[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 73 (Wednesday, May 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING STUDENTS WHO CARE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 19, 1999

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, it is often said that the youth of America 
are indifferent. We hear that they simply do not care about the issues 
at all, except those narrow issues that affect them personally. With so 
many repeating this view, I am pleased to highlight the efforts of 
young people in Illinois' 10th District that contradict this 
stereotype.
  I recently received a package of letters from David Hirsch, a teacher 
in the Deerfield High School English Department. His sophomore English 
class had used the issues in my annual constituent survey for a policy 
debate unit, and as part of this unit, each student wrote a letter to 
me detailing their opinions on some of these issues. The 56 letters 
that I received from these young constituents were not only impressive 
in that they were well-thought out and well-written, but equally 
impressive in the genuine concern that these young men and women showed 
for issues ranging from the protection of the Earth from pollution to 
the protection of children from guns. These students also expressed 
concern about people in other nations, and our relationships with other 
countries like Russia and Iraq. Clearly, these young people are 
interested in more than just their personal agendas. Sophomores, they 
may be, but they are hardly sophomoric.
  If I may, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to enter into the record the names of 
these students to recognize their efforts. They are: Josh Baker, 
Katherine Bolton, Jon Chester, Greg Cole, Jenny Eck, Julie Fiocchi, Jay 
Gustafson, Lexi Hayes, Janna Hoffman, Sari Hirsch, Bridgette Jung, 
Sandi Kaplan, Nancy Keene, Chris Krakowski, Stephanie Laouras, Kerry 
Lee, Elliott Levy, Elaine London, Andrew Mast, Steve Meisinger, 
Muhammed Mekki, Rob Pantle, Mary Patchell, Michael Posternack, Jeanette 
Schaller, Jeremy Silver, James Sinkovitz, Matthew Spraker, Melissa 
Spreckman, Jori Swift, Karli Tracey, Tracy Watson, Zachary Weiner, Lara 
Weinstein, and Mara Weisman. I want to commend all of them for showing 
interest in the issues that affect our district, country, and our 
world, and I am very happy to represent them in the Congress.

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