[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               FLORIDA LAW RELATED EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

 Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, as a Senator from the great State 
of Florida, I rise today to recognize a unique group from my home 
State, the Florida Law Related Education Association.
  Every day, schools throughout Florida welcome new American citizens 
into their classrooms. These children know of the American dream and 
have now come to live it, but they don't fully understand it. With the 
help of great organizations like the Florida Law Related Education 
Association, these new young citizens, along with their peers, come to 
understand and appreciate the foundations of democracy set forth in the 
Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The ``We the People'' 
program sponsored by the FLREA has taught students the joys of freedom 
and its responsibilities. Now more than ever, the importance of 
understanding our history is vital to the future of all Americans and 
to the future of the United States. This program plays an important 
role in the education of America's future leaders.
  Through the dedicated efforts of volunteers, thousands of upper 
elementary, middle, and high school students participate in the ``We 
the People'' Bicentennial Competition. The program is based on the 
principles embodied in the Declaration of Independence and introduces 
students to the philosophical ideas of our Founding Fathers, the 
historical background of the Philadelphia Convention, and the issues 
and debates upon which our Constitution is based. In this program, 
students learn how our Government is organized and how it protects the 
rights and liberties of all citizens. Most importantly, students learn 
the responsibilities that accompany the rights of citizenship in a 
democracy.
  By continuing the tradition of debating fundamental issues, this 
group pledges to the world that freedom and justice will prevail. By 
instilling in our youth an appreciation for liberty, they help ensure 
liberty for generations to come.
  Those dedicated volunteers who preserve the history of our ancestors 
and their ideas are: Theresa Bryant, Steve Byrne, Gene Cain, Karen 
Cloud, Miriam DePool, John Doyle, James Elliott, Karen Miles-English, 
Charles Fleming, Connie Hankins, Paul Hanson, George Jeandheur, Sheila 
Keller, Steve Kovacs, Sharon Ledbetter, Christa Lira, Bill Massolio, 
Karin Moore, Judy Nugent, Annette Boyd Pitts, Suzanne Prior, Louis 
Roos, Clint Rouse, Cynthia Ryan, Patricia Segrest, Kathy Steiner, Dr. 
Theron Trimble, and Paul Trojac. They deserve much appreciation from 
the residents of Florida.
  ``We the People'' helps to direct our youth to be responsible leaders 
in the future. I am honored to have this group recognized by the U.S. 
Senate and am grateful to these dedicated coordinators for their 
contributions to the development of Florida's children into informed 
and educated citizens.

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