[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 37 (Monday, March 15, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1402-H1403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1415
        CONGRATULATING WINNERS OF VOICE OF DEMOCRACY SCHOLARSHIP

  Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1170) congratulating the winners of the Voice 
of Democracy national scholarship program.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1170

       Whereas the Voice of Democracy (VOD) scholarship program is 
     an audio-essay contest for high school students in grades 9 
     through 12 that annually provides more than $3,000,000 in 
     scholarships;
       Whereas the Voice of Democracy program is designed to 
     foster patriotism by allowing students the opportunity to 
     voice their opinion in a 3- to 5-minute audio essay based on 
     an annual theme;
       Whereas the winners of the 2010 Voice of Democracy contest 
     are selected based on the originality, content, and delivery 
     of their audio essay;
       Whereas the Veterans of Foreign Wars has sponsored the 
     Voice of Democracy scholarship program since 1947 and has 
     encouraged students to express patriotism since that time;
       Whereas the Voice of Democracy program is closely 
     associated with the Patriots Pen program, a youth-essay 
     writing contest for students in grades 6 through 8;
       Whereas the 2009-2010 Voice of Democracy theme is ``Does 
     America still have heroes?'';
       Whereas more than 50,000 American students across the world 
     participated in the Voice of Democracy competition for the 
     2009-2010 school year; and
       Whereas Madison Mullen, Anthony Zendejas IV, and Lena 
     Savell were named the first, second, and third place winners 
     of the 2009-2010 Voice of Democracy scholarship program: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates 
     the winners of the Voice of Democracy national scholarship 
     program.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 1170 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today to congratulate the winners of the Voice of Democracy 
national scholarship program. The Voice of Democracy scholarship 
program was originally created in 1947 and now is an audio essay 
contest for high school students in grades nine through twelve that 
annually provides more than $3 million in scholarships. The winners are 
high school students from different parts of the country who clearly 
articulated and creatively presented American democratic values in a 
national scholarship competition. The first-place winner receives a 
$30,000 scholarship that is paid directly to the recipient's American 
university, college, vocational, or technical school.
  Every year, thousands of students participate in the Voice of 
Democracy scholarship competition. With last year's theme, ``Does 
America still have Heroes?'' this competition makes democracy come 
alive and helps students connect their real-world experience to 
contemporary issues and events. This type of learning is important not 
only

[[Page H1403]]

for academic purposes, but also for youth civic engagement. Students 
are able to express their democratic knowledge and responsibilities in 
a creative art form.
  Madam Speaker, I want to congratulate Madison Mullen, Anthony 
Zendejas IV, and Lena Savell for the first, second, and third place 
finishes, as well as all the rest of the winners. I hope all students 
think about the ideals of democracy and how they can contribute to our 
society. I thank Representative Hunter for bringing this resolution 
forward.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1170, 
congratulating the winners of the Voice of Democracy national 
scholarship program. The Voice of Democracy national scholarship 
program is an audio essay scholarship contest for American high school 
students across the world. Students in grades nine through twelve enter 
the contest by recording an audio essay on a selected theme. Since its 
beginning, the program has provided more than $3 million in scholarship 
funds to student winners. This year alone, $149,000 in scholarships was 
awarded to the winners. The Voice of Democracy's national competition 
is designed to foster patriotism by providing students with the 
opportunity to voice their opinion on selected themes. The 2009-2010 
school year's theme was, ``Does America still have Heroes?'' America's 
youth responded with a resounding ``yes.''
  Veterans of Foreign Wars began sponsoring this event in 1947 and also 
sponsor similar national essay competitions for middle school students. 
For example, Patriot's Pen encourages American students in grades six 
through eight to write an essay expressing their views on democracy, 
based on an annual theme. The VFW's 2.2 million members have fought for 
America's freedom and continue to give to our Nation through programs 
such as Voice of Democracy.
  The first, second, and third place winners of the 2009-2010 voice of 
America's national scholarship competition are Madison Mullen, Anthony 
Zendejas IV, and Lena Savell, respectively. The winners were selected 
from over 50,000 student entries based on originality, content, and 
delivery of their audio essays. Finalists were invited here to 
Washington, D.C., to deliver their oral essays. Participating students' 
essays described today's heroes in America, and I'm sure that many of 
these students will grow up to become tomorrow's heroes.
  I'd like to congratulate all the winners, finalists, and participants 
in the Voice of Democracy national scholarship program and thank the 
VFW for providing students with this opportunity. I'd also like to 
thank my colleague from California, Congressman Duncan Hunter, for 
sponsoring this resolution and thank the gentlelady from Hawaii for 
managing this bill, and I ask for my colleagues' support.
  Having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. Once again, I urge all my colleagues to agree to House 
Resolution 1170, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1170.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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