[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 43 (Tuesday, April 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       ESSAY ENTITLED ``STATE OF THE UNION'' WRITTEN BY JEFF RANU

                                 ______


                            HON. HERB KLEIN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 19, 1994

  Mr. KLEIN. Mr. Speaker, enclosed is a copy of an essay entitled 
``State of the Union'' submitted to me by Ms. Jennifer Ranu on behalf 
of her son, Jeff. Jeff is a graduating senior at De Paul Diocesan High 
School in Wayne, NJ.
  Jeff's well written and thoughtful essay addresses many of the 
domestic issues that affect all of us sitting here today. It is a great 
example of how an active member of our young generation can express his 
feelings on issues such as crime, health care, and education. Jeff is 
to be commended for this fine effort.
  I submit Jeff's entire speech to be printed in the record at this 
point.

                           State of the Union

                             (By Jeff Ranu)

       Citizens of this great country and friends, I come before 
     you today to present the State of the Union address.
       It is the major goal of this administration to put 
     Americans first. Nearly 2.5 million New York City middle 
     class residents had to sacrifice clothing, medical care, 
     living arrangements, or even food to make ends meet in the 
     past year. Yes, here in our own country, poverty is 
     spreading. We have unemployment, children suffering from 
     malnutrition, and diseases we can not cure. We have serious 
     problems among all age groups with drugs and crime. Children 
     are having children, and our educational system is failing. 
     In order to solve our problems, money must be spent--but 
     Americans have been taxed enough. I will make, and keep 
     President George Bush's promise, ``There will be no new 
     taxes.'' This administration pledges to heal our wounds 
     without creating new ones. We will redirect funds from 
     foreign to domestic aid.
       We cannot afford any longer to be the keeper of the world. 
     We have tried in the past to feed, clothe, protect and care 
     for the sick, no matter where on this planet they live. In 
     order to solve the world's problems, we must first solve our 
     own problems at home. Perhaps our friends throughout the 
     world will not look kindly at us when we finally say, ``No.'' 
     But, it is time that we take full responsibility to eradicate 
     what is wrong here. Then and only then, can we resume 
     providing aid to those who live in other lands.
       We will begin with our own housekeeping. Proof of American 
     citizenship will assure equality among Americans. The 
     gender, ethnic background, religion or color of a person's 
     skin, will no longer be the criteria that will determine 
     advantages or disadvantages in the lives of the people who 
     live here. We will pour money into research and programs 
     that will undo the wrongs that are causing our country to 
     be less than great. We will begin the clean-up by 
     providing free health insurance, and free education for 
     every American citizen.
       We will not forget that it was the immigrant who built 
     America. My own great-grandfather came from Italy, and worked 
     as a laborer to lay the tracks which connected the east and 
     west of this country. We owe it to our ancestors to open our 
     doors, make immigrants feel at home, and encourage them to 
     become American citizens too.
       Education will be our major concern. Too many American 
     citizens can not read, write, or do mathematics past an 
     eighth grade level. New programs will be funded which will 
     keep the youth of this country off the streets and in the 
     classrooms where they belong--perhaps for a six day school 
     week. Funding will be provided to create new technical 
     programs for students who want to learn a trade. For those 
     who seek higher education, regardless of financial need, a 
     college education will be free to qualifying American 
     citizens.
       During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. 
     Roosevelt initiated The Civilian Conservation Corps. This 
     government sponsored program helped men with no direction in 
     life, and gave them a purpose. They cut down trees in the 
     forests of Oregon, and maintained our national parks. This 
     administration wishes to activate this program again, 
     modifying it to meet the needs of urban areas.
       President Bill Clinton's health care program began to take 
     steps in a direction to provide health care protection for 
     Americans. This administration pledges to make available 
     ample money for research to find cures for the devastating 
     diseases which plague us today. Our senior American citizens 
     will no longer need to liquidate their lifelong savings to 
     pay for medical costs and prescription drugs. They will enjoy 
     the benefits of free medical care.
       Americans must always be first: on land, in the sea, or in 
     the air. We must develop new technologies that will help us 
     to withstand the mighty hand of nature when earthquakes and 
     hurricanes paralyze us. We must support our farmers. We must 
     find ways to keep our waters pure, and continue our quest to 
     explore the universe.
       We are not the kind of people who can easily turn our backs 
     on those who reach out to us for help, but for just a little 
     while--we may have to turn our heads. Within a short time, 
     Americans will be able to share with the world what we have 
     accomplished through research. But for now, we must put 
     Americans first.

                          ____________________