[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 41 (Monday, March 9, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E590-E591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNITION OF MEADOW BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL'S 100% SENIOR CLASS 
                              REGISTRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 9, 2009

  Mr. RAHALL. I rise today in recognition of Meadow Bridge High School 
in Meadow Bridge, West Virginia. With encouragement from their 
principal, Al Martine, 100% of the senior class has submitted voter 
registration forms to the County Clerk in Fayetteville, West Virginia.
  Meadow Bridge High School has an eight-year history of registering 
their entire senior class, and they are the only known school in West 
Virginia with such an accomplishment to call their own. Not only that, 
but Meadow Bridge High School was recently honored as a bronze level 
school in US News and World Report. They were singled out because every 
student, even the most disadvantaged, has standardized test scores that 
are above the state average. If that doesn't take hard work or doesn't 
deserve recognition here, I don't know what does.

[[Page E591]]

  Were he still with us today, I am certain West Virginia Senator 
Jennings Randolph, who proposed the 26th Amendment to our Constitution 
to lower the voting age to 18 in 1971, would be very proud of each and 
every student at Meadow Bridge High School. As your elected 
representative to Washington, I am especially moved by the faculty's 
efforts to get young people involved in the political process at a 
young age. By registering to vote, they have achieved the highest 
office in our land, that of a citizen.
  West Virginians have a long, proud history of serving their country. 
It brings me great pleasure to be able to recognize the efforts of our 
youngest new voters as they continue in the grand tradition of their 
classmates, parents and neighbors who registered to vote before them. 
These students take great pride in doing their civic duty, and I look 
forward to having their voices heard at the polls come election season.
  Let us take this moment to recognize the truly spectacular 
achievement they have attained with this milestone.

                          ____________________