Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 388 ``Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day.'' I would like to thank my distinguished colleague Representative Fortenberry from Nebraska for introducing this resolution, and today, I rise today in order to recognize and celebrate all of the mothers in our nation.

Mothers are the nurturers, and caregivers that prepare our Nation's young for the challenges that life may hold. Their work may be inside or outside of the home, or both, and their contributions to this society can never be fully appreciated or valued. Jane Sellman definitely hit the needle on the head when she said, ``The phrase `working mother' is redundant.''

Our mothers are our first teachers and they should be celebrated everyday. However, like many things we can take them for granted. This Mothers Day, take a moment to call your mother or to visit with her if you can. I must pay special tribute to my mother Ivalita Jackson and my late aunt Valrie Bennett who was like a mom.

Remember that being a mom is no easy feat. Our mothers are strong, determined, with big hearts and always loving. A mother must be able to juggle three things at once and still manage to make dinner and read bedtime stories. No doctor can take away all the ailments of a sick child or even an adult for that matter, like a mother can. Mothers are caring and courageous women who make a difference in the lives they touch. As the Jewish proverb says, ``God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.''

Mother's Day is also a celebration for grandmothers, mother-in-laws, stepmothers, foster mothers, godmothers, mothers who take in children, mothers who adopt, those who act as mothers, for those women who have no relations by blood but who give the gift of mothering to children.

Mothers bring a unique and valuable perspective to all aspects of American life. Today, thousands of mothers in this country have become active and effective participants in public life and public service, promoting change and improving the quality of life for men, women, and children throughout the Nation. They serve with distinction as legislators, mayors, judges, doctors, lawyers, and administrators, and their impact in these areas has proved to be monumental.

I could not find words descriptive enough to fully express the depth of admiration that I feel for women who fill this important role in our society. They are committed to their families and community not for public acclaim, but for love. As American author Washington Irving put it best, ``A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.''

My heart goes out to those mothers with children who are away at war, I cannot even imagine the fear that they must feel daily. I want to recognize the First Lady, Michelle Obama, who is striking a balance between motherhood and her duties as the First Lady. I want to congratulate and praise all of the mothers in America for all of their hard work. Another former First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said, ``If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much.''

I hope that we can all reflect on all the sacrifices our mothers made for us throughout the years. A mother's love is unending and her arms are always open. This resolution will ensure that Mothers throughout this nation are formally recognized, and the United States House of Representatives will acknowledge their importance and all that Mothers contribute to our society. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 388 as well. There are few things more important than celebrating the gift of having a mother. Finally to my mom--I love you for giving me my foundation.

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

Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for his poignant remarks about motherhood. We appreciate that. And, Mr. Speaker, I also have the pleasure of rising today to call attention to this time-honored celebration of Mother's Day.

This past Sunday, I, along with millions of Americans, paused to uplift the women who have shaped our lives and our country because, as the House of Representatives declared in 1914, the service rendered to the United States by the American mother is the greatest source of the country's strength and inspiration. Mothers have been celebrated throughout history in many languages, religions, and cultures.

Few traditions have withstood the test of time as the social celebration of motherhood. From its earliest roots in Egyptian society to our modern American holiday, the commemoration of mothers is timeless. On May 10, we celebrated the 101st anniversary of the first observance of the modern American Mother's Day when a woman from Grafton, West Virginia, named Anna M. Jarvis, held an observance in her mother's honor at St. Andrew's Methodist Church.

Afterward, when the junior Senator from Nebraska, Elmer Burkett, rose before Congress in 1908 to propose the establishment of Mother's Day at the request of Ms. Jarvis and the Young Men's Christian Association, he, interestingly, was originally met with opposition due to sensitivities concerning the role of women in society and the role of the Federal Government in honoring them.

It took until 1914, but Congress eventually passed a resolution declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. President Woodrow Wilson then issued a proclamation directing the flying of the flag as a ``public expression of the love and reverence for the mothers of our country.''

Mr. Speaker, we now honor all mothers for their immeasurable contribution to the very core of our society. Mothers sustain and strengthen our Nation through their leadership in the family and community. And despite the dynamics of modern society, the ability of mothers to meet the challenge of raising their families with love, understanding and compassion remains constant. As we commemorate mothers for the integral role they play in shaping the course of our Nation's past, present and future, we also revere and emphasize the importance of the role of the family and the home as the true and ever- present foundation of our country.

Mr. Speaker, some may question why Congress is considering this matter at all, but I would like to say that each day here we tirelessly debate the challenges and nuances of modernity becoming mired in such a dizzying array of interventions that it is easy to lose sight of our ever-enduring core values. We don't often take the time to reflect on the essential philosophical foundations that have guided this Nation through many turbulent times, so I think it is refreshing that we now take time to pause and consider a resolution such as this that is timeless.

So I encourage my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to join in support of this resolution today honoring the 101st celebration of the modern Mother's Day.

And with that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, so I will yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 388) celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, there are fewer great honors, I think, in Congress than to stand in support of this bill which affirms the goals of Mother's Day and celebrates the role of mothers in the United States. I first would like to thank Mr. Fortenberry, the gentleman from Nebraska, for his courage in going out on a limb here and introducing this legislation. I would also like to commend Chairman Towns and my colleagues on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for bringing this resolution to the floor by unanimous consent in their infinite wisdom.

On Sunday, we celebrated the 101st Mother's Day. It may come as a surprise to some, particularly our own mothers, that it took our country over 130 years to officially designate a day praising motherhood. Nevertheless, it is important to annually pause and recall that our lives and our country's history would have been much different but for the contributions of our mothers to our families and to our country.

I would not presume, nor am I brave enough, to speak on behalf of America's 82 million mothers; instead, I would simply like to speak to their importance in shaping our society and our future.

Mothers are indeed the backbone of the American family. With great love and compassion, they lay the foundation for all children to grow into honorable citizens. It is no stretch to say that our sustained national character of goodwill and moral strength is the result of dedicated motherhood.

Many of our greatest national heroes attribute their own successes to the guidance of their mothers. While examples are numerous, I will quote President Abraham Lincoln who once said of his own angel mother, ``I remember my mother's prayers, and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.''

I am sure that similar thanks and acknowledgements are appropriate for

the mothers of every American. I am sure of that.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues would agree that it is inadequate to spend just 1 day a year celebrating the contributions of America's mothers, but as our small measure of gratitude, I urge this body to join its 56 cosponsors and agree to House Resolution 388.

And I reserve our time.

Mr. Speaker, I join and support the gentleman's words.

We have no further speakers on our side at this time, so I will continue to reserve.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I just want to ask all Members to join with Mr. Fortenberry, the gentleman from Nebraska, in support of this resolution.

I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 388, celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day.

House Resolution 388 enumerates not only the ``immeasurable contributions toward building strong families, thriving communities, and ultimately a strong Nation'' made by mothers but also the importance of Mother's Day in recognition of these contributions.

From hallowed chambers to corporate boardrooms to classrooms to assembly lines, none of us would be the individuals we are without our mothers. While every family, every relationship is unique, we know that the bond between a child and a maternal figure--whether a mother, a grandmother, a stepmother, or a foster mother--is so very important. Strong families are the backbone of our nation. It is therefore very appropriate that we take this time today to celebrate and recognize the contributions of our nation's mothers to the strength and prosperity of America.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take a moment of personal privilege, as I have done before on the floor of this House, to talk a little bit about a very special woman--my Mother, Mrs. Helen Cecelia Gannon Gingrey.

Born in New York City in 1918, my mother has lived and continues to live life to its fullest. From the hustle and bustle of Manhattan to the serenity and beauty of South Carolina, my mother--grounded in her deep faith and her love for her husband, her children, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren--has never stopped, never strayed from her commitment to God and to family.

Mr. Speaker, at 91 years young, my mother has also refused to let time and its effects keep her down, so much so that at the end of last year, she opted for a second knee replacement--with full knowledge of the inherent risks--because of her commitment to living life and making the most of every opportunity that God has given her. She faced this challenge as she does everything--with a big smile and an abiding faith.

I am happy to report that in the months following the surgery, she has recovered very well and hasn't missed a beat. As this House honors our nation's mothers, I would like to say a special thank you to my mother, not just for the blessing that she has been to me and our family, but for being a shining example of a life well-lived.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this Resolution for mothers everywhere, and I yield back.