[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 77 (Thursday, May 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H5744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO ST. MARTHA'S STUDENTS--INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL CYBERFAIR 1996

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Chrysler] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CHRYSLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the students 
of St. Martha's Elementary School of Okemos, MI. Mr. Speaker, the 
students of St. Martha's recently became one of the grand prize winners 
of the International School CyberFair, a global competition celebrating 
the ability of on-line communications to share and unite students 
throughout their communities, their nations, and indeed the world.
  Placing second in their category, the third, fourth, and fifth grade 
students of St. Martha's created an Internet web site highlighting 
familiar treasures of the mid-Michigan area so that students throughout 
the world could explore their community.
  In addition to creating their own web site, the students of St. 
Martha's incorporated links to numerous other Michigan attractions, 
such as Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, Lansing 
Community College, and the Michigan State Government Offices.
  Mr. Speaker, in receiving this outstanding award, the students of St. 
Martha's are paving the way for advancement of technologies in our 
classroom. These students have not only demonstrated exceptional skill 
and determination in providing their communities with this tool of 
learning, but they have also become student ambassadors to the world.
  As we have now passed the telecommunications bill and it has been 
signed into law this year, these students are on the cutting edge of 
the Information Age. As sure as we lived in the agricultural age in the 
1800's, and moved on into the industrial age in the 1900's, we are now 
into the information age of the 21st century.
  Between 1600 and 1960, human knowledge doubled. Between 1960 and 
1980, human knowledge doubled again. And between 1980 and 1990, human 
knowledge doubled again. And between 1990 and 1995, it doubled again. 
And now about every 18 months to 2 years, human knowledge will double 
again.
  The telecommunications bill will not only create 3.2 million new 
jobs, but it will also create a new America where 40 percent of the 
working people can work out of their homes.
  That means that we will eliminate the traffic jams in the morning and 
in the evenings. We will stop polluting our air from the cars sitting 
in the traffic jams idling away. But more importantly, we will have mom 
or dad, or maybe mom and dad both, at home when these kids go to school 
and, just as importantly, when they come home from school, and we will 
start putting American families back together again.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the students and the 
faculty of St. Martha's in receiving this award. Additionally, I would 
like to recognize Cisco Systems and the MCI Corporation for sponsoring 
this global competition for their commitment to tomorrow's future 
leaders.
  I would encourage my colleagues and citizens throughout the Nation to 
visit our mid-Michigan community via the web site created by the fine 
students at St. Martha's. The web site is located on the worldwide web 
at http://cyberfair.gsn.org/stmartha.

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