[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 51 (Friday, April 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E671]
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--BRANDON ROSS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 8, 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 serve as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 235 in Plano, 
     Texas. On December 27th through December 31st, I volunteered 
     at Camp Preston Hunt, a Boy Scout winter camp held in 
     Texarkana, Arkansas. I was one of four adults supervising 
     sixteen scouts from my troop. Before we left for camp, I 
     taught the younger scouts how to pack for the week. During 
     the week, one of my duties was to make sure our cabin was 
     neat and organized. I also had to make sure that all scouts 
     attended their merit badge classes. Each morning I was 
     responsible to make sure that they all were dressed and ready 
     for the flag raising ceremony. I taught two different hour 
     long classes fulfilling the requirements and lessons 
     necessary to fulfill the emergency preparedness merit badge. 
     During free time I assisted the scouts with ``homework'' that 
     was assigned to them in their various merit badge classes. 
     One of my challenges was to keep the scouts busy during their 
     free time. In order to be an Assistant Scoutmaster I had to 
     complete a course in Youth Protection. The course is designed 
     to spot abuse and to help protect adults who assist in 
     scouting, to protect them from being accused of any misdeeds.
     --Brandon Ross

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