A bill to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 13, 2005, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on ``The Federal Home Loan Bank System.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 13 at 11:30 a.m. in room SD-366 to consider pending calendar business.

Agenda Item 1: To consider the nomination of David Garman, to be Under Secretary of Energy.

In addition, the Committee may turn to any other measures that are ready for consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 at 9:15 a.m. to conduct a business meeting on the following agenda:

Nominations: Stephen Johnson, nominated by the President to be the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Luis Luna, nominated by the President to be EPA's Assistant Administrator for Administration and Resource Manager; John Paul Woodley, Jr., nominated by the President to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works; Major General Don Riley, United States Army, nominated by the President to be a Member and President of the Mississippi River Commission; Brigadier General William T. Grisoli, United States Army, nominated by the President to be a Member of the Mississippi River Commission; D. Michael Rappoport, nominated by the President to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Foundation; and Michael Butler, nominated by the President to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Foundation.

Resolution: A resolution authorizing alteration of the James L. King Federal Justice Building in Miami, Florida; and Committee resolution for the Calumet Harbor and River, Illinois.

Legislation: Water Resources Development Act of 2005.

The hearing will be held in SD-406.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session on Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at 10 a.m., to hear testimony on ``The U.S.- Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at 9:30 a.m. to hold a nomination hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions meet in executive session during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at 10 a.m. in SD-430.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. to hold a business meeting to consider pending Committee business.

Mr. President, I would like to announce that the Committee on Indian Affairs will meet on Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct an oversight hearing on Indian Health.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

committee on the judiciary

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at 9:30 a.m. on ``Securing Electronic Personal Data: Striking a Balance Between Privacy and Commercial and Governmental Use.'' The hearing will take place in the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226.

Witness List

Panel I: Deborah Platt Majoras, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC; Chris Swecker, Assistant Director for the Criminal Investigative Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Washington, DC; Larry D. Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Investigative Division, U.S. Secret Service; Washington, DC; and William H. Sorrell, President, National Association of Attorneys General, Montpelier, VT.

Panel II: Douglas C. Curling, President, Chief Operating Officer and Director, ChoicePoint Inc., Alpharetta, GA; Kurt P. Sanford, President & CEO, U.S. Corporate & Federal Markets, LexisNexis Group, Miamisburg, OH; Jennifer T. Barrett, Chief Privacy Officer, Acxiom Corp., Little Rock, AR; James X. Dempsey, Executive Director, Center for Democracy & Technology, Washington, DC; and Robert Douglas, CEO, PrivacyToday.com, Steamboat Springs, CO.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

select committee on intelligence

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 13, 2005, at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Less Faith in Judicial Credit: Are Federal and State Marriage Protection Initiatives Vulnerable to Judicial Activism?'' for Wednesday, April 13, 2005 at 2 p.m. in SD-226.

Witness List: Mr. Lynn Wardle, Professor of Law, Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Provo, UT; Mr. Gerard Bradley, Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame Law School, Notre Dame, IN.; and Dr. Kathleen Moltz, Assistant Professor, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Personnel be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 13, 2005, at 1:30 p.m., in open session to receive testimony on active and reserve military and civilian personnel programs, in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2006.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 13, 2005, at 10 a.m., in open session to receive testimony on high risk areas in the management of the Department of Defense in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2006.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Trade, Tourism, and Economic Development be authorized to meet on S. 714--Junk Fax Prevention Act, on Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today in support of the re- authorization of the Congressional Awards Program and to express my appreciation for the outstanding benefits it brings to my constituents and community. Congress established The Congressional Award in 1979 to recognize initiative, achievement and service in young people. The enabling legislation (Public Law 96-114) established the Congressional Award as a private-public partnership, receiving all funding from the private sector.

Program participants choose what they will do to earn the award based on their own interests and abilities. Participants are honored for achieving their goals. Participants earn Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Certificates and Bronze, Silver and Gold Congressional Award Medals. Each award level involves setting goals in four program areas: Volunteer Public Service, Personal Development, Physical Fitness, and Expedition/Exploration.

Members of Congress usually present the Award in a ceremony within their Congressional District, but the highest award, the Congressional Award Gold Medal, is presented in the Capitol in Washington, DC. I have been delighted to present 8 Gold Medals to constituents over the last 4 years. Not only have I seen young people from my district participate in the program, but many adults, teachers, guidance counselors, youth leaders, and friends have served as Congressional Award advisors and mentors.

Regardless of the situation, youth can earn the Congressional Award. The program is open to young people from 14- to 23 years old and it accommodates people with special needs or disabilities. There are no minimum grade point average requirements. Participants must select an unrelated adult to act as their advisor. There are more than 13,000 young people presently working to earn a Congressional Award--a number that is growing rapidly.

The Congressional Award is about challenge. Awards are earned--not won. Participants work entirely at their own pace over an extended period of time so that the value of volunteer service, staying fit, learning new skills and exploring new places and activities are made part of the young person's lifestyle. The Congressional Award fosters service, initiative and achievement. The Award builds leadership, confidence and self-esteem in countless young people as they grow into product citizens in all walks of life.

For those who sincerely want to promote positive activities among the youth of our Nation the Congressional Award Program is an ideal national vehicle. That so few Members of the House and the Senate sponsor candidates is a shameful tragedy. Certainly the program would not be experiencing its present fiscal difficulties if the private sector discerned that their Washington legislators really cared. We are missing a golden opportunity to do a great amount of good at a very low cost.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Congressional Award Program as a significant instrument in our efforts to reach out to young people across the Nation and encourage them to get involved in community service. I encourage my colleagues to support the Congressional Award not only by re-authorizing the program for another 5 years, but also by Members becoming involved in their districts.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in support of S. 335, the bill to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act, and I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the House companion bill.

This public-private partnership gives the opportunity to young people to set and achieve personally challenging goals that build character and foster

community service, personal development, and citizenship. To earn a Congressional Award, as the gentlewoman from North Carolina said, participants set and achieve individual goals in the areas of public service, personal development, physical fitness and expeditions.

We in New Jersey are particularly proud of the Congressional Award because the sponsor of the bill originally, 26 years ago, here in the House of Representatives, was Representative Jim Howard of New Jersey. The award is so good because all young people are equally able to earn the Congressional Award because the goals set are based on individual interests and ability. The young person is not selected to receive the Congressional Award; she or he earns it.

The Congressional Award facilitates neighborhood networks, enabling disadvantaged youth to become part of a community. It attracts youth from all backgrounds. The Congressional Award program fits nicely with extracurricular activities in schools and various youth programs, including Key Clubs, Service Clubs, Scouting, 4-H, and so forth. I have seen the program provide an opportunity for young people to learn from adults who will encourage and support them along the way to earning the Congressional Award.

The award program looks to teachers, guidance counselors, leaders of school and youth groups to spread the word about the program. The award can act as an important component for the personal development of young people. The program establishes a sense of self-confidence and helps enhance problem-solving skills. And perhaps the most important lesson, certainly one of the most important lessons that people can learn, is how to set achievable goals and then how to achieve them.

Created by Congress 26 years ago, the Congressional Award receives no Federal funding. It is fully funded by charitable contributions. However, Congress has assisted the program by authorizing the U.S. Mint to strike medals presented to the recipients. Members of the House and of the Senate recognize their constituents who earn Bronze, Silver and Gold medals. The winners of the Gold Medal Award participate in a ceremony here in Washington held annually.

This year, the number of Gold Medal recipients represented more than 25 States. The 12th Congressional District of New Jersey, my district, is pleased and proud to have 1,004 active participants, more than any other district in the country. There were five Gold Medalists from the 12th District in 2005. There is already a Gold Medalist approved for 2006, and I expect more. I look forward to presenting the awards to them and to dozens of Bronze and Silver Award winners.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Congressional Award Act.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 335) to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 335.

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

Today, the House considers S. 335, a bill which would reauthorize the Congressional Award Act. The Congressional Award program was established by PL 96-114 in 1979 to promote initiative, achievement, and excellence among youths aged 14 to 23. Award recipients complete a self-designed program of challenging, but achievable, 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 was my great pleasure to make a presentation of the silver award recently in my district to Cameron Harris. Cameron exemplifies all the positive aspects of the Congressional Award. Making that presentation was one of the highlights of my first year in Congress.

Gold medal recipients are recognized each year at the Congressional Award Gold Ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, and I look forward to making a presentation in the near future to Cameron.

In 2000, the Congressional Award Act was amended by PL 106-533 to establish a congressional recognition for excellence in arts education. This act established a nine-member congressional board to recognize schools that promote excellence in arts education.

The Congressional Award program is administered by the Congressional Award Board, which is a nonprofit 503(c)(3) private-public partnership that is statutorily prohibited from receiving Federal funds. In lieu of Federal funding, the board is supported by charitable contributions and is authorized to receive in-kind services from the Federal Government, including free office space and an annual audit by the General Accountability Office, GAO.

S. 335 maintains current law by continuing the prohibition on Federal funding and provides a straight reauthorization that extends current law in-kind services for another 5 years.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support a congressional program that builds character and fosters community service, personal development and citizenship in young Americans--the Congressional Award program. Established in 1979, the Congressional Award is the highest honor Congress bestows upon young people.

Any interested, motivated youth age 14 to 23 may participate. The Congressional Award adapts to meet the needs of each participant. Students set goals according to their own interests and level of abilities. Congressional award recipients represent the best of America. They are required to have committed to bettering themselves and to giving back to the communities in which they reside. It is the making of fulfilling of that commitment that makes these young people so extraordinary.

Over 650 young people in Mississippi are actively pursuing a Congressional Award. Many of these participants are currently involved with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts as a part of their volunteer service commitment. Last year 15 Mississippi youths earned the Congressional Award Gold Medal by serving over 400 hours of volunteer community service and 200 hours each in personal development and physical fitness.

2005 Gold Medal recipient William Fleming of Vardaman, MS, says this of his experience: ``I gained a renewed sense of accomplishment and self worth that cannot be replaced. I got all of this from the activities that I completed in the Congressional Award program.''

Participation in this program is growing rapidly. Over 2,700 Congressional awards were earned in fiscal year 2005--an increase of 100 percent from just 5 years ago. On June 22, 2005, Members of Congress presented 242 young people with Gold Medals--our highest number to date. In 2006, that number will most likely exceed 300. As a long time supporter of the Congressional Award, I encourage my fellow colleagues to reauthorize this outstanding program.