[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E654]
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--GRANT TOLLETTE

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                            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:

       I volunteered at Friday Nite Friends (FNF) located at the 
     Custer Road United Methodist Church. Every other Friday, FNF 
     provides nurses and volunteers to offer free childcare for 
     special needs children and their siblings. As a volunteer, I 
     was placed with a group of boy siblings to entertain and 
     interact with for the evenings I volunteered. I would spend 
     the evenings playing board games and watching movies with my 
     group or playing tag or scooter races in the large rec room. 
     By the end of the evenings, both the kids and the volunteers 
     would be exhausted. When the parents came to pick up their 
     families they would look so happy and refreshed. But they 
     were always so happy to see their kids and be reunited with 
     them. In some cases this program provides the only 
     opportunity for many of the moms to have any time away from 
     their families to do chores, run errands or just have a quiet 
     moment for themselves. I have come to realize how important 
     this program is to the special needs community. I feel very 
     blessed for my own family and feel fortunate that I am able 
     to help other families.
     --Grant Tollette

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