Supporting the goals and ideals of a "Rotary International Day" and celebrating and honoring Rotary International on the occasion of its centennial anniversary.

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

As the author of this legislation, and with the honor of representing the Ninth Congressional District of Illinois, home to the headquarters of Rotary International, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 142, a bill marking 100 years of service to humanity by Rotarians around the world. I am so happy that the other body, under the leadership of our Illinois Senator, Richard Durbin, also passed an identical resolution.

I want to thank the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Government Reform for their assistance in moving this bill to the floor, and my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), for his support of this legislation.

The celebration of Rotary's centennial will culminate in the place where it all began, Chicago, during the organization's upcoming convention to be held in mid-June. There, Rotarians from all over the world will mark 100 years of service to humanity and to rededicate themselves to Rotary's ongoing mission of service above self.

Rotary International was founded on February 23, 1905, in Chicago, Illinois. It is the world's first service club and one of the largest nonprofit service organizations in the world. Rotary provides humanitarian services, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build good will and peace in the world.

Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs located in 167 countries. Approximately 400,000 Rotarians belong to clubs throughout the United States and in virtually every congressional district. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, all races, and all creeds.

The main objective of Rotary is service in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop 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. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities, and international exchanges for students, teachers and other professionals, and vocational career development.

The Rotary motto of ``Service Above Self'' is an example for all humanity, and certainly one for the Members of this body. Today, Rotarians are united in a campaign for the global eradication of polio. In the 1980s, Rotarians raised $240 million to immunize the children of the world. By the end of 2005, the Polio Plus program will have contributed $500 million to this cause. Rotary has provided an army of volunteers to promote and assist at national immunization days in polio endemic countries around the world.

In 2000, I had the privilege of traveling to India with President Clinton and happened to be there on a weekend when Rotary was doing immunizations of children in India against polio. Along with many coalition partners, the Rotarians succeeded in immunizing approximately 125 million people in a weekend. Imagine the kind of volunteer effort it took for such a massive campaign and for such great results.

Due in large part to Rotary's efforts, the number of polio cases has fallen from an estimated 350,000 in 1988 to less than 1,300 in 2004, a more than 99 percent decline in reported cases. More than 200 countries and territories are polio-free.

From the launch of the global initiative in 1988 to the eradication target date of 2005, five million people who would otherwise have been paralyzed will be walking because they have been immunized against polio. It is my hope that today we will not only pass this resolution but that we will also dedicate ourselves to meeting Rotary International's call for adequate funding for the fight against polio in 2006.

Rotary is seeking a total of $106.4 million for the polio eradication efforts of the CDC and $32 million for the polio eradication activities of USAID. This Congress should support Rotary's great work by providing those needed funds.

Rotary International shares the mission that drives so many of us in this body. Rotary International promotes world understanding through international and humanitarian service programs and educational and cultural exchanges. It is supported solely by volunteer contributions from Rotarians and others who share its vision of a better world. Since 1947, the foundation has awarded more than $1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants.

Again, I want to urge my colleagues to join me in passing this legislation in honoring the work and members of Rotary International for 100 years of service to humanity and for their role in improving the world. I hope over the next 100 years Rotary's membership will continue to grow and its great service will continue.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 142, a resolution commending the goals and ideals of Rotary International as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. Rotary International is a network of professionals who have pooled their talents in pursuit of improving the communities in which they live. I also commend the four Rotary International clubs on Guam that have provided leadership and set a high standard for service that is very much appreciated by our community.

As America's first service organization, Rotary International embraces the ideal of providing for the wellbeing of the community before self. Today, Rotary International continues to expand its reach across continents to foster international understanding, and is now active in one hundred sixty-seven countries. One of Rotary International's current initiatives, the Polio Plus program, will immunize children throughout the world against polio. Since the

implementation of Polio Plus, the Rotary International has, in cooperation with other multinational organizations such as the United Nations World Health Organization, managed to reduce the number of polio cases worldwide by ninety-nine percent. Other successful humanitarian endeavors include bringing treatment for preventing blindness to indigent patients in the Philippines, building schools in Turkey, and providing educational fellowships and grants for young people.

Rotary International has dedicated significant resources to funding its fellowship and scholarship programs for citizens interested in studying abroad and pursuing scholarly work in global conflict resolution. Educational and community outreach to young citizens are examples of Rotary International's commitment to fostering international understanding and its belief that the virtue of volunteerism will provide positive change in the world at-large.

I would like to commend Rotary International for its service to the international community and continued efforts to assist underserved populations of the world. Its vision of global understanding and commitment to service are truly noble core values. I also want to specifically congratulate the Rotary International clubs established in Guam, as well as their respective club presidents, for the hard work and commitment to community service that they have demonstrated over the years. They are: Dr. Ron McNinch, Tumon Bay; Mr. Mike Perrin, Guam; Mr. Curtis Dancoe, Guam Sunrise; and Mr. Lee Yudin, Northern Guam. I also want to extend my appreciation to the Assistant District Governor for the Pacific Basin Group, George Benoit.

Today we honor the Rotary International organization, which embodies the principle that we must, as individuals, strive for goals greater than our own self interest. Through community service, we can help form a world that is a better place to live for all of us. Congratulations to Rotary International. To the Rotary Club of Guam, the Rotary Club of Tumon Bay, the Rotary Club of Guam Sunrise and the Rotary Club of Northern Guam, thank you very much for all you have done to promote community values in Guam.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 142) supporting the goals and ideals of a ``Rotary International Day'' and celebrating and honoring Rotary International on the occasion of its centennial anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks, and to include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration, H. Res. 142.

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

As a member of the Committee on Government Reform, and as one of the 73 cosponsors, I am pleased to rise in support of House Resolution 142 that honors Rotary International on the occasion of its centennial anniversary.

Rotary is a global organization of business and professional leaders that provide humanitarian services and works to provide good will and peace in the world. The organization boasts approximately 1.2 million members, called Rotarians, who belong to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs currently located in 167 countries. The efforts of Rotary clubs encourage high ethical standards in all vocations.

Rotary International was founded on February 23, 1905, in Chicago, Illinois, in the hometown and the district of my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis). It became the world's first club devoted to public service and quickly grew into one of the largest nonprofit service organizations.

Today, there are nearly 400,000 Rotarians in the U.S. Membership provides the opportunity to make a difference within communities by working with each other and with local humanitarian and business leaders. A person can even learn about and become involved in international issues through Rotary programs.

Madam Speaker, next month, I understand that the Rotary will be hosting a great celebration in Chicago to mark its hundredth anniversary, and it will be from June 18 to June 22. On this occasion, the 2005 Rotary International convention will be a great event, and we wish the best to the Rotary and all Rotarians in their festivities.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate the distinguished gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) for her benevolence in advancing such a worthy resolution. I congratulate Rotary International for 100 years of tremendous service to our Nation and to the world.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may consume to my distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from the State of Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), who is also a Rotarian.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from the State of Illinois (Mr. Kirk), who is also a Rotarian.

Madam Speaker, again, I am pleased to be associated with House Resolution 142. I urge all of my distinguished colleagues to support its adoption.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is with great pleasure I join with my colleagues and friends in support of H. Res. 142, supporting the goals and ideals of a Rotary International Day and celebrating and honoring Rotary International on the occasion of its centennial celebration.

Rotary International is one of the most well-known and respected service organizations in the world. What many people do not know, however, is that the organization began in 1905, when Paul Harris, a Chicago attorney, invited three friends to a meeting: Silvester Schiele, a coal dealer; Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor; and Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer. All four men gathered in Loehr's business office in room 711 of the Unity Building at 127 North Dearborn, in my district of downtown Chicago. They discussed Harris' idea that business leaders should meet periodically to enjoy camaraderie and to enlarge their circle of business and professional acquaintances.

The club met weekly. Membership was limited to one representative from each business and profession. And though the men did not use the term ``rotary'' that night, that gathering is commonly regarded as the first Rotary club meeting. The name Rotary was suggested later by Paul Harris, as meetings were rotated from one office in the early days of the organization to another.

As the Rotary club began to grow nationwide, the focus of the club expanded from simply serving the professional and social needs of its club members to trying to address the problems that existed in their communities. Since its inception, Rotary International has been a source of inspiration to people all over the world. In 1945, 49 Rotary members served in 29 delegations to the United Nations Charter Conference. Today, the Rotary club is still an active participant in several United Nations programs.

In addition to their commitment to diplomacy, Rotarians have taken the lead on many international crises. In 1985, they made a commitment to immunize all of the world's children for polio. To this day, Rotary is the largest private-sector contributor to the global polio eradication program.

As we honor Rotary International for their profound contributions to our world, I am pleased to say that the organization continues to grow. Today, 1.2 million Rotarians belong to 31,000 Rotary clubs in 166 countries.

Madam Speaker, I would also like to take this moment to thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), for her leadership in bringing this important legislation to the floor. I would also like to thank the members of the Rotary club for serving our communities and helping to make the world a better place for all of us to live in.

Madam Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 142 to support the goals and ideals of `Rotary International Day' and to celebrate and honor Rotary International on the occasion of its centennial anniversary.

Rotary began in my district, the U.S. Virgin Islands with what was called non-district clubs. The first non-district club to receive a charter was The Rotary Club of St. Thomas in 1957, followed by The Rotary Club of St. Croix in 1958 and from their inception they emphasized their commitment of Service Above Self.

Rotary West of St. Croix for example has provided (5) $1,000 scholarship for graduating seniors from St. Croix high schools for over 25 years. They have also donated over 350 wheelchairs to residents of St. Croix and Haiti, and provided over 3 trailers loads of dry goods to the residents of Grenada in the wake of the disaster they suffered last year. Just this past March, they presented a $10,000 check to Juan Luis Hospital to help the facility purchase an EEG machine.

On St. Thomas, three 2004 graduates of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School were given full four-year scholarship awards to attend the University of the Virgin Islands, thanks to Rotary Club of St. Thomas East. St. Thomas' Rotary East works closely with students at Eudora Kean, its adopted school, year-round and at the end of the year it awards up to four scholarships to deserving graduates. With Rotary International in its 100th year, each club is mandated to create a special project. For its Centennial project, Rotary East created a tropical arboretum with the help of Kean students, planting 100 trees on the school's campus concentrating on native species, such as pink cedar and sea grape trees.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased that Rotary International and the U.S. Coalition for the Eradication of Polio have chosen to recognize me as a 2003 Rotary ``Congressional Champion of Polio Eradication. The drive to eradicate polio has been one of the largest private-public sector initiatives ever organized. Rotary International has been working since 1985 to help eradicate polio from the world and it is now possible. They have mobilized tens of thousands of Rotarians to work together with their national ministries of health, UNICEF and the World Health Organization, and with health providers at the grassroots level in thousands of communities. By the time polio has been eradicated, Rotary International will have expended more than $500 million of its own money on the effort.

I am pleased to support H. Res. 142 and applaud Rotary International for all of their good work in service to their community. I urge my colleagues to support passage of the resolution.