Rogers also remained active in the ministry, educating a new generation of ministers at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary's Summer Youth Institute. Mr. Rogers would spend an afternoon with the teenagers, hoping to impart to them the importance of the doctrine of love and caring that he had made the center of his life.

Mr. Rogers was a teacher, an educator, and a presence in many of our children's lives. The neighborhood will miss him.