[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 5, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E632]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 2010-2011 CONGRESSIONAL YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR 500 
       HOURS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY--ERIC PARKER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 5, 2011

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and 
privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of 
Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth 
Advisory Council, CYAC, from the Third District of Texas have completed 
a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing 
the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service 
project.
  This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in 
grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the 
Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high 
school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current 
events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an 
important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back 
to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with 
over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, 
Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student 
shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to 
serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC 
has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their 
dreams.
  President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who 
can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. 
Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, 
but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in 
civilization.''
  With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the 
members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for 
showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It 
is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional 
Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young 
public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you!
  A copy of each submitted student summary follows:

       As a representative for Sam Johnson's CYAC of the 2010-2011 
     year I decided to volunteer in my community by participating 
     with Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity is a global, 
     non-profit organization that seeks to shelter the homeless 
     and poor by building comfortable homes with the help of 
     volunteers from the surrounding community. I volunteered 
     several hours from what would have been just another ``lazy'' 
     Saturday afternoon to go to Wylie in an effort to help the 
     organization with building a home. The organizers were very 
     friendly and helpful in pointing me in the right direction 
     and very clear and concise on instructions for the work that 
     I would be tasked with. I found a hands-on approach to be the 
     best way to contribute to my community and learned a lot from 
     one evening with fellow charity workers. I was able to make a 
     difference in someone's life by helping build shelter and 
     contributing to society. I learned that community service is 
     an overlooked part of life that when performed can cause a 
     person to feel good in a way that can't be accomplished by 
     common means. I look forward to working with Habit for 
     Humanity again in the future.
     --Eric Parker

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