[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 116 (Tuesday, July 15, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H6504-H6507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING EAST HIGH SCHOOL IN DENVER, COLORADO, ON WINNING 
                        CITIZENSHIP COMPETITION

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1261) congratulating East High School 
in Denver, Colorado, on winning the 2008 ``We the People: The Citizen 
and the Constitution'' national competition, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1261

       Whereas in order to preserve our democracy, it is important 
     that an indepth understanding of the documents upon which our 
     Nation was founded is passed on from generation to 
     generation;
       Whereas students in the ``We the People: The Citizen and 
     the Constitution'' competition demonstrate their 
     understanding of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, 
     along with the documents' contemporary significance by 
     participating in simulated congressional hearings;
       Whereas the ``We the People'' competition, founded in 1987 
     on the bicentennial of the adoption of the Constitution, 
     celebrates its 21st consecutive year in 2008;
       Whereas in the 21 years of competition, East High School 
     has gone to the ``We the People'' national finals 19 times, 
     placed in the Top Ten 16 times, placed in the Top Three 8 
     times, and placed in the Top Two 4 times;
       Whereas on May 5, 2008, East High School placed first in 
     the national ``We the People'' competition;
       Whereas East High School placed first for the second year 
     in a row, and for the third time in the school's history, the 
     previous times being in 2007 and 1992; and
       Whereas the 27 team members exhibited an extraordinary 
     grasp of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the importance of civics education and the 
     role of the ``We the People: The Citizen and the 
     Constitution'' competition in promoting greater understanding 
     and appreciation of the principles of democracy upon which 
     our Nation was founded;
       (2) congratulates the organizers, teachers, and students 
     from across the Nation who participated in the 2008 ``We the 
     People'' competition;
       (3) congratulates the East High School team from Denver, 
     Colorado, on winning the 2008 ``We the People'' national 
     competition; and
       (4) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Denver School 
     District Superintendent Michael Bennet and coach Susan McHugh 
     for appropriate display.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Bishop) and the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days 
during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous 
material on H. Res. 1261 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the students of East High 
School in Denver, Colorado, on winning the 2008 ``We the People: The 
Citizen and the Constitution'' national competition.
  ``We the People'' is a program that encourages civic awareness and 
responsibility in middle school and high school students through hands-
on activities. Students discover firsthand how the Constitution and the 
Bill of Rights impact their everyday lives and participate in a 
simulated Congressional hearing. At the national level, students 
utilize higher order thinking skills as they demonstrate their 
knowledge of constitutional theory by defending a historical or 
contemporary issue.
  For the second consecutive year, Denver's East High School won the 
national title. In order to receive this high honor, 27 students from 
East High School competed against 1,200 other participants from all 50 
States. The 3-day long competition took place on Capitol Hill and 
involved the students completing a mock hearing. They were judged by 
law school professors, State supreme court justices, mayors, and others 
on their opening statements and their responses to follow-up questions 
on 17 different constitutional topics.
  This competition makes the Constitution come alive and helps students 
connect what they are learning to contemporary issues and events. This 
type of learning is important not only for its academic aspects, but 
also for the way in which it improves our democracy. Students are able 
to analyze and evaluate their rights and responsibilities and apply 
this new knowledge to their surroundings.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, I wish to congratulate the students of East 
High School and all the other students across the Nation that took part 
in the ``We the People'' competition. I hope all students have the 
opportunity to see civics come alive, and I encourage my colleagues to 
pass this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of House Resolution 1261, 
congratulating the East High School in Denver, Colorado, on winning the 
2008 ``We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution'' national 
competition.

[[Page H6505]]

  Every year since 1987, the Center for Civic Education has sponsored 
``We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution,'' a competition for 
American high school students held in Washington, D.C.
  The primary goal of the competition is to promote civic competence 
and responsibility among the Nation's elementary and secondary 
students. What makes the program successful is the design of its 
instructional program, including its innovative culminating activity.
  The instructional program enhances students' understanding of the 
Constitution and the Bill of Rights, while also discovering their 
contemporary relevance. The culminating activity is a simulated 
congressional hearing in which students testify before a panel of 
judges. Students demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of 
constitutional principles and have opportunities to evaluate, take and 
defend positions on relevant, historical and modern day issues.
  In the 21 years of competition, East High School has gone to the ``We 
the People'' nationals 19 times, placed in the Top Ten 16 times, placed 
in the Top Three eight times, and placed in the Top Two four times. 
However, this year East High School placed first in the national 
competition.
  The 27 team members, under the leadership and guidance of their 
coach, Susan McHugh, are to be commended. I would like to take this 
opportunity to acknowledge the team's accomplishments.
  From the earliest days of American democracy, the study of history 
has been essential to the preservation of freedom. This competition is 
a great forum in which to strengthen the teaching, study and 
understanding of our Nation's history and culture. ``We the People'' is 
a wonderful opportunity for American youth to develop an understanding 
of the documents upon which our Nation was founded. Therefore, I ask my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may 
consume to the gentlelady from Colorado (Ms. DeGette).
  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House 
Resolution 1261.
  I want to take a moment this afternoon to recognize one of the 
premier civics instruction programs in this country. Most of my 
colleagues are aware of the ``We the People: The Citizen and the 
Constitution'' national civics class and competition. And in this day 
and age, when so few Americans take American Government in school, and 
even fewer know who their Members of Congress are, this class is 
incredibly vital and this competition is vital for civics awareness 
among our high school students.
  ``We the People'' is a year-long class incorporated into high school 
curriculums around the country that focuses on the foundation of the 
U.S. Constitution and its relevance in American modern government. In 
this program, students are not confined to the walls of their 
classrooms; they have the opportunity to take their knowledge on the 
road, participating in a national competition against students from 
other schools. ``We the People'' culminates in a simulated 
congressional hearing right here in Washington, D.C. for the finalist 
teams.
  In addition to learning the basic tenets of our democracy, the 
program teaches students valuable critical thinking, debate, and public 
speaking skills.
  ``We the People'' was first started in 1987, on the bicentennial of 
the adoption of the U.S. Constitution by the Constitutional Convention 
in Philadelphia. Since its inception, more than 28 million students and 
90,000 educators have participated.
  The program is sponsored by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Center for 
Civic Education, whose mission is to help develop and foster a well-
informed citizenry through civics education. Its flagship program, ``We 
the People,'' is funded in part through the U.S. Department of 
Education under the Education for Democracy Act. And just to show how 
bipartisan this program is, several years ago I worked with Congressman 
Dan Burton to expand funding for this important program to middle 
school students.
  This year, as we've heard, East High School, in my congressional 
district in Denver, Colorado, won the competition for the second year 
in a row. Each year, thousands of students from around the country 
participate in this program, which, as I said, culminates in the 
hearings on Capitol Hill. These students are given questions ranging 
from the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation, to the 
implications of Federalist No. 51, to what James Madison would think 
about current political topics. Frankly, Mr. Speaker, most Members of 
Congress would struggle to answer these questions.
  I would also like to note that these students are not simply 
memorizing facts from stuffy 18th-century debates that they will soon 
forget. They are diving into real-world debates over executive power, 
civil liberties, and other issues that are on our front pages every day 
and on the agenda in this hallowed Chamber week in and week out.
  I would like to say I have personal familiarity with the depth of 
knowledge this program gives to students because I was one of the very 
first volunteer coaches of the East High School team in the 1980s, well 
before my tenure in Congress, when I was a practicing attorney in 
Denver. And I can attest, these students know far more than many 
professors and Members of Congress about our political process and our 
Constitution. So, given the depth of knowledge of these thousands of 
high school students around the country, it really was a tremendous 
achievement for this year's East High School team to win the ``We the 
People'' competition for the second year in a row.
  Under the leadership of this year's teacher and coach, Susan McHugh, 
and the dedication of my long-time friend and colleague, Loyal Darr, 
the ``We the People'' coordinator for Colorado's First District, East 
High School demonstrated an unrivaled expertise in constitutional 
issues.
  To all of the dedicated students, teachers, parents and organizers of 
``We the People'' nationwide, on behalf of the United States 
Representatives, I want to congratulate you on your accomplishments and 
thank you for your efforts towards promoting civic engagement, healthy 
debate, and an ongoing commitment to the foundations of this great 
country.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. But 
more importantly, I urge my colleagues to think about the importance of 
civics education in this country. We need to look at the successes of 
Denver's East High School. We need to look at the accomplishments of 
``We the People'' participants from across the Nation and their ability 
to dissect complex current and historic political issues. And we need 
to ask ourselves, do we need more civics education, or less? The answer 
is self-evident.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the names of the team and their 
coaches in the Congressional Record. With that, Mr. Speaker, I simply 
say this is a wonderful program, I'm so proud of my constituents, and I 
ask for an affirmative vote on this resolution.

   East High School 2008 ``We the People'' National Championship Team

       Isabel Breit, Nicholas Brown, Maya Burchette, Nitai Deitel, 
     Gideon Hertz, Gideon Irving, Katherine Jablonski, Gavin 
     Jacobs, Noah Kaplan, Brendan Lamarre, Zachary Lass, 
     Alexandria Leenatali, Richard Londer, and Nathan Mackenzie.
       Rebecca Nathanson, Alyse Opatowski, Marley Pierce, Alyssa 
     Roberts, Paige Romer, Hayley Round, Ryan Saunders, Lindsay 
     Shields, Jeffrey Thalhofer, Shaquille Turner, Charlotte 
     Vilkus, Taylor Want, and Jacob Zax.
       Coach: Susan McHugh; We the People coordinator, Colorado's 
     First District: Loyal Darr.

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus).
  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this time to be able to 
address. I want to commend East High School in Denver, Colorado. As a 
former civics teacher myself, I concur with my colleague from Colorado 
of the importance of teaching government and the processes of how we 
should do things here in Washington. Hopefully they're giving some real 
world examples of what we do and what we fail to do. An

[[Page H6506]]

example of what we fail to do is energy policy in this country.
  Historically, since the Bush administration came in, crude oil was at 
$23 a barrel. When this new leadership came in in the House, the price 
of a barrel of crude oil was $58, now it stands at $145 a barrel. What 
we're saying here on this side of the aisle is that the trend line in 
this energy debate is bad, and we have to address this. That's why 
we've come to the floor--unfortunately we have to do it in times like 
this--to raise awareness that there is a plan to get away from this 
reliance on imported crude oil. And that answer is, do all of the 
above. Do all of the above: Expand our renewable portfolio; push for 
efficiencies; open up the Outer Continental Shelf; explore and recover 
gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I was in a hearing today 
addressing expansion of nuclear power. Move to coal-to-liquid 
technologies.
  Now, what's interesting about this floor, this bicameral legislative 
body that we have, we have a House and a Senate. The Founding Fathers, 
as ``We the People'' would teach, identified the House as the body that 
should be most outraged and be the most responsive to the public needs 
and demands. It is the House that's supposed to take up the clarion 
call when the public is angry and frustrated at their government, and 
it is the House that's not doing that. We're acting like we're the 
Senate. We're sitting back and doing nothing. We're trying to take some 
long-term provision instead of moving aggressively to address the 
energy crisis in this country.
  And the people are behind us. Numerous polling is highlighting this 
debate. A new IBD/TIPP poll says 64 percent of Americans support 
Republican-led new American energy production efforts. That's not good 
enough? I had a telephone town hall meeting last night to my district. 
Three different callers referenced this poll number: 76 percent of 
Americans say we need more drilling, we need more supply.
  The Founding Fathers, in the formation of this new Constitution that 
we have, would say it is the House that should be taking up this call. 
We're the ones who are supposed to be responding to the 76 percent of 
Americans, saying, ``we hear you. We're going to aggressively move to 
open up more supplies.''
  Seventy-six percent, just over three-quarters, support immediately 
increasing oil drilling in the United States, more than seven in 10. 
And from Democrats, 71 percent of Democrats hold this view. So the 
populist issue that should be raised in the House is not being heard. A 
CNN opinion research poll, 73 percent of more than 1,000 Americans 
surveyed from June 26 to June 29 said they favor offshore drilling for 
oil and natural gas in U.S. waters. Los Angeles Times poll, 68 percent; 
when all registered voters were asked whether they support increased 
exploration for oil and natural gas, 68 percent responded in the 
affirmative. In a Rasmussen poll, 67 percent. According to Rasmussen, 
67 percent of Americans support oil drilling off the Nation's coast. 
And 64 percent think it will lower gas prices.
  Is anyone on the floor of the House listening to this? Sixty-seven 
percent. Seventy-six percent of the public want us to drill. They want 
us to look at our natural resources not as an environmental disaster, 
but as a strategic national interest.
  Reuters: Most Americans support more U.S. oil drilling, some 59.6 
percent of Americans surveyed in a poll. In a Gallup poll, 57 percent 
support drilling. Now, why is this important? Here's a news story from 
my congressional district, Wayne County Board. The Wayne County Board 
has approved covering a shortfall in the county sheriff's gasoline 
budget with money from the county's Public Safety Tax Fund. Members 
urged the sheriff to cut costs anywhere possible and to curb any 
unnecessary spending the remainder of the fiscal year. Why? High energy 
costs.

                              {time}  1300

  A transfer of funds will take place near the end of the current 
fiscal year.
  Sheriff Jim Hinkle has announced that dramatic measures have been 
taken to curb gasoline consumption in his department. This is in a 
rural county. One major community, rural. The sheriff covers the entire 
county. He has initiated two-man patrols and has mandated that officers 
perform 2 hours of stationary patrol. I think that's an oxymoron. How 
can you patrol and be stationary? But energy costs are causing rural 
sheriffs to make a decision which does not have sheriffs driving the 
county roads. He has initiated two-man patrols and has mandated that 
officers perform 2 hours of stationary patrol with their engines turned 
off during each 8-hour shift.
  Friends, we don't have to be in this position. Mr. Speaker, we can 
aggressively address these issues. The House should be the body. My 
colleagues on the other side should be welcoming this. We're doing what 
the Founding Fathers intended us to do. We are the body that should be 
throwing stones when the Federal Government is not hearing the cries of 
the public. And the cries of the public are we have got to address this 
problem. And how do we do it?
  A current debate is the Outer Continental Shelf. We only drill and 
explore on 15 percent of the Federal lands in the Outer Continental 
Shelf, and that is the western gulf. What is off-limits by mandate by 
us by Federal law, we said no, you cannot go on the West Coast, you 
cannot go on the East Coast, you cannot go on the eastern gulf coast, 
thus depriving our country of billions of barrels of oil and trillions 
of cubic feet of natural gas.
  We can change this today with a vote on the floor. In fact, yesterday 
the President said have at it, I will not stand in the way. Now it's up 
to us to address the Outer Continental Shelf, bringing on more supply 
to lower gas and oil prices. That's what this line here has.
  Other options is when we do that, we'll get royalties, we will get 
Federal money, and we can expand wind and solar. The great position 
about our side is we are for all of the above. We want more renewables. 
We want more efficiency standards. We want more supply. We want more 
energy to lower prices.
  Also I have talked about earlier coal-to-liquid technologies. Taking 
American coal, American jobs, mining that coal, bringing it to the 
surface, building a coal-to-liquid refinery, refining that coal into 
liquid fuel and using it for aviation. The bill coming to the floor 
next is honoring Nelson Mandela. South Africa is a leader on coal-to-
liquid technologies. South African Airlines, that's how they operate 
their fleet.
  And then, of course, the renewable fuel issues with biodiesel, soy 
diesel, ethanol, cellulosic. And the one solution is to bring on more 
supply.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this time to be able to talk about we the 
people and addressing the important educational aspects of our Founding 
Fathers. Having taught civics for 4 years at the high school level, I 
agree with my colleague from Colorado we can't teach the Constitution 
and the process more than we do today, but we have to lead by example 
here on the floor of the House. We cannot continue to bring regular 
order bills on a suspension calendar so we are not allowed a chance to 
amend, debate, and argue this out in front of the American people.
  This is the first in a long time that the Republican side has been so 
right on a populous issue that the public wants and that we're right on 
our votes, that we welcome any chance, and, unfortunately, the only 
chance we have to do it is on suspension bills like we have today.
  I want to thank my colleague from New York, who is a great friend and 
a colleague, for putting up with my ranting and raving. I want to thank 
the ranking member.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank my friend 
from Illinois, who is truly a friend, and I thank him for his passion 
on this issue.
  I would simply say that we understand and agree that we need to 
expand our development and research and drilling for additional 
supplies of energy. And I would just ask all of my friends on the other 
side of the aisle to join us on this side of the aisle in passing use-
it-or-lose-it legislation. It is estimated by the Minerals and 
Management Service of the Department of the Interior that 81 percent of 
the known reserves of oil and natural gas are already available for 
lease and the vast majority of those leases are not being acted upon. 
So we are going to try to pass, on this side of the aisle, use-it-or-

[[Page H6507]]

lose-it legislation, and I would ask my friends on the other side of 
the aisle to join us in that effort.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  In returning to the resolution at hand, congratulating the East High 
School in Denver, Colorado, I would just like to ask that all of us be 
supportive of this, not just to recognize that school but to recognize 
that program and what we the people have done to educate people about 
the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and make all of us better 
citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1261, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________