[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 58 (Thursday, April 25, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  IN RECOGNITION OF THE VESTAVIA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL WE THE PEOPLE TEAM

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                          HON. SPENCER BACHUS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 25, 2013

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to commend the We the People 
program for its continuing commitment to promoting civic knowledge and 
responsibility among students in our elementary schools and high 
schools. As a source of special pride, I would like to bring the 
House's attention to the representatives of the State of Alabama in 
this year's 26th annual national competition, the Vestavia Hills High 
School academic team from the Sixth District.
   We the People helps to shape our next generation of leaders by 
instilling the principles of good citizenship and active participation 
in the democratic process. More than one million students from every 
state take part in this program each year. Students learn to be 
enlightened citizens by studying the enduring ideas of America's 
founders and the principles of constitutional government.
   After competing locally in a hearing-styled, question and answer 
competition based on the U.S. Constitution, the top performing teams 
are invited to Washington to participate in the national finals on 
Capitol Hill. It is here that they gain firsthand knowledge of Article 
I, Section I of our Constitution--the legislative branch--by competing 
in a format that simulates the congressional hearing process. As 
Chairman Emeritus, I am pleased to announce that the Financial Services 
Committee hearing room will be used in this year's competition.
   It takes hard work and commitment to qualify for the We the People 
national finals. At this time, I would like to extend recognition to 
the students from Vestavia Hills High School who are representing the 
State of Alabama. With teachers Mrs. Amy Maddox and Mrs. Jane Schaefer, 
I congratulate: Christian Sitarz, Carrie Clower, Reagan Cline, Patrick 
Sipe, Rachel Caskey, Aashka Patel, Anna Dennis, Enrico Camata, Daniel 
Moran, Amy Li, Sisi Zheng, Peter Adamo, Farhan Khan, Luis Jimenez, 
Hopson Nance, Hannah Skjellum, Botong Ma, Joseph Stahl, Molly Rhodes, 
Brian Stahl, Shannon Bewley, Marisa Pierluisi, and Kaustubh Udipi.
   The knowledge and commitment demonstrated by all of the students who 
take part in We the People should give us all great confidence in the 
future of our precious American democracy.

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