[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 29, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING CHRISTOPHER DOLS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DeLAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 29, 2000

  Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to congratulate and honor 
a young Texas student from my district who has achieved national 
recognition for exemplary volunteer service in his community. 
Christopher Dols of Houston has just been named one of my state's top 
honorees in The 2000 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, an 
annual honor conferred on the most impressive student volunteers in 
each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
  Mr. Dols, a ninth-grader at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory School, 
is being recognized for developing a Pre-Teen Health Information Line 
for the Harris County Hospital District. This information line provides 
free bilingual health information on 24 topics of special interest to 
young adults.
  In light of numerous statistics that indicate Americans today are 
less involved in their communities than they once were, it's vital that 
we encourage and support the king of selfless contribution this young 
citizen has made. People of all ages need to think more about how we, 
as individual citizens, can work together at the local level to ensure 
the health and vitality of our towns and neighborhoods. Young 
volunteers like Mr. Dols are inspiring examples to all of us, and are 
among our brightest hopes for a better tomorrow.
  The program that brought this young role model to our attention--The 
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards--was created by the Prudential 
Insurance Company of America in partnership with the National 
Association of Secondary Schools Principals in 1995 to impress upon all 
youth volunteers that their contributions are critically important and 
highly valued, and to inspire other young people to follow their 
example. In only five years, the program has become the nation's 
largest youth recognition effort based solely on community service, 
with nearly 75,000 youngsters participating since its inception.
  Mr. Dols should be extremely proud to have been singled out from such 
a large group of dedicated volunteers. Mr. Speaker, I heartily applaud 
Mr. Dols for his initiative in seeking to make his community a better 
place to live, and for the positive impact he has had on the lives of 
others. He has demonstrated a level of commitment and accomplishment 
that is truly extraordinary in today's world, and deserves our sincere 
admiration and respect. His actions show that young Americans can--and 
do--play important roles in our communities, and that America's 
community spirit continues to hold tremendous promise for the future.

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