Recognizing Rotary International for 105 years of service to the world and commending members on their dedication to the mission and principles of their organization.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1727) recognizing Rotary International for 105 years of service to the world and commending members on their dedication to the mission and principles of their organization.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1727, a measure recognizing Rotary International for 105 years of service to the world, and commending members on their dedication to the mission and principles of their organization.

House Resolution 1727 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Texas, Representative Lamar Smith, on November 18, 2010. The measure enjoys bipartisan support from over 60 cosponsors.

Madam Speaker, most of us here are familiar with the work of our local Rotary clubs. Their devotion to service makes a tremendous difference in the lives of all of our communities and in communities around the world. The projects that the over 34,000 Rotary clubs sponsor are too numerous to list here, but some of Rotary International's highest profile undertakings include PolioPlus, an effort to eliminate polio around the world.

They have raised hundreds of millions of dollars for that effort.

Another global undertaking by Rotary International has been an aggressive effort to help solve the global water and sanitation crisis, which claims over 2 million lives each year, including 4,000 children every day. Earlier this year, Rotary International entered into a partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development to implement sustainable long-term water sanitation and hygiene projects

in the Dominican Republic, Ghana, and the Philippines.

Rotarians have also assisted in disaster relief efforts in Indonesia, Pakistan and New Orleans, helping to distribute food, clean water shelters and medical supplies. These are just a few examples of some of Rotary International's service projects. In addition to supporting projects like these around the world, Rotary International supports scholarships, exchange programs, and humanitarian grants.

Madam Speaker, let us take the time now to thank Rotary International for all that they continue to do to fulfill their mission of providing service to others, promoting integrity and advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace. I would, therefore, urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the resolution, which recognizes Rotary International for 105 years of service to the world.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire).

Madam Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H. Res. 1727, a resolution recognizing Rotary International for 105 years of service to the world and commending its members on their dedication to the mission and principles of their organization. As the Representative of the 9th Congressional District of Illinois which is home to Rotary Club International, I want to personally thank them for the service and commitment to making the world a more humane place.

Madam Speaker, the Rotary Club's motto, ``Service Above Self,'' is an inspiring example for all Americans. Rotarians not only preach this motto, they live it by developing community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence.

I would like to especially recognize Rotary for its 25-year long campaign for the global eradication of polio. Since 1985, Rotarians have raised close to a billion dollars to immunize the children of the world and have pledged to contribute an additional $500 million to the cause. In addition to this generous financial contribution, Rotary has provided an army of volunteers to promote and assist at national immunization days in polio-endemic countries around the world.

Due in large part to Rotary's efforts, the number of polio cases has fallen dramatically. In1985, there were 350,000 known cases of polio in 125 countries. Today, more than 200 countries are polio-free. There are only four endemic nations--Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan-- the lowest in history.

I want to again thank Rotary International for its 105 years of service. There is no question that the world is a far better place today because of their tremendous work.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in commemorating the Rotary International Club for 105 years of service.

Like many Members of this House, I have been a member of my local Rotary Club, the McCandless Rotary. Over the years, I have served in many of the club's offices, including a term as its president. I have seen firsthand the great work that Rotary Clubs provide for their communities and literally around the world.

Founded in 1905 in Chicago, Rotary International is the world's first formal service club and has grown into one of the largest nonprofit service organizations in the world. The mission of Rotary is to serve others, promote integrity and advance worldwide understanding, goodwill and peace through its fellowship network of business and community leaders.

Today, there are 1.2 million Rotarians in more than 34,000 clubs across six continents. The district that I represent is home to 25 of those clubs. With a well-known motto of ``Service Above Self,'' Rotary International promotes understanding through scholarships, student exchange programs, humanitarian grants, and other service projects.

I am sure every Member of this House has at one time or another attended a Rotary meeting or spoken to a Rotary group. The resolution we are debating today recognizes Rotary International for 105 years of service to the world and commends its members on their dedication to the mission and principles of Rotary International's organization.

I join my colleagues in support of this resolution.

I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Illinois for yielding me time. I also would like to thank my colleagues on the committee itself for giving this resolution bipartisan support.

Madam Speaker, this resolution honors Rotary International for 105 years of service and commends members for their dedication to the mission and principles of Rotary.

The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity and advance world standing, goodwill and peace through its fellowship. All across the country, business, professional and community leaders better their communities by participating in their local Rotary Clubs.

Founded in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, Rotary International is the world's first service club and one of the largest nonprofit service organizations. Rotary International promotes international understanding through scholarships, exchange programs, humanitarian grants and service projects. Their motto is ``Service Above Self.''

Rotary International also promotes universal values with their ``four-way test'' that asks the following questions: ``Of the things we think, say or do: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?''

It is a pleasure to recognize Rotary International for 105 years of service. I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring them on this achievement.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Texas, the sponsor of this resolution, Mr. Lamar Smith.

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

I can't help but emphasize that Rotary International was founded in the great State of Illinois, in Chicago, in 1905; and it is the world's first service club and one of the largest nonprofit service organizations. Its motto, ``Service Above Self,'' helps encourage members provide humanitarian aid, meet high ethical standards and promote international goodwill and peace. We salute all members of Rotary International for their great civic works as they celebrate this anniversary.

I thank the gentleman from Texas for sponsoring this resolution. I urge all Members to join in support of the resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.