[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 70 (Friday, May 17, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E697-E698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRANT HIGH SCHOOL CONSTITUTION TEAM, WINNERS OF 
          THE NATIONAL ``WE THE PEOPLE'' COMPETITION THIS YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 17, 2013

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Grant High 
School Constitution Team from Portland, Oregon, winners of the national 
``We the People'' Competition this year. Last month, 1400 students from 
high schools across 45 states and the District of Columbia came to our 
nation's capital to be tested on their knowledge of the Constitution, 
American legal history, and the role of the citizen in participatory 
government.
  Since the Constitution's Bicentennial, the ``We the People'' 
Competition has emphasized the importance of civic education and 
involvement, and has pushed students to develop a deep knowledge of our 
government and a passion for our nation's principles. I continue to be 
greatly impressed by the students with whom I have had the good fortune 
to meet and watch in competition. They possess a nuanced understanding 
of the Constitution and a conviction in the strength of our 
representative government that is rare, even here in Congress.
  Sadly, Congress has cut all funding for this national program, and 
continues to greatly underfund public education across the board. As a 
result of sequestration cuts, Oregon alone will lose $10.2 million in 
funding for primary and secondary education. The ``We the People'' 
Competition is exactly the type of program this Congress should be 
supporting--an investment that educates and grows our next generation 
of leaders and engaged citizens.
  I applaud the students from Grant High School, the largest public 
high school in Portland, who overcame perennial budget cuts and teacher 
shortages to achieve a remarkable feat in winning this prestigious 
competition. They should serve as an inspiration to all of us and a 
reminder of the importance of civic education.
  This year's winning team, led by teacher David Lickey, was made up of 
the following students: Leah Alpern, Ella Ben-Zaken, Allen Chan, 
Annelies Cowan, Jane Crabtree, Claire Eldredge-Burns, Nina Greene, Nate 
Grein, Morgan Grover, Ada Harris, Madeleine Kaczmarowski, Parkes 
Kedrick, James Knudsen, Kathleen Kohl, Miriam Kohn, Mac Larsen, Anna 
Learn, Lauren Meininger, Anayeli Nieves-Alvez, Emily Olsen, Adam 
Penrose, Ricky Rojas-Echenique, Austin Shaff, Mariah Shriner, Gaelen 
Snell, Halley Steiner, Jake Stein-Ross, Jacob Sutter, Simon Swifter, 
Daniel Thatcher, Dylan Tingley, Emily Turner, Grace Williams, and 
Kendall Wynde.
  I would also like to recognize We the People Oregon State 
Coordinators Marilyn Cover and Barbara Rost, who for many years have 
been responsible for implementing this outstanding academic program 
through the Classroom Law Project in Portland, Oregon.

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