III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 482 

Supporting the contributions of Catholic schools. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 21, 2020 

Mr. TOOMEY (for himself, Mr. RUBIO, and Mr. MANCHIN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the contributions of Catholic schools. 

Whereas Catholic schools in the United States are internationally acclaimed for their academic excellence and 

provide students with more than just an exceptional scholastic education; 

Whereas Catholic schools instill a broad, values-added education emphasizing the lifelong development of moral, intellectual, physical, and social values in young people in 

the United States; 

Whereas Catholic schools serve the United States by providing a diverse student population, from all regions of 

the country and all socioeconomic backgrounds, a strong 

academic and moral foundation, and of that student population— 


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•SRES 482 IS 

(1) 39 percent of students are from racial and ethnic 

minority backgrounds; and 

(2) 19 percent of students are from non-Catholic 

families; 

Whereas Catholic schools are an affordable option for parents, particularly in underserved urban areas; 

Whereas Catholic schools produce students who are strongly 

dedicated to their faith, values, families, and communities 

by providing an intellectually stimulating environment 

rich in spiritual, character, and moral development; 

Whereas Catholic schools are committed to community service, producing graduates who hold ‘‘helping others’’ as a 

core value; 

Whereas, during the 2018–2019 academic year in the United 

States, almost 1,800,000 students were enrolled in 

Catholic schools and the student-teacher ratio for Catholic schools was 12 to 1; 

Whereas the graduation rate of students from Catholic high 

schools is 99 percent, with 86 percent of graduates attending 4-year colleges; 

Whereas, in the 2005 pastoral message entitled ‘‘Renewing 

Our Commitment 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 cultivate healthy interaction among the increasingly diverse populations of our society. In cities and 

rural areas, Catholic schools are often the only opportunity for economically disadvantaged young people to reVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:52 Jan 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR482.IS SR482

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•SRES 482 IS 

ceive an education of quality that speaks to the development of the whole person. . . . Our Catholic schools have 

produced countless 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 January 29, 2020, has been designated as ‘‘National 

Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools’’; 

Whereas National Catholic Schools Week was first established 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 

United States; and 

Whereas the theme for National Catholic Schools Week 2020 

is ‘‘Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.’’: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals of National Catholic 

3 Schools Week, an event— 

4 (A) cosponsored by the National Catholic 

5 Educational Association and the United States 

6 Conference of Catholic Bishops; and 

7 (B) established to recognize the vital con8 tributions of the thousands of Catholic elemenVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:52 Jan 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR482.IS SR482

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•SRES 482 IS 

1 tary and secondary schools in the United 

2 States; 

3 (2) applauds the National Catholic Educational 

4 Association and the United States Conference of 

5 Catholic Bishops on the selection of a theme that all 

6 people can celebrate; and 

7 (3) supports— 

8 (A) the dedication of Catholic schools, stu9 dents, parents, and teachers across the United 

10 States to academic excellence; and 

11 (B) the key role that Catholic schools, stu12 dents, parents, and teachers across the United 

13 States play in promoting and ensuring a bright14 er, stronger future for the United States. 

Æ 


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