Recognizing the roles and contributions of America's teachers to building and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well-being.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1312, a resolution celebrating the roles and contributions of America's teachers to building and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well-being. On National Teacher Day, thousands of communities and schools take time to honor their local educators and acknowledge the crucial role that teachers play in making sure that quality education is a right for every student, not a privilege for some.

I strongly support this resolution because I believe that we in Congress must do our part to thank those teachers who have dedicated their lives to providing a quality education for all students, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, gender, or religion. We trust our teachers with our Nation's most precious asset-- our children--and we must pause to thank them for the seriousness with which they take that charge.

In my district alone, there are thousands of teachers working hard every single day to make sure that the students in Long Beach, Carson, Compton, Signal Hill, and Watts develop a love of life-long learning and that they have the tools and the knowledge they need to succeed in school and in life. Teachers do more than just teach; they also help build communities. They foster a sense of school community and they bring learning to the neighborhoods and communities that surround our schools. The NEA has asked that on National Teacher Day this year we do more than just pay lip service to our teachers. Better than an apple or a thank you card, a community's active support of the work that educators do to teach and care for the community's students would be ample reward.

But our recognition and support should not stop there. Many States have announced this year that they will solve their budget crises by laying off thousands of teachers and staff from our public schools. For example, in my home city of Long Beach, more than 1,000 teachers, counselors and social workers were formally notified in March that they may lose their jobs at the end of this school year. I was particularly upset by this news because Long Beach Unified School District is one of the best urban school districts in the country. It was awarded the prestigious Broad Prize for excellence in Urban Education in 2003, and it has been nominated for the prize four times since the prize's inception in 2002. The last thing we should do is lay off our Nation's teachers, particularly in places such as Long Beach Unified School District where the teachers and staff are out-performing other schools throughout the country. We should celebrate and recognize those teachers and schools that are excelling, and use them as the model for how to improve teachers and schools that are struggling to meet their standards.

We are facing one of the worst economic downturns in our country's history and I know that we must make tough choices about where to invest our scarce resources. However, our children are our future and without a proper, high-quality education they will not have the tools they need to succeed. I believe we must honor the commitment our teachers have made to our children by finding ways to balance states' budgets that do not result in widespread layoffs for public school educators and staff. Education is a civil right and we in Congress must do our part to protect that right for all children in all communities around the country.

I applaud our Nation's teachers for their dedication to educating our most valued population in this country--our children. Without high- quality teachers in all schools, many of our children would be at a great disadvantage academically. Our teachers, particularly those who dedicate their lives to teaching in underserved communities, do their part to ensure that all children have the tools they need to succeed every day in school and to contribute to society's future. I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1312.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1312) recognizing the roles and contributions of America's teachers to building and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well-being, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1312 into the Record.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important role teachers play in the education of our Nation. This week, May 3 through 7, we celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week. The National PTA created this week in 1984 to show gratitude to the approximately 3.2 million teachers in the United States, and to thank them for contributing to the civic, cultural, and economic well-being of our Nation. This National Teacher Appreciation Week is a chance for us to recognize the selflessness and dedication that teachers show to our children every day.

We know that having teachers is integral to the educational outcomes of our Nation's youth. Research tells us that teacher quality accounts for the majority of variance in student achievement. Highly qualified teachers serve as excellent role models and instill a love for knowledge and lifelong learning in our students. They also shape tomorrow's leaders and prepare America's diverse student population with the skills it needs to compete in the 21st century workforce.

Teaching is a skilled practice. Teachers reflect on their lessons and modify instruction to reach the broad range of needs of their students in their classrooms. Quality teachers hone their skills and are experts not only in their subject matter, but also at connecting with young people and making learning come alive. Teaching is a dynamic profession, and educators must continuously engage in quality professional development in order to sharpen their techniques and increase their own knowledge.

Unfortunately, research has shown us the negative effects of teacher shortages. With the economic downturn, we have seen too many States turn to teacher layoffs to address budget deficits. Additionally, over the next 4

years more than a third of the Nation's 3.2 million teachers may retire. It is imperative that schools and communities continue to support our teachers if we are to educate our children to not only compete, but to lead and innovate in the 21st century economy.

I would like to extend my congratulations to the 2010 National Teacher of the Year, Ms. Sarah Brown Wessling, an English teacher at Johnston High School in Johnston, Iowa. Ms. Wessling teaches 10th through 12th graders at Johnston High, and is recognized for her innovative, learner-centered teaching methods, and her passion for quality instruction. We recognize Ms. Wessling's hard work and the example she sets for our Nation's teachers.

Madam Speaker, once again I express my support for National Teacher Appreciation Week. I encourage everyone to take a moment and to reflect on a motivational teacher that helped you realize your potential and reach your dreams. I want to thank Representative Graves for bringing this resolution to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez).

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

As a teacher who was in the classroom for 20 years myself, I deeply appreciate this resolution. And it is a very timely one, especially as we go into reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge passage of House Resolution 1312, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1312, and also mention a conflict of interest since I did spend 28 years as a public school teacher before I joined this august body here. This resolution recognizes the roles and contributions of America's teachers in building and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well- being, and supporting National Teacher Appreciation Week.

Teachers provide one of the greatest services to our youth, which is education. Educators bear the responsibility of teaching the next generation, and, apart from parents, are one of the primary sources of knowledge and values of our kids. In today's challenging learning environment, teachers provide more than economic leadership. Teachers plan and organize classroom activities, they assess student performance, they understand the basic needs of students, they encourage them to improve, working closely with parents as they relate to students' performance and discipline, they motivate students, encourage them to participate in extracurricular activities, they make the highways safe, and entertain the community on Friday nights.

Showing teachers appreciation and recognition during the upcoming National Teacher Appreciation Week is a terrific act of gratitude that reminds us of how important teachers are, and reminds us of what an integral role they play in our lives.

Teachers today devote time to professional development, their own education, and on class preparation outside the classroom. Most teachers spend much longer than the official school day working on teaching duties, and often spend their own money to meet the needs of their students. Teachers make these time, energy, and monetary commitments, and they deserve recognition for such.

Today we also recognize the importance of having well-trained, dedicated, and skilled teachers in schools. We honor all teachers who have made a difference by preparing tomorrow's leaders.

I also want to thank my colleague from Missouri (Mr. Graves) for introducing this resolution, unfortunately 7 years after I retired, but introducing it nonetheless. I ask for your support.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Obviously, this is an issue that is very dear to my heart at the same time, as I know full well how dedicated teachers are in putting in of their own time and their own effort to make their classrooms a success. And it is one of those particular areas in which they need to be recognized.

It would be nice if we could recognize them in other ways that are more substantial and maybe monetarily more satisfying, but at least to recognize the fact that teachers do put of themselves and give of themselves in an effort to try and deal and work with the future generations. That is one of those things that cannot be ever underestimated or underidentified.

So I appreciate the fact that this time, which is called National Teacher Appreciation Week, an entity that was started by the PTA, is indeed one of those elements that we should take the time to recognize the significant factor, the significant effort that all the teachers make in not only our public schools but our private schools as well, and indeed you can probably expand this in some particular way to extend to those who are teaching at home, which means our parents are teachers in and of themselves. They too need to be recognized for the commitment they make to our students. It is an important effort. It is an important entity.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this particular resolution, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves).

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1312, a resolution commemorating National Teacher Week. This week in May recognizes the millions of educators who play an integral role in shaping the lives of children across the country.

Teachers are charged with the essential responsibility of preparing the youngest generation of Americans to compete and excel in our global economy. Every day, they sacrifice for the sake of their students. They are relentless and admirable in performing a difficult and sometimes thankless job. They walk into their classrooms and face a daunting task--ensuring each student learns and succeeds.

That is why I'm working for our students, teachers and schools, especially during these economic hard times. Without federal aid to protect education jobs, budget crises at the State and local level will result in increased class sizes and massive layoffs. As a Member of Congress, it is my job to do what I can to make sure classroom doors stay open so students can learn. Last year, I voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5), which saved or created over 400,000 teaching jobs nationally, and nearly 7,000 in Minnesota.

In addition, I support the creation of a $23 billion Education Jobs Fund. Without this injection of federal funding, hundreds of thousands of teachers across the country will be laid off, resulting in increased class sizes and reduced quality of education. This job-saving provision was incorporated in two bills I supported: the Jobs for Main Street Act, H.R. 2847, which passed the House last December, and the Local Jobs for America Act, H.R. 4812, still pending in the House. I join many of my colleagues in urging the Senate to include this fund in their next jobs package.

Each one of us has had a teacher who made a difference in our lives. I am honored to commemorate this valuable core of our community. I am also pleased to join students and teachers at Maxfield Elementary in St. Paul Public School District 625 and all Minnesotans in congratulating 6th grade teacher Ryan Vernosh as the 2010 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. This recognition is a reflection of his commitment and dedication to making a positive impact on students' academic success in his classroom. Mr. Vernosh is one of our finest teachers and is deserving of this honor.

For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to thank the teachers who have made differences in their lives and honor them by supporting H. Res. 1312.

I would like to thank my colleague.

Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week. This is a time to honor teachers for the positive impact they make in our lives. I thank the gentleman from Missouri for introducing this legislation.

Teachers fill many roles. They inspire students to set and reach goals. They are role models, motivators, and mentors. Most importantly, they help students develop the knowledge and skills they need to understand the world and to become a productive part of it. They work with limited resources to ensure that our students receive a quality education.

There are so many teachers in my district who work hard to open students' minds to ideas, knowledge, and dreams, but today I want to mention just three:

Julie Wright, who teaches first grade at Gardenhill Elementary School in La Mirada. Recently, Ms. Wright was nominated Teacher of the Year. Outside of the classroom, she invests her time in the local community by participating in the PTA and the Girl Scouts.

Pattie Blasnick is a special day class teacher at Ada S. Nelson Elementary School. Because of her patience and dedication to her special needs students, she was selected as the Los Nietos Teacher of the Year for 2009-2010.

Juvenal Martinez is a sixth grade teacher at Aeolian School who was recently honored for outstanding service in education and agriculture because of his commitment to increasing student and community knowledge about agriculture, horticulture, and nutrition.

I encourage everyone to take a moment to let a special teacher know how much they touched your life.