[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 12, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO TODD KAMINSKY

                                 ______


                           HON. PETER T. KING

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 12, 1996

  Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Mr. Todd Kaminsky of 
Long Beach High School for the outstanding leadership which he has 
shown as a columnist and political activist to his school and 
community. It is encouraging to see an active, independent young man 
playing such a leading role in our political process.
  Mr. Kaminsky will be graduating this month from Long Beach High 
School and plans to attend the University of Michigan. I am certain 
that he will have a particularly successful academic career.
  I am pleased to insert in the Congressional Record a recent column 
which Mr. Kaminsky wrote for the April 1996 edition of the ``Tide'' 
which is the student newspaper for Long Beach High School.

                   King Calls for Student Involvement

                           (By Todd Kaminsky)

       For a few months a year, a couple of hundred of men and 
     women gather in a neatly assembled, large, white building to 
     discuss a few matters concerning the state of our nation's 
     well being. Welfare reform, gun control, the environment, and 
     even the occasional blurb on nuclear weapons are some of the 
     random sounds you might hear bounce off the inner walls of 
     this stately building.
       These are just some of the great topics most teenagers 
     couldn't care less about. But these men and women are our 
     Congressmen, easily some of the most important people in our 
     country. Although the attitude on politicians reflected in 
     the prior paragraph may be the prevailing one amongst 
     teenagers, the teens of Long Beach have reason to breathe a 
     little easier.
       Of the near 500 members of Congress, struggling to tackle 
     daily important foreign and domestic issues that face this 
     nation, you will see that at least one of these brave souls 
     is looking out for the future of our nation. Congressman 
     Peter T. King, who represents Long Beach among other areas in 
     the House of Representatives, knows how important teenagers 
     are to a prosperous democracy.
       ``Even when I was very small, I was still interested in 
     political events. I guess it was a natural interest,'' said 
     King, who is one of the few politicians who realizes how 
     vital a role teens actually play in our government.
       In Congress right now, there are many important domestic 
     issues that our Congressmen vote on. Some of this legislation 
     effects teens directly, and some will affect them later on 
     down the road. This is why King feels, ``Teens owe it to 
     themselves to get involved.''
       King has gained most of his fame in Congress, by passing or 
     being the sponsor of bills that directly affect teenagers. 
     Recently, he was given much attention for a bill which would 
     make English the official language, and would end bilingual 
     education. Representative King has always been involved in 
     making important educational decisions. ``I feel that my 
     greatest work as a Congressman was done with the English 
     bill. It has been one of my greatest accomplishments,'' said 
     King.
       There is a great variety of things a teenager can do to 
     make a difference in his or her community. Most political 
     meetings, (school board, or otherwise) are held publicly. 
     Just by attending a few of these meetings, you can become 
     aware of what is taking place in your community.
       It is almost considered a fact, that most teenagers would 
     rather play sports than follow the nation's political 
     affairs. We have a whole slew of sports teams in LBPS, but do 
     we have a Young Republican Club? Of course, we don't.
       Congressman King played basketball in high school and boxed 
     as well. He admits to never being great at these sports, but 
     he always tried his hardest. If you ask any coach what makes 
     a great athlete, he will tell you hard work, good thinking, 
     and perseverance. It is no coincidence that when I asked 
     Congressman King what are the characteristics one needs to be 
     successful in Congress, he replied, ``hard work, smarts, and 
     perseverance.''
       Of all the characteristics King described, he felt that 
     perseverance was the most important. He lost a race for State 
     Attorney General a number of years ago. Not only did he lose, 
     but he got clobbered. He lost by almost 1 million votes. But 
     King kept coming back again, and again, and again. Now he is 
     among the most powerful in Washington.

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