To direct the Secretary of Education to establish and administer an awards program recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system employees providing services to students in pre-kindergarten through higher education.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2377, a bill to establish a National Classified School Employees of the Year Award.

For teachers to teach and students to learn, schools must be well maintained; students must be kept healthy and safe; and all of the adults with whom students interact throughout their day, whether on the playground or in the lunch room, must support a school's culture of excellence.

Classified employees help to create and maintain an atmosphere that fosters achievement by working tirelessly to ensure the success of our Nation's students in public schools, colleges, and universities. They provide essential services, including transportation, facilities maintenance and operations, food service, safety, health care, and others. Whether they are in the classroom alongside teachers, helping to establish and promote a high-quality instructional environment, or in a bus, making sure that students arrive at school on time so they are ready to learn, these classified employees play a vital role in our schools, and they should be recognized for the outstanding work that they do.

There are approximately 2.8 million education support professionals across the country, yet too often their contributions go unrecognized. And that is why I am so pleased to have worked with you, Madam Speaker, as the lead sponsor of H.R. 2377, a bill that would establish a National Classified School Employees of the Year Award, and I am proud that this legislation has 57 bipartisan supporters and cosponsors.

This award would be very similar to the Teacher of the Year Award but would recognize outstanding public school employees who provide support services to students from pre-kindergarten through their education in nine different categories: paraprofessionals, clerical services, custodial and maintenance services, transportation services, food services, skilled trades, health and students services, security services, and technical services.

The Secretary of Education will solicit nominations from the States in each of these occupational specialties. Nominees must demonstrate excellence in work performance, school and community involvement, leadership and commitment, local support, enhancement of classified school employees' image in the community and the school, and any other area of superior performance that is determined by the Secretary. The award winners will then be recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the President.

Let me be clear, this is not a new government program, and honoring these special employees will not cost the government any money. Nor would this be the first time that government agencies have presented such awards to individuals who make important contributions. Both the Department of Defense and the Department of Commerce currently give such awards.

Honoring our classified school employees will provide the recognition and appreciation they deserve for the important work they do every day on the front lines to help our students succeed. As Booker T. Washington said, ``Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.''

So I urge my colleagues to reward the uncommon excellence of classified school employees by supporting H.R. 2377.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2377) to direct the Secretary of Education to establish and administer an awards program recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system employees providing services to students in pre- kindergarten through higher education.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 2377 into the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2377, which is a bill that establishes a National Classified School Employees of the Year Award.

Every day in schools across the country, there are people working hard to make sure our students have an opportunity to learn and succeed. Classified school employees are critical to this effort. They work as paraprofessionals: clerks, custodians, bus drivers, cooks, maintenance employees, nurses, security guards, and technicians. The work they do provides essential support to students and teachers, and for far too long, their contributions have gone unrecognized at a national level. H.R. 2377 will change this and create a National Classified School Employees of the Year Award.

The award will honor and recognize excellence in the classified school worker field. Their services vary widely, from establishing and promoting a high-quality instructional environment as paraeducators and library aides to providing other essential services, such as transportation, skilled maintenance, food and support services, and health care.

I'm sure we can all remember our favorite bus driver who provided our safe arrival to and from school. We can recall the nurse that perfectly bandaged our scraped knee, or we can reflect on a guidance counselor who helped us navigate our paths to college.

No matter the profession, classified school employees work tirelessly to ensure the success of America's students and public schools. Their dedication ensures the safety and welfare of students while improving the educational atmosphere, helping students meet the highest educational standards.

Today we recognize this work and thank them. I ask that you join us in support of this bill. I urge my colleagues to recognize the contributions of classified school employees by voting for H.R. 2377.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus), the sponsor of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, once again, I want to commend my colleague, Ms. Titus, for bringing this bill forward, and reminding us that it truly takes many, many hands and hearts to enable our students to succeed. Again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2377.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2377, ``To direct the Secretary of Education to establish and administer an awards program recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system employees providing services to students in pre- kindergarten through higher education'' introduced by my distinguished colleague from Nevada, Representative Titus.

The program which shall be known as the ``National Classified School Employees of the Year Awards,'' will allow all of our classified school employees who work as paraprofessionals, clericals, custodial and maintenance, transportation, food and nutrition, skilled trades, health and human services, security, and technical services who provide exceptional service to public schools in the United States that play a vital role in providing for the welfare and safety of students. The awards program established and administered under the Secretary of Education will recognize those who strive for excellence in all areas of service to the education community and will recognize exemplary employees for their outstanding contributions to quality education in the United States.

Nominations will be submitted to the Secretary of Education by a chief state school officer no later than November 1 and shall consider nominations from local education agencies, school administrators, labor unions and professional associations based on work performance, school and community involvement, leadership and commitment, and local support. Prior to March 31, the Secretary of Education shall select an employee from each occupational specialty to receive an award under this recognition program.

I believe in recognizing those individuals who take time out to make a difference in the lives of our young people and I feel that the ``National Classified School Employees of the Year Awards,'' will highlight the great work put forth by great people who have a great impact not only in the lives of our children, but in the area of education and in our local communities. I would like to personally thank all of those who work and contribute to the area of education through their selfless service and tireless efforts.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 2377, to direct the Secretary of Education to establish and administer an awards program recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system employees, providing services to students in pre-kindergarten through higher education. In short, this bill would create a national recognition program for classified school employees in nine categories, including transportation, food, security, and health and student services.

As you may well know, classified school employees provide the support services necessary to keep our Nation's schools open and running on time. These awards would be given annually by the Secretary of Education. Despite the fact that a school's support staff is often overlooked, they are an important part of the education team that we entrust our children to each day. These school employees provide transportation services that enable students to safely arrive to and from school, prepare and serve the food students eat each day, and keep the school facilities in which students learn clean and safe. Those classified school employees who go above and beyond deserve to be recognized for their efforts, and this bill would do just that.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2377.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H.R. 2377, I rise in strong support of the passage of this bill. H.R. 2377 would create an annual award program to honor the great work classified school employees do for our schools every day.

Classified school employees serve an important role in schools and help ensure students get the best possible education. Paraeducators, bus drivers, food service employees, and many other support staff help make the school day run smoothly. It is high time we honor their contributions by creating an annual award program that will honor the key role they play in promoting and ensuring student achievement, student safety and well-being.

I look forward to working with the National Association of Classified School Employees and other education groups to continue to

honor the important work of School Classified Employees. Again, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.