Supporting the contributions of Catholic schools.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 792 Supporting the contributions of Catholic schools. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 14, 2020 Mr. LIPINSKI (for himself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. GALLA- GHER, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. RYAN, Mr. MOON- EY of West Virginia, Mr. JOYCE of Ohio, Mr. LATTA, Mrs. WALORSKI, Mr. LAHOOD, and Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois) 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 and all socioeconomic backgrounds a strong academic and moral foundation, including 39 percent of students from VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:52 Jan 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR792.IH HR792 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 792 IH racial and ethnic minority backgrounds and 19 percent 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 was almost 1,800,000 and the student-teacher ratio was 12 to 1; Whereas the Catholic high school graduation rate is 99 per- cent, with 86 percent of graduates attending 4-year col- leges; Whereas in the 2005 pastoral message ‘‘Renewing Our Com- mitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium’’, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops stated, ‘‘Catholic schools are often the Church’s most effective contribution to those families who are poor and disadvantaged, especially in poor inner city neighborhoods and rural areas. Catholic schools cul- tivate healthy interaction among the increasingly diverse populations of our society. In cities and rural areas, Catholic schools are often the only opportunity for eco- nomically disadvantaged young people to receive an edu- cation of quality that speaks to the development of the whole person. Our Catholic schools have produced count- VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:52 Jan 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR792.IH HR792 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 792 IH less numbers of well-educated and moral citizens who are leaders in our civic and ecclesial communities.’’; Whereas the week of January 26, 2020, to February 1, 2020, 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 29, 2020, 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 46 years; 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 2020 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 20:52 Jan 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR792.IH HR792 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 792 IH Catholic Bishops on their selection of a theme that 1 all can celebrate; and 2 (3) supports the dedication of Catholic schools, 3 students, parents, and teachers across the United 4 States toward academic excellence, and supports the 5 key role they play in promoting and ensuring a 6 brighter, stronger future for the Nation. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:52 Jan 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR792.IH HR792 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS