Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate one of San Diego's hometown heroes on a very special occasion.

Tony Gwynn, who played as a San Diego Padre for 20 years, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 9, 2007 for his great accomplishments in Major League Baseball. He will be inducted on July 29, 2007 along with fellow baseball legend Cal Ripken.

It is a privilege to be joined by my distinguished colleagues from San Diego, Representative Bob Filner, Representative Duncan Hunter, Representative Brian Bilbray, and Representative Darrell Issa to introduce a resolution honoring Tony Gwynn for reaching it to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

With a lifetime batting average of .338, Gwynn is widely considered one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. Gwynn has 3,141 career hits, with only 17 players beating this benchmark. Gwynn has received eight Silver Bats for the eight batting titles he won--tying him for the National League record. He has not only proven to be a great hitter but a great defensive player, winning five Gold Glove awards. Gwynn has been selected to 16 All-Star teams and played in two WorId Series.

Gwynn is an exemplar of superior sportsmanship and a role model for Americans of all ages. In an era when money dominates the game of baseball, Tony Gwynn chose to play in San Diego and remained loyal to the Padres.

Gwynn is a well-known philanthropist, supporting the Tony Gwynn and Alicia Gwynn Foundation, the Casa de Amparo, the Police Athletic League, the New Haven Home, the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, the Epilepsy Society of San Diego, and many more organizations.

In recognition of Gwynn's vast involvement in the community, he was named Individual of the Year at the 1998 Equal Opportunity Awards Dinner, was the 1995 Branch Rickey Award winner, and was the 1998 Padres nominee for Major League Baseball's Roberto Clemente Man of the Year Award.

After his amazing career in baseball, Gwynn chose to give back to the community by returning to his alma mater to coach the San Diego State University Aztecs. After leading the Aztecs to a conference title in only his second season as manager, Gwynn was named the Mountain West Conference Baseball Coach of the Year in 2004.

Madam Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to introduce a resolution today honoring a great man and superb athlete as he is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 29) supporting the goals and ideals of National Mentoring Month 2007.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to House Resolution 29 into the Record and to revise and extend their remarks.

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

I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to honor those who make a difference in the lives of our young people across the United States. This January marks the National Mentoring Month 2007, a month-long event honoring those who are mentors. This event also draws attention to the great need for additional volunteer mentors.

As we know, Mr. Speaker, many of our children can become lost at an early age without a responsible adult to show them the way. Our children need to know that somebody older cares, and that is what mentoring is all about, showing our kids that we care. Unfortunately, many of our children do not have such an adult in their lives, and without a solid role model, the consequences for our children can be detrimental.

Mr. Speaker, a third of those entering high school do not graduate and will face limited job prospects, according to the Government Accountability Office. This alarming statistic I think would be lower if each one of these kids had a solid mentor to stress the importance of education.

There is no substitute for a healthy relationship with an adult. A caring adult is one of the most important aspects of adolescent development. When a responsible and reliable adult becomes a mentor, the benefits to the mentee last a lifetime.

Another aspect of mentoring sometimes that we overlook are the vast

benefits to the mentors themselves. Helping a younger person find their way can be extremely fulfilling, and often those who become a mentor continue to volunteer throughout their lives.

Chris Warren became a mentor to Joshua Becerra in my hometown of San Diego through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program in 1999. As a mentor, Chris taught Joshua the value of education and encouraged him to study hard in school. Joshua is now a student at High Tech High School and has already visited UCLA, San Diego State University and other campuses trying to decide where to attend college.

As a role model, the relationship has given Chris a healthier perspective on what is important in life, that is, helping others.

The relationship between Joshua and Chris shows what a mentor can do for a young person, and it also shows the joy it can bring to the mentor.

Millions of adults nationwide have similar relationships with children who face problems at home or struggle at school. Unfortunately, research shows that about 15 million children across the United States are in need of a good role model.

This resolution calls on more adults to make a difference in the lives of our young people, and we in Congress also need to heed this call. Federal programs that encourage mentoring need our support. The Mentoring Children of Prisoners program began in 2001 to provide guidance and friendship to children with at least one incarcerated parent. Funding for the program was targeted for a 20 percent reduction for the current fiscal year. Funding for a number of mentoring programs through the Department of Education was targeted for considerable reductions as well. I urge my colleagues to increase our support for these programs and to put a priority on mentoring.

We must also encourage programs that recruit young people to become mentors to those who are younger. It is these programs that will help create a cycle of mentoring between the generations.

The bottom line: our children need strong, responsible mentors.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the millions of adults, and there are millions of them out there, who are mentoring our children, and call on more adults to become role models to those who are in need.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, for the opportunity to bring this resolution to the House floor to call attention to this worthy cause on the occasion of National Mentoring Month 2007. I urge its passage today.

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

Mr. Speaker, does the gentleman have any other speakers on that side of the aisle?

Mr. Speaker, I really am pleased to be here on behalf of this resolution today. I urge and thank those who have continued to volunteer as mentors in our communities to continue on with those efforts, and I urge that those adults who have not embarked on mentoring think about it and join with some organizations that could help them move forward and help many of our young people who are in the community today and who need their help, their support and certainly the caring that they bring.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 51) honoring the contributions of Catholic schools.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 51 into the Record and to revise and extend their remarks.

Without objection, Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) and request that he control the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to say in closing that I thank the gentleman from South Carolina, that I thank Mr. Lipinski, the gentleman from Illinois as well, for speaking out so eloquently on the critical role that Catholic schools play in our society today.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 57) congratulating Illinois State University as it celebrates its sesquicentennial.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to House Resolution 57 into the Record and to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in full support of House Resolution 57, a resolution congratulating Illinois State University on 150 years of educating students.

Illinois State Normal University was founded in 1857 as Illinois' first public university and opened with an enrollment of just 43 students. The university's very beginnings were touched by history. Four years prior to his election as President, Abraham Lincoln himself drafted the original bond guaranteeing that the citizens of Bloomington, Illinois, would finance Illinois State.

Originally established as a teachers' college, Illinois State University now offers undergraduate degrees in more than 160 fields of study and 39 graduate programs.

In 2005, the university enrolled more than 20,000 students, and 83 percent of its new freshmen students were in the top half of their high school graduating class.

Public colleges, as we know, provide a great service by offering affordable options of higher education and encouraging access for minority and low-income students. This role is increasingly important as the cost of attending college continues to increase.

Illinois State University has embodied this spirit of access to higher education in public service. It is not more clear than in its mission statement. And that mission statement reads: ``We devote all of our resources and energy to creating the most supportive and productive community possible to serve the citizens of Illinois and beyond.''

Illinois State University has graduated many notable alumni who have given back to the university, the State of Illinois, and this country in so many ways. There are an estimated 155,000 Illinois State University alumni living around the world, and many of these students have gone on to great accomplishments, including Thomas Edison's State College president George Pruitt; two-time Academy Award nominee John Malkovich; and former U.N. Ambassador for the U.S., Donald McHenry.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Illinois State University on 150 years of service to their students and alumni, the State of Illinois, and the Nation.

I urge my colleagues to resoundingly pass this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski).

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues from the great State of Illinois representing this resolution, celebrating 150 years of Illinois State University, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 476, the Pension Forfeiture Act sponsored by my new colleague and good friend Nancy Boyda.

Usually, Mr. Speaker, I pride myself on seeing two sides of an issue, but honestly, I have looked, and I can't find another side on this one.

I like this bill, because any Member of Congress who has been convicted of a criminal offense doesn't deserve to get his or her pension. And I like this bill for another reason, too. No matter how small the amount, each dollar that now goes to criminal ex-Members can be used to fund vital programs at a time when we are challenged with record debt.

Mr. Speaker, I love this institution, and it makes me angry that the bad behavior of a few has disgraced Congress and harmed our Nation, and, in fact, this is a very important first step. Perhaps in the future we can go beyond this. And it frustrates me deeply when members of the media and the public say that we are incapable or unwilling to reform ourselves. So, let's prove them wrong. Let's prove them wrong today. Let's pass H.R. 476.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Home Ownership for America's Veterans Act of 2007 along with my distinguished colleague from California, Congressman Wally Herger.

The Home Ownership for America's Veterans Act of 2007 corrects an inequity in the federal Qualified Veterans Mortgage Bonds (QVMB) program available to a number of states for the purpose of financing home loans

for veterans. Specifically, in some states, QVMBs home loan financing is only available to veterans who signed up for military duty prior to 1977.

It is time we address this inequity. Our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan deserve the opportunity to purchase a home with QVMBs. Further, in our home state of California, only 4.1 percent of our veterans are eligible for a home loan through QVMB bonds.

Our legislation extends the program and opens it up to new veterans residing in California and Texas. Congress passed legislation in the 109th Congress making the home loan program available to newly discharged veterans in the other states eligible for QVMBs financing.

It is crucial that we act swiftly to give these veterans and their families the ability to purchase and own a home in California and Texas.

This legislation will benefit every state eligible for QVMBs by requiring annual adjustments to the federal bond limit indexed to the Freddie Mac Conventional Mortgage Home Price Index. A higher bond limit means California, Texas, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Alaska--the five eligible states--will have the ability to provide more of their veterans with home loans. We must keep QVMB financing compatible with national housing costs.

The Home Ownership for Veterans Act of 2007 will help our newly discharged heroes purchase homes while ensuring that state veterans' home loan programs remain viable.

Thank you very much Madam Speaker for the opportunity to introduce legislation to help veterans purchase homes and achieve the American Dream for their families.

Madam Speaker, the real issue here is about moving this Nation in the direction of energy independence.

It's true that this bill is about increasing royalties for oil extracted from land owned by the American people.

Lease agreements from 1998 and 1999 mistakenly did not include the proper royalty language.

As a result, the American people lost out on an estimated $865 million in royalties.

With this legislation, Congress has an opportunity, and a responsibility, to correct this mistake.

We also have an opportunity to roll back unnecessary subsidies and tax breaks for oil companies.

But the bill is not about sticking it to the oil industry as some critics have claimed. It is about creating an important funding mechanism for our Nation's energy future.

Throughout history, America has been an innovator in technology.

Benjamin Franklin's experiments with electricity paved the way toward harnessing its capabilities.

The Wright Brothers flew the first airplane.

America was the first to put a man on the moon.

Now is the time for America to become a leader in another field: renewable energy.

The funding generated from this bill will allow us to significantly increase our Nation's investment in renewable energy.

As a Nation, we have become more and more dependent on oil. We simply cannot maintain our current rate of oil consumption.

Madam Speaker, let's not wait until we hit rock bottom before making significant progress toward energy independence.

When it comes to renewable energy, we must go forward with the dedication and commitment that put America first in flight and put a man on the moon.

Let's show the American people that this Congress will set this Nation on the path toward clean, renewable energy.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the College Student Relief Act of 2007. This legislation makes college more affordable and higher education more accessible for all Americans. But the bill, as we know, will do much more than help Americans make it to college. As we know, graduates today often spend years paying off their loans.

This fall, a young woman named Amy wrote to me and explained the challenges her family faces. Their income is over $60,000 a year. She pays $700 a month in student loans. I am an attorney, she wrote, and my student loans are killing me. Without help, I risk never buying a home or being able to save for retirement.

By reducing interest rates, those who graduate from college will save more than $4,500 over the life of their loan. Lower interest rates also mean that college graduates will have more money to contribute to the economy, start innovative businesses, that kind of competition we talked about, and save for their retirements. Do we really want to discourage our young people from taking the kinds of career risks that bring a benefit to society?

This Congress has an opportunity to help a new generation become engineers, doctors, business leaders, teachers, public servants, or whatever they dream of becoming. So let us not shackle young adults with spiraling debt just as they reach independence. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4.

Three years ago, during the debate on the Medicare Modernization Act, I stood on this floor and told my colleagues that we can do better, that we can do better with a bill for our seniors; and today's vote will bring us one step closer to providing seniors with affordable and reliable prescription drug coverage by allowing the Health Secretary to negotiate drug prices.

As we move forward with H.R. 4, we can and we will safeguard future innovation and support lifesaving therapies befitting the 21st century.

Representing a district with a vibrant biotech community, I applaud the leadership's effort to ensure that our seniors have choices. This summer, one of my constituents named Judy wrote me, and I quote, ``I have reached the doughnut hole and must now come up with the money for my high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid, and cholesterol medications.'' The question she asked is, ``which one will I stop taking? I cannot afford all of them.''

We can do better for seniors like Judy, and today, Mr. Speaker, we will.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to address a horrible form of identity theft.

We have heard plenty lately about the need to take swift action to prevent this serious crime. In 2006, one of the largest data security breaches in history occurred when the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, lost the names, Social Security numbers, and the dates of birth of over 26 million Americans. We hear a lot about security breaches and the identity theft of living Americans. One aspect of the crime you do not always hear about is the misuse of personal information of deceased Americans.

This is a serious issue for many reasons. For one, it is their loved ones who pay the price. Months or even years after a family member passes away, surviving spouses or other relatives will begin to receive credit card bills or even phone calls from bill collectors. A predator can go onto certain web sites and purchase Social Security numbers that are sold for purposes of tracking family histories and genealogy. The predator then uses the Social Security number to apply for credit cards, loans, and other forms of consumer credit.

There were even reports that a predator was misusing the personal information of a New York City resident who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In another case, a woman began to receive bills addressed to her daughter who had passed away 17 years before.

In my hometown of San Diego, the local news media shed light on another unfortunate case. A predator took information on a woman published in an obituary and used it for identity theft crimes. It was up to her son to repair the damage and put an end to the abuse. I cannot imagine the emotional toll these cases must take on surviving relatives, and I rise today to take action to prevent further cases of this crime.

It is time Congress acted to block this form of identity theft from continuing. Predators can collect this information with relative ease giving them a steady supply of Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and the information they need to commit these horrible crimes. Furthermore, this form of identity theft can ruin the good names and pristine credit histories of those who are deceased. Unless we take action, family members will continue to suffer from the misuse of their loved ones' personal information.

The legislation I introduce today, the Identity Theft Prevention and Timely Report Act of 2007, requires that the Federal Government inform each national credit bureau when an individual passes away. In turn, the credit bureaus will flag the histories of those who are deceased and potential creditors will know not to issue lines of credit or new loans to those attempting to misuse personal information.

Madam Speaker, I urge that we act to stop this vicious form of identity theft and protect the relatives of America's deceased.

Madam Speaker, With the support of my colleague, Rep. Jim McDermott, I rise today to introduce the Military Families Financial Security Act. This bill will ensure the brave men and women who serve our country will not have to worry about losing critical services their dependent children need.

The men and women who serve in our Armed Forces are everyday heroes. I know about the valor of military families from my own experience as a military wife when my husband was stationed in Japan during the Vietnam War. As a wife and mother in a foreign country with two young children, I observed that many servicemembers were also mothers and fathers and were making the same sacrifices I was. Just as these brave men and women are working to protect our Nation, we must likewise protect them and their loved ones through the laws and policies we enact.

In San Diego and around the country, some military families rely on the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI) for means-tested financial assistance. This safety net program is designed to protect qualifying families from poverty and provides access to valuable social services such as Medicaid. Without SSI, some special-needs families would not be able to cover their medical expenses.

Current regulations threaten some military families' eligibility. They face a unique risk of losing benefits due to the way military pay is treated under SSI rules. The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers anything outside basic pay as ``unearned income.'' This method hurts servicemembers and their families since there are more than 30 types of military pay in addition to basic pay. These different pays, considered unearned income, result in higher countable income and affect eligibility. Just a few dollars can make all the difference in the world to these military families.

My legislation would change how the SSA calculates income for SSI eligibility by treating most military compensation as earned income. This simple change will keep families eligible for SSI benefits and simplify the administration of this program.

In testimony before the Human Resources Subcommittee of the Ways and Mean Committee, Social Security Commissioner JoAnne Barnhart has indicated her support for such a proposal.

The provision would treat cash military compensation and

civilian wages alike, and thus eliminate the present unfair

and disadvantageous treatment of cash military compensation

other than basic pay under SSI. The proposal would increase

SSI benefits for most military families with disabled

children, which are currently about 3,000 families. It would

be a significant program simplification in these cases and

would have a relatively small program cost of only $2 million

over 10 years.

She also mentioned how ``determining the difference in the types of military pay is time consuming and error prone, and the guidelines for making such determinations covers 14 pages in SSA's operating instructions.''

As a proud member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am committed to improving the quality of life of the men and women who serve our country. This legislation is fair, overdue and demonstrates our Nation's appreciation. This legislation will give servicemembers peace of mind from knowing that their duties will not jeopardize their families' eligibility for SSI benefits and related services.

I urge you, Madam Speaker, and all of my colleagues to pass this critical legislation into law.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to address an inequity facing America's men and women in uniform who seek an education in return for their military service.

For years, the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) has allowed thousands of men and women in uniform attend college or to receive vocational training to prepare for a new career after the military.

It is an excellent program and one we must preserve.

However, Madam Speaker, I would like to remedy an inequity that exists in this program with legislation I am introducing today.

To receive the benefits of the Montgomery GI Bill, our service members must pay into the program at the beginning of their military service.

A $100 is deducted each month from their military pay for the first 12 months.

With the legislation I offer today, our service members would still make the initial contribution. However, this contribution would no longer count against them later on when they apply for federal student aid.

In many cases, Madam Speaker, the Montgomery GI Bill alone does not cover the cost for college or job training. Our service members must also apply for federal student aid to cover tuition and other expenses.

The Department of Education considers their benefits from the Montgomery GI Bill as ``income''-- thereby reducing the amount they are eligible to receive from federal student aid programs.

This legislation goes back to the $1,200 out-of-pocket contribution that a service member made to become eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill.

It is not fair to ask our service members to pay the original amount out of their own pocket and then penalize them for it later on.

This bill would simply exempt the original contribution that came from their own pocket from the Department of Education's income consideration.

This legislation does not present significant cost to the federal government but would go a long way to help America's individual service members afford college.

During the last Congress, I offered the provisions contained in this legislation as part of the College Access and Opportunity Act (H.R. 609) when it was on the House floor.

Unfortunately, the amendment was not accepted, but I plan to pursue the issue until we correct this inequity.

Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to offer legislation benefiting America's military service members and helping them to attend college or receive job training.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act of 2007--a bill to allow any eligible voter to vote by mail in a federal election if he or she chooses to do so.

In my home state of California, voters already have this right. California is one of the twenty-eight states that already provide this convenient alternative to voters.

While I love the ritual of going to the polls to vote, I know that getting to the polls on Election Day is often difficult. For some, it's impossible.

That is why I have introduced a bill that builds upon the growing trend of states to bring the polls to the voters. I believe we should try to meet our constituents halfway by increasing access to the electoral process.

What I am proposing is not new or even untested. States ranging from my home state of California, to Wisconsin, to North Carolina, to Maine have already adopted this voter-friendly policy.

With mail voting, citizens can vote from the convenience of their own homes. They will have more time to mull over their choices and make informed decisions, and they will be able to do so on their own terms.

Not surprisingly, studies have shown that some of the biggest supporters of voting by mail are parents, who must schedule time to go to the polls around so many other obligations.

Studies have also indicated that adding the option to vote by mail does not create a partisan advantage for one political party over the other.

Republicans and Democrats both benefit from similar increases in voter turnout when voters are given the choice to mail in their ballots.

In fact, overwhelming support for voting by mail is consistent across nearly every demographic--including age, income level, race, education, employment status and ideology. It is a win-win for all Americans.

After adopting a universal right to vote by mail system in 1978, California saw a thirty percent increase in the use of mail-in ballots.

In my district of San Diego, over 40 percent of voters opted to mail in their votes during the 2006 election.

Other States that have implemented this policy have seen the same degree of support from voters, which is why it is hardly surprising that States offering the option of mail-in ballots often experience greater voter participation.

There is also an extremely low incidence of fraud with voting by mail when compared to other methods of voting.

As the former President of the League of Women Voters of San Diego, I care deeply about the integrity of our electoral system.

Twenty-eight States have already proven this option works, and it is safe. It is time to give voters in the remaining States this convenient, secure and affordable alternative.

While I am proud to be from a State where citizens already have this right, I believe democracy works best when all citizens have an equal opportunity to have their voices heard.

Right now, an uneven playing field exists between States that already offer the option of mail-in ballots and States that do not.

When the same election is more accessible to voters in California than it is to voters in Michigan, the system is unfair.

States that fail to offer this choice stand to compromise their leverage in Federal elections by curbing the greatest level of voter participation.

We should follow the lead of over half of our Nation's States and ensure a uniformity of rights for all voters.

I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting this effort to strengthen the democratic process and give American voters the choices they deserve.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the National Board-Certified Teachers in Low-Performing Schools Act of 2007.

I have been pro-active in promoting professional teaching standards throughout my public service and strongly believe certification is more important now than ever.

We know that schools in the United States are falling behind in the core subject areas of math and the sciences. Teacher certification is a step toward gaining ground against other nations as well as working to close the Achievement Gap here in our own nation.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards provides America's teachers with high-quality training and professional certification. Research shows the benefits of this advanced credential.

Students of certified teachers showed year-end testing improvements averaging 7 to 15 percent more than students learning from noncertified teachers.

Another study by the University of North Carolina found that the depth of learning for students was greater in the classrooms of certified teachers. That is, these students show greater cognitive gains overall than students of non-certified teachers.

I am convinced we must do more to encourage our dedicated teachers who are already in the classrooms.

My legislation authorizes a pilot program to give teachers with certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards a $5,000 annual stipend when they teach in a low-income school or a school that is underperforming.

Professional teaching certification would improve education in the United States and help make our nation competitive and I am pleased for the opportunity to promote this certification in Congress.

Madam Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to introduce the legislation today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution recognizing and honoring those who make a difference in the lives of our young people across the United States.

This January marks National Mentoring Month as proclaimed by the President of the United States. It is a month-long celebration honoring those who are mentors and drawing attention to the great need for more mentors.

Mentors make a tremendous difference in the lives of our children. When a responsible and reliable adult becomes a mentor, the benefits to the mentee can last a lifetime. Countless stories show the great benefits of a good role model.

Chris Moran became a mentor to Joshua Becerra in my hometown of San Diego through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program when he was just 9 years old in 1999. Chris and Joshua have gotten together on a weekly basis ever since for horseback riding, chess, and other activities. The relationship has been meaningful for both.

Spending time with a young person gave Chris a healthier perspective on what is important in life--helping others, he said. Joshua, now a student at San Diego's High Tech High, is looking forward to attending college and has already visited UCLA, San Diego State University, and other campuses trying to decide where to apply. Joshua attributes his academic success in large part to his mentor.

Joshua plans to study music when he goes on to college and would like to become a professional musician. Chris is helping him locate a college with an excellent music program.

These types of relationships between reliable adults and our young people are invaluable. Millions of adults nationwide are acting as excellent role models while providing guidance and advice to our young people--many of whom face problems at home or difficulties at school. Without a good, solid role model, our kids are more likely to drop out of high school or to become involved with drugs or alcohol.

Madam Speaker, this resolution honors and recognizes the adults across the United States who are mentors to our young people. This resolution also calls on more adults to become mentors to those in need.

Unfortunately, research shows that about 15 million children across the United States are in need of a mentor and a good role model. It is crucial that we begin to reach these children.

Finally, this resolution highlights the need to support programs that teach our young people about mentoring and the need to become involved. There are programs, for example, that encourage high school students to become mentors to younger children. These types of programs will teach the great benefits of mentoring at a young age and result in adults becoming mentors later--creating a ``cycle'' of mentoring.

Madam Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to offer a resolution honoring America's mentors on the occasion of National Mentoring Month 2007.