[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E652]
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--ROSS VAN DE KOP

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 6, 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:

       Entering the North Texas Food Bank, I expected to find a 
     small operation of a few dedicated volunteers working 
     tirelessly towards helping as many people as they could. Yet 
     this was not the case, as the facility that I arrived at was 
     a massive testament to the human capacity for compassion. 
     Over 200 workers in a warehouse that rivaled the size of an 
     industrial plant, completely dedicated to helping the 
     citizens of North Texas. Considering a society is measured on 
     how we treat our worst citizens, I would go as far as to say 
     the people at the food bank are bringing America to an even 
     higher standard. The NTFB provided over 40 million meals for 
     the citizens of North Texas in 2010, and are aiming to hit 50 
     million by the end of this year. Had I only heard this number 
     and not seen the facility, I would have called it far too 
     ambitious. But from what I observed, we packed 21,155 pounds 
     of usable food, creating a total of 16,227 meals, in under 5 
     hours. Thanks to the people at the North Texas Food Bank, I 
     truly believe that we, as both Texans and Americans, are 
     doing our best to help as many people as we can.
     --Ross Van de Kop

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