Recognizing the efforts of those who serve their communities on Martin Luther King Day and promoting the holiday as a day of national service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 43, and thank my colleague Congressman Todd Platts, authoring this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Nation observed for the 21st time the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday. Each year this day is set aside for Americans to celebrate the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. The Martin Luther King holiday reminds us that nothing is impossible when we are guided by the better angels of our nature.

Dr. King's inspiring words filled a great void in our Nation, and answered our collective longing to become a country that truly lived by its noblest principles. Yet, Dr. King knew that it wasn't enough just to talk the talk; he knew he had to walk the walk for his words to be credible. And so we commemorate on this holiday the man of action, who put his life on the line for freedom and justice everyday.

We honor the courage of a man who endured harassment, threats and beatings, and even bombings. We commemorate the man who went to jail 29 times to achieve freedom for others, and who knew he would pay the ultimate price for his leadership, but kept on marching and protesting and organizing anyway.

Dr. King once said that we all have to decide whether we ``will walk in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive selfishness. Life's most persistent and nagging question, he said, is `what are you doing for others?' ''

When Martin talked about the end of his mortal life in one of his last sermons, on February 4, 1968, in the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church, even then he lifted up the value of service as the hallmark of a full life. ``I'd like somebody to mention on that day Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to give his life serving others,'' he said. ``I want you to say on that day, that I did try in my life . . . to love and serve humanity.

Mr. Speaker, during these difficult days when the United States is bogged down in a misguided and mismanaged war in Iraq; calamities on Wall Street--Main Street--and in the American automobile industry; we should also remember that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was above all, a person who was always willing to serve to help his fellow man.

This year thousands of Americans across the country will celebrate the national holiday honoring the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. by making the holiday ``a day on, not a day off.''

The King Day of Service is a way to transform Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and teachings into community service that helps solve social problems. That service may meet a tangible need, such as fixing up a school or senior center, or it may meet a need of the spirit, such as building a sense of community or mutual responsibility. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through service projects that:

Strengthen Communities--Dr. King recognized the power of service to strengthen communities and achieve common goals. Through his words and example, Dr. King challenged individuals to take action and lift up their neighbors and communities through service.

Empower Individuals--Dr. King believed each individual possessed the power to lift himself or herself up no matter what his or her circumstances--rich or poor, black or white, man or woman. Whether teaching literacy skills, helping an older adult surf the Web, or helping an individual build the skills they need to acquire a job, acts of service can help others improve their own lives while doing so much for those who serve, as well.

Bridge Barriers--In his fight for civil rights, Dr. King inspired Americans to think beyond themselves, look past differences, and work toward equality. Serving side by side, community service bridges barriers between people and teaches us that in the end, we are more alike than we are different.

These ideas of unity, purpose, and the great things that can happen when we work together toward a common goal--are just some of the many reasons we honor Dr. King through service on this special holiday. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation and the man who epitomized community service--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 43) recognizing the efforts of those who serve their communities on Martin Luther King Day and promoting the holiday as a day of national service.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 43 into the Record.

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

I rise today in support of the resolution before us, which recognizes the critical role of service and those who give of their time to give back to their communities.

This resolution also reminds us that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a national day of service and encourages everyone to take part.

It is fitting that the day named in honor of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., is also a day for neighbors, for friends, young and old, to give back to their communities. Dr. King's leadership in the ministry and public service produced epic and societal change to this great nation. He set an example for all of us to follow.

His words offer us very simple directions. In his ``drum major instinct'' speech he said, ``You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.''

Over the last few years, the United States has endured and survived the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and hurricanes and floods that devastated families and communities. Without hesitation, volunteers across the Nation rallied together to help stabilize and to rebuild our devastated communities. And just as critical, during times of peace and calm in communities across this country, people hear the call of service and provide assistance in the classroom, in hospitals, in parks, and to children, the elderly, and to each other.

I want to thank the Service Caucus and my friend and colleague Representative Todd Platts of Pennsylvania for bringing this resolution forward and reminding us that our country was built on the idea of service. And while we set aside Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a day of service, there are opportunities to give back each and every day.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), who serves on the Rules Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from the State of Illinois (Mr. Davis), a gentleman who serves on the Ways and Means Committee and has served and distinguished himself on our Committee on Education and Labor.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the honorable gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) so that he can speak to this House resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Let me first of all thank my good friend and chairman of our subcommittee. As a matter of fact, I am already beginning to feel disappointed and underprivileged because I will not have the opportunity to serve with him this year as a result of leaving the Education Committee. But I want to thank him for yielding time, and I want to thank him for his tremendous leadership.

Mr. Speaker, next Tuesday will usher in a new era of hope, a new chapter in the history of America, when President-elect Obama takes office. This historic moment brings renewed energy to Dr. King's mission and memory. We must not forget that we have reached this place in history partly because of Dr. King's remarkable life. Today I would like to honor his memory and those who work tirelessly for his cause.

Frederick Douglass once said, ``A battle lost or won is easily described, understood, and appreciated, but the moral growth of a great nation requires reflection, as well as observation, to appreciate it.'' Today, we do just that. Today we reflect on one life that changed the course of so many others. We reflect on the commitment and integrity of a man who stood up to those who said he was nothing. We reflect on a man who had his priorities in line, who knew what was important and never forgot it. And we reflect so that we can learn what we must do as a nation to realize Dr. King's dream.

Born January 15, 1929, Dr. King grew up to be a man who would change American history by fighting for fairness, dignity and equality for all under the law and through the eyes of his fellow citizens. But his journey was never easy. Martin Luther King attended Georgia's segregated public schools. Like so many others, Dr. King was told by society that he was a lesser being and that he could never be as good, as human, as his peers.

But his journey was never easy. Despite the hardships, the bombings, the fire hoses, the dogs, the relentless beatings and the death of those devoted to his cause, Dr. King was able to rally his followers to rise to the occasion by his purpose-driven actions and unforgettable rhetoric.

In the great example of Dr. King's influence, 250,000 men and women, white and black, gathered for the famous march on Washington. It was there that Dr. King delivered his ``I have a Dream'' speech to the Nation.

Dr. King's legacy reminds us that there are some things we must continue to fight for. And although the rocky road that Dr. King traveled is somewhat smoother today, this Nation must continue to promote equal opportunity and fairness for all Americans. As we face today's many challenges, we remember that Dr. King's hope for a better tomorrow is very much alive.

So I thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to participate in this discussion, and again I want to thank my friend and colleague from the great State of Texas for giving me the opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding me this time.

I rise today to offer, along with my National Service Caucus co- Chairs, of which the gentleman from Pennsylvania is one, a resolution highlighting the men and women who inspire and actively pursue a better country, those who serve the communities on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Since 1994, we have celebrated the King holiday by making it ``a day on,'' not ``a day off,'' observing every third Monday in January as a national day of service. Dr. King's legacy guides us to work for equality and social justice, towards common understanding and shared experiences. Serving one's neighbor, one's community and our country allow every individual in our Nation to walk down the road with Dr. King, looking forward, continually focused on reaching the promised land.

This coming Monday, millions of Americans will participate in thousands of already-planned events across this country. Thousands more will come to our Nation's capital to see history in the making and answer our President-elect's call to service. As we embark on a new era of optimism and hope for a better tomorrow, we should start our journey by not only observing change, but by honoring the legacy of Dr. King and actively creating it.

I commend and join with President-elect Obama and Vice President- elect Biden in calling for a new attitude toward service in our country. When we ask what we can do for our country, the call shouldn't be answered only one day a year.

It is my hope that this year's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of National Service marks a starting point that will continue throughout the year and engage millions of Americans in a new commitment to service.

This year's national day of service promises to be larger than ever before. Efforts by the many service organizations, as well as the Presidential Inaugural Committee and the corporation for National and Community Service, have organized like never before. Right here on Capitol Hill, as has been previously mentioned, the organization America's Promise, along with the Corporation for National and Community Service, are sponsoring a food drive to support local food banks. These groups have utilized technology and the Internet to make opportunities easy to find and easy to do.

The fact that this year's King Day of Service is one day before the inauguration of President-elect Obama provides a unique opportunity to reach millions of Americans with a message to serve. I ask my colleagues to join with me in promoting service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and encouraging all of those constituents, both at home and those traveling to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration, to serve.

Thank you once again.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the great pleasure of supporting of H. Res. 43, which recognizes the hard work of those who serve in their communities on Martin Luther King Day and promotes the holiday as a day of national service.

During Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s lifetime, he worked tirelessly towards creating a more just America, seeking to not only heal this nation's racial divides, but to empower all Americans to take responsibility for bettering their communities through service. Recognizing this legacy, Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act in 1994, designating the King Holiday as a national day of volunteer service and asking Americans of all backgrounds and ages to honor Dr. King's legacy by engaging in service projects in their communities. Since Congress passed the act 14 years ago, millions of Americans have come together on the third Monday of January to engage in service projects ranging from mentoring children to building homes. By bringing together neighbors who might not normally meet, the King Day of Service strengthens our communities and country by breaking down barriers that have historically divided us and promoting civic engagement.

Although participation in the King Day of Service has increased each year, many Americans remain unaware of the service component of the holiday, making it essential for more organizations to promote this fitting tribute to Dr. King's memory. As the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am proud to join the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the National Service Caucus in co-sponsoring a food drive to support the Capitol Area Food Bank, whose resources are running thin. In Washington, DC alone, 56,000 children are at risk of being hungry on any day of the year. But with the convergence of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal holiday and the Presidential Inauguration, these children face a long 5-day weekend when the school breakfasts and lunches upon which they depend will not be available.

I am proud to recognize the millions of Americans inspired by the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to serve their communities and encourage all my colleagues in Congress and our fellow Americans to join their neighbors in community service projects on this important day and throughout the year.