Supporting the goals and ideals of National Volunteer Week.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 335) supporting the goals and ideals of National Volunteer Week.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise, extend and insert extraneous materials on House Resolution 335 into the Record.

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

I rise today in support of House Resolution 335, which supports the ideals and goals of National Volunteer Week. People who volunteer and engage in community service play a vital role in neighborhoods across the country. National Volunteer Week invites all Americans to give back to the community in some form of service.

Last week, President Obama signed into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve

America Act. The law recognizes the necessary role volunteerism and service play in our country and creates 175,000 new service opportunities over the next several years. Through four new service corps, the Serve America Act will engage volunteers to work in their communities in the areas of health, education, green work and programs to support veterans and their families.

Today, more than 400,000 individuals have volunteered through AmeriCorps, one of the largest national service programs working in local communities across the Nation. Whether it's tutoring children in after-school programs, cleaning up parks or serving food to the homeless, volunteers answer unmet needs by partnering with nonprofit organizations, schools, faith-based and community agencies to volunteer their services in local communities. Amazingly, seniors working as part of the Senior Corps have generated more than 1 billion volunteer service hours.

Schools are also working to increase service opportunities in the communities. More than 1 million high school students participate in service-learning programs in their schools.

On a national level, volunteers have helped America alleviate some of its most pressing problems. During 9/11, millions of volunteers responded in our country's time of need through their churches, schools and oftentimes as individuals wanting to help their neighbor. More recently, over 80,000 volunteers traveled to Fargo, North Dakota, to fill sandbags, strengthen levees and help flood victims evacuate their homes. When the call is sounded, this Nation's citizens rally together to begin the rebuilding that is needed.

National Volunteer Week recognizes the critical role volunteers play in their communities. This week honors their hard work and contributions.

I want to thank Congressman Platts for bringing this resolution forward and reminding us of the importance of volunteerism.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I also encourage all my colleagues to support House Resolution 335.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 335, ``Supporting the goals and ideals of National Volunteer Week''. I would like to thank my colleague Todd Platts for introducing this legislation. H. Res 335 moves to observe the week of April 19 through April 25, 2009 as National Volunteer Week.

President Obama throughout his campaign for President and through the first 100 days of his administration has sent a steady reminder to the American people that the Government cannot solve all of their problems for them. He has encouraged Americans to get out and try to impact their own communities through acts of volunteerism. The President himself along with the help of former President Clinton and local D.C. children were seen planting trees for earth day. The first lady along with multiple spouses of congressional members has volunteered in multiple kitchens serving food to members of the community. This administration is showing clear signs that it is not only going to call upon the American people for action, but are clearly prepared to join them in their own community.

Just last week, President Obama and this new administration took another giant step toward encouraging and helping the American people to be active in their communities with the passage of, ``The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act''. This landmark law recruits an army of 250,000 per year to engage in intensive service, and it focuses its work on today's challenges, including clean energy, education, health, veterans care, and economic opportunity. It creates new service opportunities for seniors, baby boomers, and young adults, and improves service learning in our schools. The law also creates a Social Innovation Fund. This fund looks for new ideas in communities and leverages private, nonprofit, and faith based support to invest in local innovation. The fund also allows us to test the impact of new ideas and expand successful programs to scale. Volunteering provides the opportunity to join and better a community. Every American who volunteers can become an integral part of a school, a hospital, or a neighborhood. Those who give their time, join our Nation's proud history of service and helps preserve this tradition for generations ahead. During National Volunteer Week, we express heartfelt thanks to all who have worked hard in this effort, and we urge more Americans to reach out and meet the manifold unmet needs of fellow Americans.

Many events are planned around the nation, including numerous in the Houston area. I urge all Americans especially those living in the 18th Congressional district to participate in this national week of service. Madam Speaker I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 335, observing the week of April 19-25 as National Volunteer Week. Also I urge all Americans to get out and participate in the many volunteer opportunities to take place across the nation.

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

I rise in support of House Resolution 335, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Volunteer Week. Throughout the history of the United States, Americans have valued an ethic of service. Citizens have come together to support our troops, educate our children or work to ensure that less fortunate individuals have a place to live.

All of these activities support the theme of this year's National Volunteer Week, ``Celebrating People in Action.'' This week gives us an opportunity to recognize those individuals who serve their country, not only through the military or through national service programs run by the Corporation for National and Community Service, but also those individuals who are donating their time to serve their local communities.

Just last week our President signed the latest reauthorization of the national service programs. This bill was crafted through a bipartisan process in both the House and the Senate and builds on the reforms and the corporations stated by the previous administration to ensure additional accountability in national service programs. The bill will help smaller organizations participate in national service and ensure that the unique skills of America's veterans are utilized.

Volunteerism is a way for Americans to connect to their communities, learn more about the problems facing their communities and to simply make a difference.

This week we salute all volunteers and national service program participants for their powerful impact, and we thank all community partners who make these efforts possible and bring more Americans into service.

I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues, Mr. Platts, Ms. Matsui and Mr. Price for introducing this resolution, and I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to state for the record my position on the following votes I missed due to flight delays as a result of air traffic control issues and runway repairs at LaGuardia Airport. I was in New York for a press conference with Mayor Bloomberg addressing the Swine Flu Pandemic.

On Monday, April 27, 2009 I missed votes on H. Res. 329, H.R. 1746 and H. Res. 335. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the following votes:

H. Res. 329--Recognizing the anniversary of the tragic accident of the steamboat ship SS Sultana (Representative Snyder--Armed Services).

H. Res. 1746--Pre-Disaster Mitigation Act of 2009 (Representative Oberstar--Transportation and Infrastructure).

H. Res. 335--Supporting the goals and ideals of National Volunteer Week (Representative Platts--Education and Labor).

Madam Speaker, unfortunately last night, April 27, 2009, I was unable to cast my votes on H. Res. 329, H.R. 1746, and H. Res. 335 and wish the Record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 207, on suspending the Rules and passing H. Res. 295, Recognizing the anniversary of the tragic accident of the steamboat ship SS Sultana, I would have voted ``yea.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 208, on suspending the Rules and passing H.R. 1746, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Act of 2009, I would have voted ``yea.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 209, on suspending the Rules and passing H. Res. 335, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Volunteer Week, I would have voted ``yea.''