David Loebsack

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to my colleague Rob Andrews.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Mr. Chairman, at this time I want to thank my colleagues for their consideration of my amendment and urge its passage. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I would like to take a few minutes today to honor the many accomplishments of my predecessor, former Congressman Jim Leach. Mr. Speaker, I introduced H.R. 887, to rename the United States Courthouse in Jim's hometown of Davenport, Iowa, as a tribute to his 30 years of service to Iowa's Second Congressional District. Jim's legacy of statesmanship; his leadership in foreign affairs and financial services issues; his dedication to public service; and his capable representation of his constituents left a lasting impact on the district I am now honored to represent. As chairman of the Banking and Financial Services Committee, the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs, and the Congressional- Executive Commission on China, Jim was a leader on some of the most important financial and foreign affairs issues of the past 30 years. A native son of Iowa, Jim represented his constituents with grace, commitment, and the Iowa values with which he was raised. Indeed, his legacy of service has been highlighted through several awards, including the Norman Borlaug Award for Public Service. Jim is now continuing that legacy as a faculty member at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, his alma mater. As a former member of the Foreign Service, where he served as a delegate to the Geneva Disarmament Conference and the United Nations General Assembly, I am confident that Jim brings a unique perspective to Princeton that is surely a tremendous asset for his students. Indeed, as a former professor at Cornell College in Iowa, I invited Jim to guest lecture at the college. His knowledge and personal experiences were a highlight for my students, and make it clear why he holds eight honorary degrees. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jim for his many years of service to Iowa and our Nation, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 39) honoring the contributions of Catholic schools.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 39 into the Record.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK. I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 39, which recognizes the achievements of Catholic schools across the Nation. I am pleased to honor these outstanding elementary, secondary and higher learning institutions. I commend them for their commitment to academic excellence and moral values. In doing so, I support January 25 to January 31 as Catholic Schools Week. In the late 19th century, Catholic schools emerged as an alternative to public schools and to traditional private schools. As private institutions, Catholic schools were able to design their own academic curriculum by teaching religious values and ethics while maintaining high academic standards. And after 100 years of existence, Catholic schools remain very popular and respected institutions. Last year, Catholic schools served over 2 million students while maintaining a 14 to 1 teacher-student ratio, giving students the benefit of a small-classroom environment. Catholic schools also boast a diverse enrollment; 25 percent of its students nationwide are from minority backgrounds and 14 percent are non-Catholics. The schools provide unique experiences where students can excel. Catholic high schools have a 99 percent graduation rate with 80 percent of their graduates advancing to 4-year colleges, while 17 percent pursue 2-year colleges. It's clear that Catholic schools are encouraging their students to pursue higher education opportunities, and I applaud them for their efforts. There are 7,500 Catholic schools across this Nation. With modest tuition rates, Catholic schools are affordable for most working and middle-class families. As Congress salutes these religious educational institutions, we reaffirm our commitment to education, excellence and diversity. Madam Speaker, I support the Catholic Schools Week, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I'm very pleased today to recognize a good friend, the gentleman from the Third District of Illinois, Mr. Dan Lipinski, for 6 minutes.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak) for 3 minutes.

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

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I want to thank speakers on both sides of the aisle for supporting this resolution, it is a wonderful resolution, and I urge its passage. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 58) commending the University of Florida Gators for winning the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 58 into the Record.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Florida football team for their victory in the 2009 NCAA FedEx BCS National Championship game. On January 8, football fans all across the country were treated to an exceptional game as the University of Florida Gators defeated the University of Oklahoma Sooners and clinched their third national title. Defeating a tough Oklahoma Sooners team by a score of 24-14, the Florida Gators became the fourth straight second-ranked team to defeat the number one team in the Nation in the BCS National Championship. The University of Florida serves as a premier academic institution, and is now emerging as an athletic powerhouse. The school has fielded 22 national championship teams, with the last four coming from the men's football and basketball teams. This year's football team finished the season with a 13-1 record, matching the single season school record for wins. The outstanding players and coaches produced a great season, winning numerous awards and praise throughout the country. I would also like to congratulate Tim Tebow, the game's most valuable player. He threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 109 yards. His 340 yards of total offense was the third best pass-rush total in BCS Championship history. He won the Heisman Trophy Award last year, and is a leader for his team. And congratulations to Percy Harvin, one of the most electric and skilled athletes in America. Harvin rushed for 122 yards and caught five passes for 49 yards. This was quite a feat after returning to play from a devastating ankle injury last month. Averaging 50 points per game, Florida's defense held the University of Oklahoma's offense to just 14 points. The hard work of the outstanding defense and coaching staff clearly paid off. And, finally, I want to extend my congratulations to Head Coach Urban Meyer. In only 4 years with the team, he has brought incredible success. Meyer became the fifth coach since 1936 to win two National Championships in his first four seasons as a head coach. He is the 14th youngest head coach to win a pair of national titles since 1950. His leadership and commitment to this team have given him fame and a place in college football history. The extraordinary achievement of this team is a tribute to the skill and dedication of many players, coaches, students, alumni, families, and fans that have helped to make the University of Florida a premier football program. Winning the National Championship, finishing the season with a 13-1 overall record, and leading the SEC to another championship has brought national acclaim to the University of Florida. I know the fans of the university will revel in this accomplishment as they look forward to the 2009 season. And they should. After all, Tim Tebow, an inspiration for fellow college athletes, will return for his senior year in the hopes of leading his team to their fourth National Championship. Once again I congratulate the University of Florida football team for their success. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

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

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 56 into the Record.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 56) expressing support for designation of the week of February 2 through February 6, 2009, as ``National School Counseling Week''.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 56 which honors and recognizes the contributions of school counselors in our Nation's education system. Nearly 100,000 people serve as school counselors, and I am grateful for their commitment to our Nation's youth. I support February 2 through February 6 as National School Counseling Week. School counselors work tirelessly to ensure every child has the opportunity for personal and educational growth. They provide essential academic, college prep, career, and emotional support for students. But in many situations, school counselors are overlooked, overworked, making it nearly impossible to give every child the time and attention they deserve to meet their national potential. Nationally, the current student to counselor ratio is 475 to 1, while the American School Counselors Association recommends at most a 250-to- 1 student to school counselor ratio. Today, not only are children dropping out of high schools at alarming rates, but anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of students report feeling depressed. From dealing with death to addressing learning disabilities, school counselors provide emotional support for students, but the need for additional school counselors has never been more pressing. Though I am honored to recognize and celebrate School Counselors Week, our country still needs more school counselors. National data prove that school counselors improve teacher quality, bolster student achievement, and lower dropout rates. Despite limited resources, counselors work to enhance educational opportunities for our youth. They inspire students to reach for the stars while working through their academic and social obstacles. They may not get a lot of credit, but quality school counselors dramatically improve students' and teachers' lives. I thank the American School Counselor Association and the National Education Association for supporting this resolution. National School Counseling Week reminds us of the crucial role school counselors play in students' lives. Madam Speaker, again, I support this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill as well. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentlewoman from the 39th District of California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez) for 3 minutes.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I am very, very pleased to recognize ``mi amigo'' from Texas, the gentleman from the 15th District of Texas, who also, of course, serves as the Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee Subcommittee on Higher Education, Mr. Ruben Hinojosa, for 3 minutes.

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I just want to thank Mr. Ehlers from Michigan and all the other speakers on this particular resolution. It's a wonderful resolution. As someone who has introduced legislation designed to call for more resources to support exactly what we're talking about here, I am very happy to support this resolution and call on my colleagues to do the same.

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

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. LOEBSACK

Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, today, I would like to highlight the special role the Iowa National Guard will play in the historic inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. Approximately 1,000 Iowa National Guard troops, including 140 from my district, will join 6,000 other National Guardsmen and women from seven States to assist in the inaugural events. This historic trip to Washington, DC marks the first time in its 170-year history that the Iowa National Guard has participated in a presidential inauguration. I have had the honor of meeting many of Iowa's citizen shoulders both at home when they have responded to natural disasters such as last summer's floods and abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are some of Iowa's finest citizens and some of the finest troops in our military services. I would like to extend a warm welcome to my fellow Iowans as they arrive in Washington. I am deeply proud of the role they will play in this historic event.