Pledge Language is English Declaration and Government Endorsement Act of 2009

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1621, ``Recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the Historic Founding of Catholic Charities USA.'' Let me begin by thanking my colleague Representative Rush Holt for introducing this incredibly important piece of legislation into the House of Representatives, as it is imperative that we recognize and support Catholic Charities' USA 100th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, as an enthusiast of Catholic Charities USA and co- sponsor of this resolution, I urge my colleagues to support this measure by recognizing the importance of Catholic Charities USA and their 100 years of service to our great nation.

Since the Catholic Charities USA founding in 1910 on the campus of Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, Catholic Charities has worked to establish well over 1,700 local Catholic Charities agencies and institutions around the nation.

The vision of Catholic Charities USA is direct and simple, to help ``people in need achieve self-sufficiency.'' Yet Catholic Charities USA continues to touch hundreds of thousands of lives by providing vulnerable individuals with greatly needed care, nourishment, and compassion. As an advocate for social justice, Catholic Charities USA works to empower committees around the nation maintaining that each individual is entitled to a life of dignity and opportunity that allows each person to reach their full potential. As part of our government, it is dire that we provide our constituents and all Americans with a good quality of life. By recognizing the centennial anniversary of Catholic Charities USA, we are acknowledging the extreme, positive impact of their efforts all over America and the work they do to provide all with a high quality of life,

respect, and dignity. Furthermore, we would be commending and applauding Catholic Charities USA's efforts to provide children, the poor, the disabled, the elderly, and the powerless with resources like housing, food, economic security, health, a place in the workforce, and education.

As for the 18th district of Texas, I would be utterly remiss if I did not take time to recognize and relay my sincerest gratitude for all that the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston has done, and continues to do in Houston. For over 60 years Catholic Charities has served the human and social service needs of Houstonians by providing communities with programs aimed at promoting and facilitating self-sufficiency. Teaching and preparing one to be self- sufficient is perhaps one of the most beautiful ways to help human kind. The Chinese proverb, ``Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,'' sheds light on the wisdom of teaching and the importance of self-sufficiency. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston employs this lesson through numerous programs for the elderly, refugees and immigrants, and those affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer, and devastating illnesses. One of their greatest outreach missions provided to Houstonians is disaster relief. As you well know Hurricane Ike was a grave environmental catastrophe, leaving many surviving Houstonians in disarray, bereavement, poverty, and great sadness. Yet Catholic Charities offered free disaster recovery assistance for Hurricane Ike survivors in the form of counseling and resources. Additionally, Catholic Charities AIDS ministry provides holistic services to those suffering from HIV/AIDS in form of case management, HIV education, and compassionate non-judgmental responses. Also, through the Share Your Blessings Program, Catholic Charities is working to provide impoverished Houston families with Christmas joy and hope by seeking Angel Sponsors to provide such families with much needed personal items. Catholic Charities services in and around Houston have greatly helped the 18th district and their efforts are to be commended.

Furthermore, Catholic Charities USA is inspired to reduce poverty, support families and parenthood, empower communities, and eliminate oppression. The spirit of this great organization is the embodiment of goodwill towards man, compassion, and social justice. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand in support of this measure and to support the 100 years of monumental contributions made by Catholic Charities USA. To give them honor and praise for being a national leader in their efforts to combat poverty, promote social justice, and treat all with dignity.

Mr. Speaker, I believe our body would be slipshod if we were not to pass this extraordinary measure to recognize and support Catholic Charities USA 100th anniversary and their historic founding in 1910 and all that they continue to do to better our society. I urge my colleagues to stand with Rep. Holt and myself and vote in favor of H.R. 1621, ``Recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the Historic Founding of Catholic Charities USA.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1621) recognizing the 100th anniversary of the historic founding of Catholic Charities USA.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Oversight and Reform, I am pleased to present H. Res. 1621, a resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the historic founding of Catholic Charities USA, introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey, Representative Rush Holt, on September 15, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of over 70 cosponsors.

Mr. Speaker, Catholic Charities was founded in 1910 here in Washington, DC on the campus of Catholic University of America as the National Conference of Catholic Charities. It was created to promote the creation of Catholic Charities across the country, encourage professional social work practice, to bring solidarity to those in charitable ministries and to advocate for the poor.

Today, Catholic Charities serves over 9 million people of all faiths and backgrounds each year. They provide training and technical assistance to member organizations, assist in disaster relief operations, and maintain a range of networks with groups committed to social justice.

Mr. Speaker, let us therefore congratulate the historic founding of the organization through the passage of H. Res. 1621. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of the bill, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).

Mr. Speaker, first of all I want to say I am returning back to Congress. I want to just put that on the record. So I do look forward to working with Mr. Holt and Mr. Issa and other Members.

Again, as this might be the last oversight bill that we have, again I want to thank the Democrat staff, Chairman Towns, the ranking member and his staff also for working with us, because I think this committee has done a lot of good work, and I appreciate the work they have done, all of us working together in a bipartisan way.

At this time I will ask Members to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as this session of Congress moves to an end, I would also like to thank the gentleman from Texas for his service and for bringing this up now.

We will recognize with this resolution and celebrate the 100th anniversary of this historic organization that is a force for good, a leading voice in the United States for compassionate service and care and for social reform. More than 1,700 local Catholic Charities, agencies and institutions nationwide carry out the mission to provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice and social structures, to call people of good will to do the same by working with individuals and families and communities to help them meet their needs, address their issues, eliminate oppression, and build a just and compassionate society.

Catholic Charities focuses on poverty, but has important work in parenthood, in immigration, human trafficking, disaster response and relief, climate change and other such things.

Catholic Charities provides help and hope for more than 8.5 million people each year. For example, it provides food service to millions of people; immigration services; refugee services; addiction services; adoption services; temporary shelter; transitional housing; and much, much more, in a compassionate, nonsectarian way.

This really is an example of what we can do together as a community. I see this in New Jersey under the auspices of the bishop of the diocese of Metuchen, Bishop Bootkoski; the bishop of Trenton, Bishop O'Connell; dedicated people, such as Francis Dolan, Joyce Campbell and Marianne Majewski. On the national scene, Rev. Snyder, the national president, provides every day a fine example of how service and care and compassion that are motivated by faith and religious teaching are delivered in a nonsectarian way without proselytizing and available to people of all faiths.

These people let their works, their good works, speak. Communities that are marred by disasters such as hurricanes, fires and floods find Catholic Charities there as one of the greatest providers of financial and technical assistance and training and, most of all, compassion and care.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing 100 years of good works of Catholic Charities USA.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 1621 does what we should do in recognizing really great organizations for the work they do. Catholic Charities for 100 years has represented the best in charity, not as the name might suggest as Catholics or for Catholics, but Catholic Charities are people helping people regardless of their religion around this country. So I join with the majority in urging support for H. Res. 1621.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, time is short. I believe this will be unanimously passed. And whether it is Father Joe Carroll in San Diego or countless heads of various charities headed by clergymen or lay people around the country, Catholic Charities today, after 100 years, is being honored on behalf of the kind of outreach of people helping people that America does best.

With that, I thank the gentleman for bringing this bill to our attention. I am glad we were able to do this in the 11th hour. I urge its support.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, I join with the gentleman, of course, in supporting this bill. I too look forward to working with the gentleman as he returns in the next Congress. But my notes indicated he was leaving the committee. If that is not true, then I truly look forward to working with him on the committee. If he is on another committee, I look forward to working with him in his new role, but on his legislation.