S1032 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 3, 2021 SENATE RESOLUTION 89—HON- Whereas, in 1995, President of Portugal and parents deal with personal trauma as ORING THE HUMANITARIAN Mario Soares posthumously bestowed on well as tragedies in their communities and WORK OF DR. ARISTIDES DE Sousa Mendes the Grand Cross of the Order the United States; SOUSA MENDES DO AMARAL E of Christ; Whereas students face myriad challenges Whereas, in 2017, President of Portugal every day, including peer pressure, bullying, ABRANCHES TO SAVE THE LIVES Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa posthumously be- mental health issues, the deployment of fam- OF FRENCH JEWS AND OTHER stowed on Sousa Mendes Portugal’s highest ily members to serve in conflicts overseas, PERSONS DURING THE HOLO- honor, the Grand Cross of the Order of Lib- and school violence; CAUST erty; Whereas a school counselor is one of the Mr. ROMNEY (for himself and Mr. Whereas, in 2020, the Parliament of Por- few professionals in a school building who is tugal unanimously voted to memorialize trained in both education and social and MURPHY) submitted the following reso- Sousa Mendes in the National Pantheon in emotional development; lution; which was referred to the Com- Lisbon; and Whereas the roles and responsibilities of mittee on the Judiciary: Whereas, in 2020, on the 80th anniversary of school counselors are often misunderstood; S. RES. 89 his heroism, the United States Commission Whereas the school counselor position is Whereas Nazi Germany invaded France on for the Preservation of America’s Heritage often among the first to be eliminated to May 10, 1940, and after brief but intense hos- Abroad initiated commemorations in honor meet budgetary constraints; tilities, secured the surrender of France on of Sousa Mendes in Bordeaux, France, and Whereas the national average ratio of stu- June 22, 1940; Portugal: Now, therefore, be it dents to school counselors is 430 to 1, almost Whereas, as a consequence of the Nazi con- Resolved, That the Senate— twice the 250 to 1 ratio recommended by the quest, the lives of French Jews and Jewish (1) honors and salutes the humanitarian American School Counselor Association, the and non-Jewish persons of other nationali- and principled work of Dr. Aristides de Sousa National Association for College Admission ties seeking refuge in France were put in Mendes do Amaral e Abranches, Consul of Counseling, and other organizations; and grave and imminent danger; Portugal in Bordeaux, France, for acting Whereas the celebration of National Whereas many thousands of those persons with great courage and at personal risk to School Counseling Week will increase aware- fled to Bordeaux, France, and elsewhere in issue transit visas to French Jews and other ness of the important and necessary role southwest France, seeking to traverse Spain persons, sparing them from Nazi occupation school counselors play in the lives of stu- and escape to Portugal; and the Holocaust, thus saving many thou- dents in the United States: Now, therefore, Whereas, in 1939, the Government of Por- sands of innocent lives; be it tugal under Antonio de Oliveira Salazar (2) directs the Secretary of the Senate to Resolved, That the Senate— issued Circular 14, which sharply restricted transmit copies of this resolution to the (1) designates the week of February 1 the availability of visas to displaced persons; President; and through 5, 2021, as ‘‘National School Coun- Whereas the Consul General of Portugal in (3) requests that the President transmit a seling Week’’; and Bordeaux was Dr. Aristides de Sousa Mendes copy of this resolution to the President of (2) encourages the people of the United do Amaral e Abranches; Portugal and the President of the Assembly States to observe National School Coun- Whereas, in June 1940, confronting a hu- of the Republic of Portugal. seling Week with appropriate ceremonies manitarian crisis and in defiance of Circular f and activities that promote awareness of the role school counselors play in schools and 14, Sousa Mendes, assisted principally by his SENATE RESOLUTION 90—DESIG- diplomatic colleagues Jose de Seabra, the community at large in preparing stu- Manuel de Vieira Braga, and Emile Gissot, NATING THE WEEK OF FEB- dents for fulfilling lives as contributing issued without charge tens of thousands of RUARY 1 THROUGH 5, 2021, AS members of society. visas, including thousands to fleeing Jews; ‘‘NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING f Whereas Sousa Mendes reportedly stated, WEEK’’ SENATE RESOLUTION 91—SUP- ‘‘I declare that I shall give, free of charge, a Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Ms. COL- visa to whosoever shall request it. My desire PORTING THE GOALS AND LINS, Mr. MERKLEY, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, is to be with God against Man rather than IDEALS OF ‘‘CAREER AND TECH- Mr. MARKEY, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. with Man and against God.’’; NICAL EDUCATION MONTH’’ Whereas those visas, as well as Sousa BLUMENTHAL, Ms. HASSAN, Ms. STABE- Mendes’ personal intervention at the border NOW, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. VAN Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. between France and Spain, enabled the refu- HOLLEN, Mr. KING, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. PORTMAN, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. YOUNG, gees to reach safety in Portugal; BALDWIN, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. BROWN, Mr. Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. BENNET, Mrs. Whereas, in July 1940, the Government of HEINRICH, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. PETERS, BLACKBURN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. Portugal under Oliveira Salazar responded and Ms. ROSEN) submitted the fol- BOOZMAN, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. BROWN, Ms. by recalling Sousa Mendes, dismissing Sousa lowing resolution; which was consid- CANTWELL, Mr. CARPER, Mr. CASEY, Mr. Mendes later from active diplomatic service, COONS, Mr. CORNYN, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, and subjecting him to economic retribution ered and agreed to: and subsequent ostracism; S. RES. 90 Mr. CRAMER, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. DAINES, Whereas, in 1941, Sousa Mendes explained, Whereas school counselors are more impor- Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. DURBIN, Ms. ‘‘In truth, I disobeyed, but my disobedience tant now than ever, as the COVID–19 pan- ERNST, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. FISCHER, does not dishonor me. I chose to defy an demic has magnified the mental health crisis Ms. HASSAN, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. HOEVEN, order that to me represented the persecution among the youth of our Nation; Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. of true castaways who sought with all their Whereas the American School Counselor KING, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. MANCHIN, strength to be saved from Hitler’s wrath. Association has designated February 1 Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. MURPHY, Mrs. MUR- Above the order, for me, was God’s law, and through 5, 2021, as ‘‘National School Coun- RAY, Mr. PETERS, Mr. RISCH, Mr. ROM- that’s the one I have always sought to ad- seling Week’’; here to without hesitation. The true lesson Whereas school counselors have long advo- NEY, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. of Christianity is to love one’s neighbor.’’; cated for equitable opportunities for all stu- RUBIO, Mr. SANDERS, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Whereas, in 1954, Sousa Mendes died penni- dents; Ms. SMITH, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. THUNE, less in Lisbon, Portugal, under the cloud of Whereas school counselors help develop Mr. TILLIS, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WAR- the discipline imposed for his defiance; well-rounded students by guiding students NER, Mr. WICKER, Mr. WYDEN, and Mr. Whereas, in 1966, Yad Vashem recognized through academic learning, social and emo- SCOTT of South Carolina) submitted Sousa Mendes as a Righteous Among the Na- tional development, and career exploration; the following resolution; which was tions for his selfless efforts to save Jewish Whereas personal and social growth can considered and agreed to: lives at personal risk to himself, making help lead to increased academic achieve- Sousa Mendes the first of a number of diplo- ment; S. RES. 91 matic rescuers to be so honored; Whereas school counselors play a vital role Whereas a competitive global economy re- Whereas, in 1988, the United States Senate in ensuring that students are ready for both quires workers who are prepared for skilled passed Senate Resolution 270, 110th Congress, college and careers; professions; agreed to June 23, 1988, to commemorate Whereas school counselors play a vital role Whereas 3,000,000 workers will be needed Sousa Mendes’ humanitarian efforts; in making students aware of opportunities for the United States’ infrastructure in the Whereas, in 1986, President of Portugal for financial aid and college scholarships; next several years, including designing, Mario Soares posthumously rehabilitated Whereas school counselors assist with and building, and operating transportation, hous- Sousa Mendes, decorating Sousa Mendes as coordinate efforts to foster a positive school ing, utilities, and telecommunications; an Officer of the Order of Liberty; climate, resulting in a safer learning envi- Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has dis- Whereas, in 1988, the Parliament of Por- ronment for all students; placed millions of workers in the United tugal posthumously granted Sousa Mendes Whereas school counselors have been in- States and fundamentally shifted entire in- the status of Ambassador; strumental in helping students, teachers, dustries within foundational aspects of the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:28 Mar 04, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03MR6.036 S03MRPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE March 3, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1033 economy, creating significant demands for fessionals, administrators, and parents to courages students, parents, counselors, high-quality and efficient upskilling and promote career and technical education as a educators, and school leaders to learn reskilling opportunities to ensure a quick respected option for students. more about the diverse educational op- and equitable recovery; Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, by sup- portunities offered in their commu- Whereas career and technical education porting the development of a workforce nities, and recognize the valuable role (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘CTE’’) en- trained in in-demand skills, we can ac- sures that competitive and skilled workers of CTE in developing a well-educated are ready, willing, and capable of holding celerate the recovery of our economy. and highly skilled workforce in the jobs in high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand The Nation’s continued progress and United States. career fields such as science, technology, en- the socioeconomic mobility of our citi- By formally recognizing CTE Month gineering, art and design, mathematics, zens are contingent on the education through this resolution, we hope to nursing, allied health, construction, infor- and skills of the American workforce bring greater awareness to improving mation technology, energy sustainability, and its ability to adjust to and fulfill access to high-quality career and tech- and many other career fields that are vital the needs of the 21st century econ- nical education for millions of Amer- in keeping the United States competitive in omy—especially in the wake of the ica’s students and our nation’s ongoing the global economy; Whereas CTE helps the United States meet coronavirus pandemic. Career and economic competitiveness. the very real and immediate challenges of technical education (CTE) programs f are vital to every student’s education, economic development, student achieve- SENATE RESOLUTION 92—DESIG- ment, and global competitiveness; providing them access to the important NATING MARCH 5, 2021, AS ‘‘NA- Whereas the United States has 30,000,000 knowledge, skills, and credentials TIONAL SPEECH AND DEBATE jobs providing an average income of $55,000 needed to obtain careers in rapidly EDUCATION DAY’’ per year that do not require a bachelor’s de- growing, high-demand industries. gree yet increasingly require some level of Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. postsecondary education; Today, approximately 12.8 million stu- COONS, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. BRAUN, Mrs. Whereas over 12,800,000 students are en- dents across the Nation are enrolled in rolled in CTE across the country at the sec- CTE programs offered by thousands of CAPITO, Mr. CARPER, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. ondary and postsecondary levels, with CTE career academies, comprehensive high CRAPO, Mr. DURBIN, Ms. ERNST, Mrs. programs in thousands of CTE centers, com- schools, CTE high schools, community HYDE-SMITH, Mr. KING, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, prehensive high schools, career academies, colleges, and CTE centers. Through ap- and Ms. WARREN) submitted the fol- and CTE high schools, and nearly 1,000 2-year plied learning, these students obtain lowing resolution; which was consid- colleges; ered and agreed to: Whereas CTE matches employability skills workplace skills and technical training S. RES. 92 with workforce demand and provides rel- that mirror in-demand positions in the evant academic and technical coursework workforce. Whereas it is essential for youth to learn leading to industry-recognized credentials In the next decade, millions of and practice the art of communicating with for secondary, postsecondary, and adult skilled workers will be needed to fill and without technology; learners; Whereas speech and debate education of- infrastructure positions in the United fers students myriad forms of public speak- Whereas CTE affords students the oppor- States, including jobs related to de- tunity to gain the knowledge, skills, and cre- ing through which students may develop tal- dentials needed to secure careers in growing, signing, building, and operating trans- ent and exercise unique voice and character; high-demand fields; portation, housing, telecommuni- Whereas speech and debate education gives Whereas secondary CTE is associated with cation, and utilities facilities. CTE students the 21st-century skills of commu- a lower probability of dropping out of high programs intentionally match skills nication, critical thinking, creativity, and school and a higher likelihood of graduating with workforce demands, lowering the collaboration; on-time; probability of high school drop-out and Whereas critical analysis and effective Whereas according to an American Federa- communication allow important ideas, texts, increasing the likelihood of on time and philosophies the opportunity to flourish; tion of Teachers poll, 94 percent of parents graduation rates. These CTE programs approve of expanding access to CTE and Whereas personal, professional, and civic other programs that prepare students for will help fill the estimated 30 million interactions are enhanced by the ability of jobs; U.S. jobs available with an average an- the participants in those interactions to lis- Whereas students at schools with highly nual income of $55,000 that do not re- ten, concur, question, and dissent with rea- integrated rigorous academic and CTE pro- quire a bachelor’s degree yet neces- son and compassion; grams are significantly more likely to meet sitate some level of postsecondary edu- Whereas students who participate in college and career readiness benchmarks cation. speech and debate have chosen a challenging than students at schools with less integrated Across Virginia, I hear about an in- activity that requires regular practice, dedi- programs; cation, and hard work; Whereas, in 2018, Congress affirmed the im- crease in workforce needs from front- Whereas teachers and coaches of speech portance of CTE by passing the Strength- line health services to manufacturing and debate devote in-school, afterschool, and ening Career and Technical Education for PPE to contract tracing—the list goes weekend hours to equip students with life- the 21st Century Act (Public Law 115–224), on. As we see a surge in unemployment changing skills and opportunities; which supports program improvement in sec- overall from the pandemic, it is essen- Whereas National Speech and Debate Edu- ondary and postsecondary CTE programs in tial that we highlight the important cation Day emphasizes the lifelong impact of all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puer- role of CTE in the country’s ability to providing people of the United States with to Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, meet the challenges we face in eco- the confidence and preparation to both dis- and outlying areas; and cern and share views; Whereas, February 23, 2019, marked the nomic recovery and development, stu- Whereas National Speech and Debate Edu- 102nd anniversary of the signing of the Act of dent achievement, and global competi- cation Day acknowledges that most achieve- February 23, 1917 (39 Stat. 929, commonly tiveness. In 2018, Congress affirmed the ments, celebrations, commemorations, and known as the ‘‘Smith-Hughes Vocational importance of CTE by passing the pivotal moments in modern history begin, Education Act of 1917’’), which was the first Strengthening Career and Technical end, or are crystallized with public address; major Federal investment in secondary CTE Education for the 21st Century Act Whereas National Speech and Debate Edu- and laid the foundation for the bipartisan, which supports CTE programs in sec- cation Day recognizes that learning to re- bicameral support for CTE that continues as ondary and postsecondary education. search, construct, and present an argument of February 2021: Now, therefore, be it is integral to personal advocacy, social Resolved, That the Senate— We also need to ensure we continue movements, and the making of public policy; (1) supports the designation of February reskilling and upskilling workers by Whereas the National Speech & Debate As- 2021 as ‘‘Career and Technical Education supporting workforce development pro- sociation, in conjunction with national and Month’’ to celebrate career and technical grams. local partners, honors and celebrates the im- education across the United States; Today, with my Senate CTE Caucus portance of speech and debate through Na- (2) supports the goals and ideals of Career co-chairs Senator PORTMAN, Senator tional Speech and Debate Education Day; and Technical Education Month; BALDWIN, and Senator YOUNG and more and (3) recognizes the importance of career and than half of my colleagues in the Sen- Whereas National Speech and Debate Edu- technical education in preparing a well-edu- cation Day emphasizes the importance of cated and skilled workforce in the United ate, I am pleased to again introduce a speech and debate education and the integra- States; and bipartisan resolution to designate Feb- tion of speech and debate education across (4) encourages educators, school coun- ruary as Career and Technical Edu- grade levels and disciplines: Now, therefore, selors, guidance and career development pro- cation (CTE) month. CTE Month en- be it

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:28 Mar 04, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03MR6.036 S03MRPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE