[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN PROGRAM

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                          HON. JO ANN EMERSON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 21, 1998

  Mrs. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an organization 
that is making a contribution to American democracy nationwide--The 
National Write Your Congressman program (NWYC).
  The NWYC organization reminds me a great deal of the work that I did 
as a grassroots coordinator before coming to Congress to serve the 
people of Southern Missouri. The program encourages participation at 
the very level our nation's desires and dreams were founded upon--the 
grassroots level that encourages personal involvement. I believe that 
this wonderful organization is to be commended for the efforts it 
undertakes to educate others about the necessity and value of letting 
lawmakers like you and I know what the American people are thinking and 
saying about the policies that we debate when we are in Washington. 
Without a doubt, the program provides an open line of communication 
between citizens and elected officials--an essential element in the 
process of keeping voters engaged in important public policy 
discussions.
  Mr. Speaker, before I conclude today, I would like to call to mind 
one of my favorite movies--``Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.'' Whenever I 
am walking over to the Capitol from my office and I see the Capitol 
Dome, I often feel like Jefferson Smith the first time he saw the 
Capitol--awed and truly amazed by the tremendous spirit of community 
and passion that our forefathers had about serving our country. I 
believe that National Write Your Congressman has helped keep that 
spirit of community participation and energy alive, and I am grateful 
for their hard work and the dedication they show to keeping everyone at 
home apprised of the work being done here each and every day.

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