Expressing support for designation of the week of February 1 through February 5, 2010, as "National School Counseling Week".

Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of House Resolution 1029. This resolution designates the week of February 1 through February 5 as ``National School Counseling Week.'' It is extremely vital that we recognize those very people who mentor and motivate our youth to do their very best. Our Nation's school counselors work everyday to ensure every child has opportunities for personal and educational growth. With very little resources, they help some kids stay in school and help others cope with personal tragedies. They help our children dream big and prepare for careers from manufacturing to medicine to becoming tomorrow's future leaders. Thus it is vital we support and honor those who play key roles in our children's success and life.

The national ``drop out'' rate has increased to 6.2 million students in the United States ranging in age from 16 and 24. This pressing issue is of utter importance and should be addressed with urgency as it pertains to our youth. These statistics are hard to believe. Only half of the high school students in the Nation's 50 largest cities are graduating in four years. Marguerite Kondracke, president and CEO of America's Promise, says that each year dropouts represent $320 billion in lost lifetime earning potential. The difference in lifetime salary for a dropout and a high school graduate is about $300,000. This is why it is really important for students to have counselors who are instrumental in encouraging students to stay in school and motivate them to succeed.

This subject is near and dear to my heart. In Houston, we have one of the highest drop out rates in the country. Houston Independent School District's, HISD's, dropout rate is at least 18 percent. It is one of the biggest challenges we are having. Many students need the extra push to truly value education and to stay in school. In the current global economy, having at least a high school diploma is a critical step for avoiding poverty, and a college degree is a prerequisite for a well- paying job. The costs of dropping out of high school today are substantial and have risen over time, especially for young men, who find it almost impossible to earn an adequate income to take care of themselves and their families.

By contrast, adults with high school diplomas contribute major fiscal benefits to the country over their lifetime. The combined lifetime fiscal benefits--including the payment of payroll, Federal, and State income taxes--could amount to more than $250,000 per graduated student. Such a public fiscal benefit more than outweighs the estimated cost of enrolling a student who has dropped out.

The average counselor-to-student ratio in America's public schools is a mere one 1 to

475, a ratio that means school counselors must work extremely hard to meet the individual educational needs of students. Yet, despite their limited supply, counselors are always there in a pinch: counselors are instrumental in helping children and their families cope with trauma, whether a natural disaster or a family death.

As many of you know, professional secondary school counselors are also an integral part of the effort to increase graduation rates. School counselors identify potential problems early in a student's academic career and make sure that they are addressed before students become overwhelmed and drop out. School counselors also inspire children to achieve better futures for themselves and their communities through education.

Once again, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution in honoring our school counselors who do so much and rarely get recognition for their hard work.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1029) expressing support for designation of the week of February 1 through February 5, 2010, as ``National School Counseling Week''.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1029 into the Record.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1029, which recognizes the impact that school counselors have in students' lives throughout the country. It encourages the observance of February 1 through 5 as National School Counseling Week.

School counselors play an essential role in students', teachers', and families' lives. National data show that school counselors improve teacher quality, bolster student achievement, and lower dropout rates. Additionally, research demonstrates that students who receive social and emotional support and other services carried out by school counselors achieve higher academic results.

Our education system employs school counselors at all levels, in elementary, middle, and high school, as well as in district supervisory positions. The educational backgrounds of school counselors qualify them to work with students to address their academic, personal, social, and career development needs. Through the implementation of a school counseling program, counselors offer a range of services to students. They also offer these services to parents, guardians, other school staff, and the community at large. School counselors assist with curriculum design and implementation, offer individual guidance and counseling, and other intervention activities that meet immediate student needs. Examples include education on mental health

issues, school violence prevention, social and career skills training, college guidance and preparation, as well as conflict resolution.

Day in and day out, Madam Speaker, school counselors work tirelessly to provide academic, college preparatory, career, and emotional support to our children. Through their leadership and advocacy, school counselors strive to foster healthy school environments that promote equity and access to quality educational experiences for every student.

I thank the American School Counselor Association and the National Education Association for supporting this important resolution and the work of counselors in our schools. National School Counseling Week reminds us that the crucial role counselors play is absolutely important in every student's life.

Madam Speaker, again, I support this resolution and thank Congresswoman Linda Sanchez for bringing this resolution forward. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentlewoman from California (Congresswoman Linda T. Sanchez), the sponsor of the legislation, for as much time as she may consume.

I am ready to yield back.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1029, which recognizes the impact that school counselors have in students' lives and encourages the observation of February 1 through February 5 as National School Counseling Week.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I want to thank my colleague from California (Ms. Woolsey).

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1029 and support the goals of National School Counseling Week. I want to thank Chairman George Miller and Ranking Member John Kline, as well as Representative Vern Ehlers, for their support of this resolution.

I introduced this resolution to recognize the tireless efforts of a group of professionals who have dedicated themselves to children and to their education: school counselors.

I wish to take this opportunity to recognize a few of the diligent and hardworking school counselors from California's 39th District. Angela Castellanos of Santa Fe High School in Whittier, California, and Alex Paredes of Southeast High School in South Gate, California, are just two examples of counselors who do exceptional work every single day to help our students reach their highest potential. It is because of their unending dedication and the dedication of counselors like Angela and Alex that children across our country succeed in becoming engineers, doctors and, yes, even Members of Congress.

School counselors play a vital role in the development of our students, not just on academic, but on social and personal levels as well. Unfortunately, there simply aren't enough of them. Counselors often find themselves the casualty of budget cuts. In California, for example, the student-to-counselor ratio is a dismal 945 students to one counselor. That's 945 students to one counselor, almost four times the recommended ratio.

Our secondary school counselors work vigorously to increase graduation rates, identify problems in our schools, and improve morale by inspiring students to challenge themselves and explore new opportunities.

Primary counselors often help identify students with health problems or disabilities that interfere with learning. They also help youngsters to cope with traumatic events, from moving to a new school to the death of a parent.

Our counselors do amazing and often unrecognized work. Our communities are strengthened by the students who are championed by their school counselors. I urge my colleagues to support this effort to recognize the outstanding work that counselors do to ensure that our children's future is full of promise. I thank again my colleague.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1029 that expresses support for the designation of the week of February 1 through February 5 2010 as National School Counseling Week, even though that is only 5 days. But I guess that is a school week.

School counselors serve as a valuable resource to students across the Nation. School counselors assist students with the transition from secondary education to higher education or the workforce. They help students cope with trauma and difficult family issues, assist students and teachers in dealing with behavioral problems, and they serve as a resource for students dealing with the challenges of becoming adults.

School counselors also serve as a resource for parents and educators. They assist parents in communicating with their kids, and provide parents with important information to help their kids transition to higher education or the workforce. They work with teachers and parents to help students explore their potential and set realistic education and career goals. They often serve as a third party to mediate between parent-teacher or student-teacher or parent-student relationships.

National School Counseling Week highlights the importance of school counselors and the valuable assistance that they provide students, parents, and teachers. This year's theme is ``Celebrate School Counseling.'' The theme aims to focus public attention on the unique contributions of professional school counselors.

I spent far many too years of my life teaching in the public school system. I have known many counselors, and I have appreciated their efforts and have respected their efforts and their goals even as I have harassed them on their particular jobs.

With that, I express my sincere gratitude to all school counselors. I recognize their contribution to our Nation's youth. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I have no other speakers. Is the gentlelady from California ready to yield back?

Then with that, I urge adoption of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.