IV
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 28
Honoring the contributions of Catholic schools.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 6, 2001
Mr. SCHAFFER (for himself, Mr. BOEHNER, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. TANCREDO,
Mr. TIBERI, Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. PLATTS, Ms. SANCHEZ, Mr. BAKER, Mr.
CHABOT, Mr. GIBBONS, Mr. KING, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr.
ENGLISH, Mr. VITTER, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. FOSSELLA, Mr. OXLEY, Mr.
DIAZ-BALART, Mr. FOLEY, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. CANTOR, Mr. HAYWORTH,
Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mrs. NORTHUP, Mr. AKIN, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr.
BACA, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. FERGUSON, Ms. HART,
Mr. TOOMEY, and Mr. REHBERG) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
FEBRUARY 6, 2001
Considered under suspension of the rules and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Honoring the contributions of Catholic schools.
Whereas America’s Catholic schools are internationally ac-
claimed for their academic excellence, but provide stu-
dents more than a superior scholastic education;
Whereas Catholic schools ensure a broad, values-added edu-
cation emphasizing the lifelong development of moral, in-
tellectual, physical, and social values in America’s young
people;
•HRES 28 ATH
Whereas the total Catholic school student enrollment for the
1999–2000 academic year was 2,653,038, the total num-
ber of Catholic schools is 8,144, and the student-teacher
ratio is 17 to 1;
Whereas Catholic schools provide more than $17,200,000,000
a year in savings to the Nation based on the average
public school per pupil cost;
Whereas Catholic schools teach a diverse group of students
and over 24 percent of school children enrolled in Catho-
lic schools are minorities;
Whereas the graduation rate of Catholic school students is 95
percent, only 3 percent of Catholic high school students
drop out of school, and 83 percent of Catholic high school
graduates go on to college;
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; and
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’’: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
•HRES 28 ATH
(1) supports the goals of Catholic Schools
Week, an event sponsored by the National Catholic
Educational Association and the United States
Catholic Conference and established to recognize the
vital contributions of America’s thousands of Catho-
lic elementary and secondary schools; and
(2) congratulates Catholic schools, students,
parents, and teachers across the Nation for their on-
going contributions to education, and for the key
role they play in promoting and ensuring a brighter,
stronger future for this Nation.
Æ