[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 51 (Wednesday, April 14, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO MINNESOTA STUDENTS FOR OPERATION DAY'S WORK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 14, 1999

  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to an 
important program called Operation Day's Work and to the hard work of 
members of a ninth grade class at St. Louis Park High School in 
Minnesota who are implementing this excellent program in our country to 
help those less fortunate than themselves.
  Operation Day's Work is a youth-operated fund-raising program started 
in Norway 35 years ago. Last year alone, the hard work of student in 
Norway generated $3,000,000 in grants for those in need.
  I'm pleased that this fantastic program has moved across the ocean to 
the U.S. to eight enlightened high schools, including St. Louis Park 
High School in Minnesota.
  These motivated ninth graders have committed the time and energy to 
start and organize this program. They have decided to volunteer a full 
day to work at area businesses, doing odd jobs and other work. In 
exchange, their employers will donate the wages earned by these 
students to an important livestock training and responsibility plan for 
Haitian youths. The Haitian families will receive dairy products and 
eventually return one offspring of the goat to the program, which will 
then be awarded to another youth.
  Mr. Speaker, I was fortunate to meet with four students who are 
working on the program during the recent district work period. Their 
motivation, commitment and generosity of spirit were truly impressive.
  Charles Warthington, Zvi Geffen, Ashley Ericson, Elizabeth Stapleton 
and their classmates deserve to be honored here on the House floor for 
their vigorous efforts on behalf of those who are less fortunate 
through Operation Day's Work.
  I also want to pay tribute to Kristin King Stapleton, a good friend 
of mine who's also a newspaper columnist and highly respected advocate 
for people in need, for her role as parent advisor.
  I hope all Americans will support the important efforts of Operation 
Day's Work.

                          ____________________