[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 24, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S59-S60]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        VERMONT STUDENTS' ESSAYS

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, democracy; that is, government of the 
people, by the people and for the people, does not thrive or even 
survive unless we have a well-informed and well-educated public who are 
thinking about, discussing and debating the important issues facing our 
country.
  In order to stimulate that goal, I have, for the last 2 years, 
sponsored an essay-contest asking Vermont's high school students what 
they think the United States should be doing to address the major 
problems we face as a nation. In other words, while tonight we hear the 
President's views about the State of the Union, the essays these 
students wrote reflect Vermont students' views about the State of the 
Union.
  I am delighted that 308 students, from 30 different schools 
throughout Vermont, thought about these challenges as they wrote their 
own State of the Union essay. And I want to thank each and every one of 
them for their participation in the contest and the time and effort 
they put into it. I also want to thank the five teachers who acted as 
judges for these contests. They are Brian Burgess of Hazen Union High 
School; Liz Lebrun of Poultney High School, Lois Little of Canaan 
Memorial High School; Joe Maley of South Burlington High School and 
Terri Vest of Twinfield Union High School.
  The winner, selected by a panel of five Vermont teachers, is Jennifer 
Sikorski, a senior at Winooski High School. In addition to Jennifer, 18 
students were named as finalists. The four runners-up were: Monica 
Allard, Milton High School; Kayleigh Ehler-Vock, South Burlington High 
School; Kate Raszka, Champlain Valley Union High School; Karolina 
Sowulewska, Burr and Burton Academy.
  Because of the excellent quality of the essays, we also honored 14 
other students with an honorable mention.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the winning essay be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

           Jennifer Sikorski, Winookski High School (Winner)

                           [January 23, 2012]

       Ever since the Declaration of Independence was signed, the 
     United States has constantly paved the way to peace and 
     prosperity both for itself and the rest of the world. 
     However, as the world economy rapidly disintegrates, new 
     issues have emerged, from unemployment to the environment to 
     gay rights, and in the midst of it all, America stands still, 
     seemingly oblivious to the fact that its future is crumbling 
     in front of it. It is time to pave the way to prosperity once 
     again through these issues in order to ensure that someday we 
     can thrive again.
       Perhaps the biggest problem we face as a nation is 
     unemployment. As of 2011, 8.5 percent of people in the U.S.--
     over 26 million Americans--are jobless. While it may seem as 
     if putting such a large amount of people to work cannot 
     happen, there is a chance that it can be done. As 
     unemployment has been rising, the condition of our 
     environment has been deteriorating due to deforestation and 
     the emissions of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide given 
     off by the use of fossil fuels. Renewable energy such as 
     solar and wind power, on the other hand, has remained a topic 
     of interest, yet it is still somehow largely unavailable to 
     the public. However, the environment can be preserved, if not 
     improved, by phasing out fossil fuels in favor of solar and 
     wind energy, while millions of Americans can return to work 
     to plant trees to restore our forests and to build, 
     distribute, and repair solar panels, wind turbines, and other 
     renewable energy products. We are actually lucky in a way to 
     have to face both of these issues at once, as they can both 
     be improved simultaneously.
       America has also had a long-standing tradition of leading 
     the way in human rights,

[[Page S60]]

     with such important movements such as women's suffrage and 
     civil rights abolishing discrimination based on gender and 
     race. There is no reason why this tradition should not 
     continue with gay rights as well. Currently, only seven 
     states in the entire country allow same-sex marriage, and I 
     am proud to live in one of the few states that has begun to 
     lead the way. I have many friends and relatives that consider 
     themselves gay or bisexual and are actively involved in the 
     LGBT community, and I have witnessed their struggles as they 
     have realized that many are intolerant of their lifestyles. 
     The entire country should follow Vermont's example and 
     legalize same-sex marriage to continue to encourage not only 
     the rights of certain groups of people, but the rights of 
     everyone.
       In conclusion, the challenges that we face with 
     unemployment, the environment, and gay rights are just some 
     of the challenges that, when dealt with appropriately, will 
     make our country stronger and greater than before. Though our 
     current situation looks bleak, we can always work towards 
     goals such as these that will help make America and the world 
     a better place.

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the 
absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Tester). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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