Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution expressing support for designation of the week of February 4 through February 8, 2008, as ‘‘National School Counseling Week.”  I am proud to be a cosponsor of this resolution, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our school counselors for their hard work. 

I am committed to ensuring that all school districts, particularly those with the greatest economic needs, have access to the necessary resources to retain talented teachers and school counselors.  I have enjoyed a wonderful working relationship with school counselors in my home state of Rhode Island.  I have seen firsthand both the difference that the quality school counselors in our state are making in our children’s lives and understand the tremendous need for the training and placement of more of these professionals in our schools.

We must make sure that our school counselors have the resources necessary to help our children, and that is why I am a strong proponent of increasing funding for the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program-- one of the programs that No Child Left Behind promised to expand.   Funding from this program helps to ensure that all school districts have the ability to retain talented teachers and school counselors.   However, despite this promise, school counselors and other advocates have had to fight hard to maintain this program at the elementary level, and this year marks the first time it has enough funding to reach high school students.  It has been and will continue to be a priority of mine to ensure that the federal commitment to education matches what we ask of school districts. 

While we designate one week to honor our school counselors, let us pledge to help them the rest of the year with the resources they need— and deserve. 

Thank you, Madam Speaker.