Supporting the contributions of Catholic schools.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 51 Supporting the contributions of Catholic schools. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 16, 2019 Mr. LIPINSKI (for himself, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia, Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. LATTA, Mr. GROTHMAN, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. JOYCE of Ohio, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, Mr. LAHOOD, Mrs. WAGNER, Mr. YARMUTH, Mrs. WALORSKI, Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. RYAN, Mr. JONES, Mr. EMMER, Mr. STAUBER, Mr. KING of New York, and Mr. BRINDISI) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor RESOLUTION Supporting the contributions of Catholic schools. Whereas Catholic schools in the United States are inter- nationally acclaimed for their academic excellence and provide students with more than an exceptional scholastic education; Whereas Catholic schools instill a broad, values-added edu- cation emphasizing the lifelong development of moral, in- tellectual, physical, and social values in young people in the United States; Whereas Catholic schools serve the Nation by providing a di- verse student population from all regions of the country VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:11 Jan 17, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR51.IH HR51 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HRES 51 IH and all socioeconomic backgrounds a strong academic and moral foundation, including over 38 percent of students from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds and 19 per- cent from non-Catholic families; Whereas Catholic schools are an affordable option for par- ents, particularly in underserved urban areas; Whereas Catholic schools produce students strongly dedicated to their faith, values, families, and communities by pro- viding an intellectually stimulating environment rich in spiritual, character, and moral development; Whereas Catholic schools are committed to community serv- ice, producing graduates who hold ‘‘helping others’’ among their core values; Whereas the total Catholic school student enrollment for the 2018–2019 academic year is almost 1.8 million and the student-teacher ratio is 12 to 1; Whereas the Catholic high school graduation rate is 99 per- cent, with 87 percent of graduates attending 4-year col- leges; Whereas in the 1972 pastoral message concerning Catholic education, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops stated, ‘‘Education is one of the most important ways by which the Church fulfills its commitment to the dignity of the person and building of community. Community is central to education ministry, both as a necessary condi- tion and an ardently desired goal. The educational efforts of the Church, therefore, must be directed to forming persons-in-community; for the education of the individual Christian is important not only to his solitary destiny, but also the destinies of the many communities in which he lives.’’; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:11 Jan 17, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR51.IH HR51 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HRES 51 IH Whereas the week of January 27, 2019, to February 2, 2019, has been designated as National Catholic Schools Week by the National Catholic Educational Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Janu- ary 30, 2019, has been designated National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools; Whereas the National Catholic Schools Week was first estab- lished in 1974 and has been celebrated annually for the past 45 years; Whereas while some Catholic schools are challenged by de- clining enrollments and school closures, the good news is that there is a strong demand and enthusiasm for Catho- lic schools; Whereas 30 percent of Catholic schools have waiting lists for admission and new schools are opening across the coun- try; and Whereas the theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2019 is ‘‘Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed’’: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) supports the goals of National Catholic 2 Schools Week, an event cosponsored by the National 3 Catholic Educational Association and the United 4 States Conference of Catholic Bishops and estab- 5 lished to recognize the vital contributions of the 6 thousands of Catholic elementary and secondary 7 schools in the United States; 8 (2) applauds the National Catholic Educational 9 Association and the United States Conference of 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:11 Jan 17, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR51.IH HR51 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •HRES 51 IH Catholic Bishops on their selection of a theme that 1 all can celebrate; and 2 (3) supports the continued dedication of Catho- 3 lic schools, students, parents, and teachers across 4 the United States toward academic excellence, and 5 supports the key role they play in promoting and en- 6 suring a brighter, stronger future for the Nation. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:11 Jan 17, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR51.IH HR51 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS