Joseph Cao: “Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1008, to honor the contributions of Catholic schools in…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1008, to honor the contributions of Catholic schools in providing excellent academic opportunities for our youth. Catholic schools throughout the United States provide an exceptional education for our children. They produce students strongly dedicated to their faith, values, families, and communities by providing an intellectually stimulating environment which is rich in spiritual, character, and moral development. Statistics confirm the success of Catholic primary and secondary schools. The Catholic high school graduation rate is 99 percent, with 80 percent of graduates attending 4-year colleges and 17 percent attending 2-year colleges or technical schools. 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.' Having spent 6 years studying to become a Jesuit priest and having served as a professor in a Jesuit institution, I have a deep appreciation for the importance of education guided by principles embodied by the Catholic church.”