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. GALLAGHER, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. RYAN, Mr. MOONEY 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 internationally acclaimed for their academic excellence and 

provide students with more than 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 Nation by providing a diverse student population from all regions of the country 

and all socioeconomic backgrounds a strong academic and 

moral foundation, including 39 percent of students from 


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•HRES 792 IH 

racial and ethnic minority backgrounds and 19 percent 

from non-Catholic families; 

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

Whereas Catholic schools produce students 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’’ 

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

Whereas in the 2005 pastoral message ‘‘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 receive an education of quality that speaks to the development of the 

whole person. Our Catholic schools have produced countVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:52 Jan 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR792.IH HR792

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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 January 29, 2020, has been designated National Appreciation 

Day for Catholic Schools; 

Whereas the 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 country; 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 House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals of National Catholic 

3 Schools Week, an event cosponsored by the National 

4 Catholic Educational Association and the United 

5 States Conference of Catholic Bishops and estab6 lished to recognize the vital contributions of the 

7 thousands of Catholic elementary and secondary 

8 schools in the United States; 

9 (2) applauds the National Catholic Educational 

10 Association and the United States Conference of 


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1 Catholic Bishops on their selection of a theme that 

2 all can celebrate; and 

3 (3) supports the dedication of Catholic schools, 

4 students, parents, and teachers across the United 

5 States toward academic excellence, and supports the 

6 key role they play in promoting and ensuring a 

7 brighter, stronger future for the Nation. 

Æ 


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