[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 28, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S519-S521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         VERMONT ESSAY WINNERS

 Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask to have printed in the 
Record finalist essays written by Vermont High School students as part 
of the Fourth Annual State of the Union Essay contest conducted by my 
office. These 9 finalists were selected from over 380 entries.
  The essays follow:


  Carly Neeld, Champlain Valley Union High School, Grade 11 (Finalist)

       It is a great privilege to be a citizen of the United 
     States. As citizens, we have a responsibility to ensure that 
     our government is used to improve lives. Although this 
     country has achieved much, there are many aspects that can be 
     improved. In particular, we need to work towards reducing the 
     unemployment rate and take meaningful steps to stop climate 
     change. Addressing these two issues now will go a long way 
     towards helping current and future generations.
       The unemployment rate is at seven percent. It is our 
     obligation, as a nation, to lower this rate. By lowering the 
     unemployment rate, we could see a drop in crime and a 
     reduction in poverty as more people are earning a steady 
     income. Because of this steady income, there will be more tax 
     revenue which could then support safety net programs that 
     help the impoverished. An increased employment rate will also 
     cause an increased access to health care and other 
     necessities to living, strengthening families and 
     communities.
       In order to decrease the unemployment rate, there are 
     things in our country that will need improvement and our 
     support. Affordable childcare can benefit the employment 
     rate, as it allows parents to be free to go to work. Access 
     to higher education is also essential in increasing the 
     employment rate, as more people will be able to obtain higher 
     paying jobs or start businesses that create jobs. Quality 
     public education, especially early childhood education, will 
     build a strong workforce as jobs are created. It is important 
     to acknowledge the small businesses that provide countless 
     jobs and to ensure that the government is giving these 
     businesses the support they need to sustain their existence.
       Climate change is a pressing issue the world is now facing 
     and, as the United States, we need to lead the world in a 
     greener direction. Carbon dioxide emissions are growing 
     exponentially and are hurting our environment and our 
     people's health. We need to take meaningful steps to reduce 
     our carbon dioxide emissions and put our energy and resources 
     into renewable energy technologies. Not only will the 
     environment benefit, but we will benefit economically as the 
     prices of energy will be stable and affordable.
       These goals may be difficult to achieve; however, the 
     result will benefit the country immensely and place us as a 
     world leader in many aspects. These issues must be addressed, 
     as they will improve the lives of every citizen and will 
     allow us to strengthen our union.
                                  ____



       Rebecca Paige, South Royalton School, Grade 12 (Finalist)

       The rising cost of a college education is becoming a 
     chronic problem for everyone. We want everyone to become a 
     well-educated, informed citizen, but are doing so at a steep 
     price. We are paying an exorbitant amount of money and are 
     being left with large amounts of debt.
       For many families, having a high school senior in the 
     household brings mixed feelings towards college. There is the 
     excitement towards experiencing new things, but also the 
     concern for how they will be able to afford a college 
     education. The worries start right at the beginning, before 
     the senior is even accepted. Having just finished my college 
     application, I estimate that I paid about $600 for 
     application and testing fees. What do these fees do to help 
     with post-secondary education? Nothing. These fees are being 
     used as a gamble for the right to a college education. There 
     is nothing saying that the applicant will be guaranteed 
     admittance to college, only the chance of it. There should be 
     a movement passed that will eliminate all application, 
     testing, and other miscellaneous fees associated with the 
     application process, so students have a chance to apply to 
     the college they want without money to limit them in the 
     pursuit of a higher education.
       Even once students have been accepted to a college or 
     university, the tuition should be lowered or subsidized by 
     the government. Pursuing education beyond high school serves 
     to help better society and, in turn, will help us out of the 
     unstable state in which we find ourselves. There are many 
     positive aspects about pursuing education beyond high school, 
     but they are being outweighed by the financial repercussions 
     of the decision to do so. This is not how the system should 
     be run. We should not have to cringe at the word college; we 
     should embrace it because of the plethora of opportunities 
     that it will provide us.
       There seems to be a double standard in this country. We 
     want our citizens to pursue a higher education because the 
     country will reap the benefits, yet we still limit the post-
     secondary education to those that can afford it and not let 
     everyone have the opportunity to a higher education. There 
     needs to be a change, if anything is going to move forward. 
     Therefore, let all fees be eliminated, let there be lower 
     tuition costs, and allow all people a chance for a college 
     education without having to sign over their life in order to 
     get one.
                                  ____



 Kendall Spaulding, Missisquoi Valley Union Middle, High School, Grade 
                             11 (Finalist)

       ``Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the 
     courage to continue that counts,'' said Winston Churchill. 
     Churchill's quote links two controversial issues that our 
     country is now facing, education and unemployment. We have to 
     think about the people in our state and their futures. How 
     will they continue to succeed? If people want to continue 
     seeking jobs, they must go through a schooling process in 
     order for them to feel satisfied. We want to grow strong and 
     protect our views, so, taking control of our future will make 
     it stronger and brighter as a country. We have to start to 
     address these topics first, so they won't become a failure, 
     but a success for our country.
       I believe education should be the government's biggest 
     concern because of what it can push our nation to accomplish. 
     We have to make the common core strong, so that students know 
     what to expect. We cannot just give up after a failure, we 
     have to be determined and think more about of our future. 
     Marion Brady, who is a classroom teacher, asked, ``What 
     knowledge is absolutely essential for every learner?'' His 
     question is what we think the curriculum should be to 
     everyone. I believe if any student is strong in a core of 
     truly essential skills, they can succeed in anything they 
     want in their future. I believe enforcing the common core 
     will help achieve our goals and lead to courageous decisions.
       Building a successful education program will begin to 
     strengthen the unemployment rate in our country. I think 
     benefits being extended isn't the right solution because 
     there are so many opportunities to go towards to be 
     successful. If the government chooses to extend the benefits, 
     we would be spending billions of dollars in a short amount of 
     time, which would not help our economy. We have to think 
     about what's best for the individual, as well as the whole 
     country. It's best if we continue to persevere by going to a 
     job training facility to be more successful. Making no 
     extensions would lead people to create a successful life on 
     their own, gain confidence, and rely on only themselves. 
     Leading people to search for a job is in their own hands and 
     they need to have courage in order to succeed in life.
       To conclude, our country has to continue to grow as a whole 
     in order to solve the controversial issues. Making successful 
     decisions can permanently change the way the country grows. 
     Also, creating a confident country leads to less room for 
     failure in the long run. Let's believe we can create a strong 
     common core plan for education and a non-extendable 
     unemployment plan. I believe it can be done, it just takes 
     time and hard work to get them. Let these two topics not be 
     an issue anymore and finally resolve them, so we all can grow 
     to our best.
                                  ____



        Eric Tucker, Spaulding High School, Grade 11 (Finalist)

       The year 2013 was a period of progress and setback. The 
     government was shut down for sixteen days, the unemployment 
     rate decreased to seven percent, the lowest unemployment rate 
     in five years, The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) was passed 
     with mixed initial success, and many other influential 
     achievements and failures occurred. A new year is here, and 
     now is the time to further develop 2013's successes and solve 
     its problems. The best way to turn 2014 into a year of 
     achievement is to unite Americans and Congress by offering 
     multiple solutions to common disagreements and by discovering 
     a series of common goals with the support of the entire 
     nation.
       One of the catastrophically unsolved problems in 2013 was 
     the gap between Republicans and Democrats in America. The 
     government was shut down from October 1st to October 16th, 
     and it nearly defaulted on its bills during this harsh debt-
     ceiling debate.

[[Page S520]]

     This could have been avoided, if multiple choices were 
     offered during these debates. For example, the main reason 
     the Republicans did not want to re-open the government is 
     they strongly opposed the Democratic principle of a 
     government-controlled health insurance system (ObamaCare). 
     One compromise, which could have solved this dilemma, is 
     making ObamaCare optional. This compromise never occurred 
     because the Democrats wanted ObamaCare nationalized with a 
     fine on those who did not enlist and the Republicans wanted 
     complete abolishment. Middle ground must be reached.
       Further connecting Congress and America will also help 
     eliminate some of 2013's largest problems. Sometimes Congress 
     is split because each Congressperson is acting on behalf of 
     his or her voters. At other times, such as the government 
     shutdown, Republicans and Democrats disagree on the best ways 
     to solve a problem. If Congress and the White House listened 
     to the public more, then America can help its leaders tackle 
     America's most difficult problems. Utilize Facebook, utilize 
     Twitter, utilize easy, accessible websites and conduct 
     multiple surveys concerning many issues the country faces. 
     Have America decide if the debt ceiling should be raised; 
     have America decide if ObamaCare should be mandatory and 
     existent; have America become one of the mediators of public 
     dilemma. Stop having Republicans elect Republicans and 
     Democrats elect Democrats; have Americans elect Americans.
       Unification and success can also be created through 
     generating nationally common goals. For example, the issue of 
     clean energy is a project being half-heartedly tackled by the 
     government. Turn 2014 into the year that the United States of 
     America leads the world to a greener Earth. Begin the 
     movement that creates 4.5 million jobs, stimulates the 
     economy, and eliminates 1.2 billion tons of carbon emissions 
     per year by 2030. This single goal can cause America to reap 
     the benefits of economic stimulation, energy-efficiency, and 
     national unification.
       It is time for America to raise itself to new heights as a 
     truly united nation. Allowing the public to help its leaders 
     compromise and work on common goals will bring this country 
     together. Now is the time to unite the United States of 
     America.
                                  ____



   Madison Gilley, Mouth Abraham Union Middle, High School, Grade 9 
                               (Finalist)

       There are many factors that impact our environment. Air 
     pollution, deforestation, and climate change are just a few. 
     These specific problems are caused by humans. We have a 
     responsibility to our planet, ourselves, and to the other 
     species that live here with us. Senator Bernie Sanders should 
     take a stronger stance in protecting the environment because 
     it is important to the state and the world.
       Air pollution has a vast effect on climate change and the 
     environment. In 2012 alone, the world produced 9.7 billion 
     metric tons of CO2 emissions (CO2Now). 
     All of the carbon emissions that go into the air cause 
     climate change because the atmosphere traps the 
     CO2, which causes all the extra heat. The air, in 
     many places, is not very clean because of air pollution and 
     smog. Some factories use green energy so they do not put out 
     as much pollution as other factories.
       Deforestation, caused by logging, farming, mining, and 
     development is also another immense problem that needs to be 
     addressed. Rain forests are being cut down at an alarming 
     rate. These rainforests need to be protected. Madagascar has 
     lost 95% of its rainforests. Sumatra only has 15% of its 
     rainforests left. The Atlantic coast of Brazil has lost 90-
     95% of its rainforest (Mongabay). Rainforests are important 
     because they provide a habitat for plants and animals, they 
     regulate our climate, they help to prevent soil erosion, and 
     they provide a home for indigenous people. Bernie Sanders 
     needs to help protect the forests not just in Vermont, but 
     all around the world.
       Different environments around the world are in danger 
     because of climate change. One way that climate change is 
     caused is by carbon emissions. Air pollution causes climate 
     change because when the air is polluted by all the 
     CO2 that we are producing, it damages the ozone 
     layer. Climate change also affects forests which causes 
     damage to the animal population and their homes. The earth 
     isn't an unlimited supply; we need to use what we have 
     carefully and conscientiously.
       Senator Bernie Sanders should take a stronger stance in 
     protecting the environment because climate change, 
     deforestation and air pollution are major problems damaging 
     our environment. These are all environmental issues that have 
     social and economic impacts. We only have one planet and we 
     need to use what we have carefully.
                                  ____



     Kylee DiMaggio, Missisquoi Valley Union High School, Grade 11 
                               (Finalist)

       Barack Obama once said, ``Change will not come if we wait 
     for some other person or some other time. We are the ones 
     we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.'' The 
     American dream that many strive for is currently far out of 
     reach for most. Our current economy is in such a dire state 
     that some are even predicting another economic depression. 
     This economic issue is vital to our future as a nation and 
     impacts United States citizens directly. I also fear that if 
     this issue is not addressed before long the consequences may 
     be great. Fossil fuel usage (along with other things) have 
     aided in the increase of unemployment rates in the United 
     States and the poor economy. I believe that if the president 
     were to focus on the state of the economy many other issues 
     in the United States could be addressed as well.
       Although I believe that many people blame the state of the 
     economy on an excess of government spending, a huge 
     expenditure of the government is in the subsidization of 
     fossil fuels. Not only are fossil fuels harmful to the 
     environment, but they are extremely costly. With the current 
     economy, many citizens struggle to afford the prices of this 
     resource. Furthermore, the large amount of dependence on 
     fossil fuels leaves this resource an unreachable necessity. 
     It is vital for the president to search for an alternative 
     resource because fossil fuels are currently too costly for 
     average citizens to afford. The president should be focused 
     on finding an alternative resource for fossil fuels to 
     decrease government spending and, in turn, improve the 
     economy.
       As a result of a poor economy, citizens are finding it hard 
     to live comfortably and fulfill their ideas of the American 
     dream. Government spending reduces the amount of money the 
     government is able or willing to provide to the unemployed. 
     Theodore Roosevelt said, ``Behind the ostensible government 
     sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance 
     and acknowledging no responsibility to the people.'' In 
     saying this, Roosevelt infers that the president is not to 
     blame, it is the politicians below him that do not allow him 
     to make change. I believe that the government as a whole 
     should be concerned with the outcome of such a poor economy. 
     For example, jobs are extremely limited, leaving unemployment 
     rates higher than the United States have seen in years. The 
     unemployed are finding it hard to live comfortably on the 
     current unemployment benefits. Therefore, the government, as 
     a whole, should be focused on extending unemployment benefits 
     to those in need. Citizens are suffering because of the poor 
     economy and the government needs to take action to avoid 
     this.
       The United States economy must improve the state of our 
     union. Government spending must also decrease to make room 
     for citizens in need of assistance. Without government 
     assistance the citizens turn against their government and 
     grow unhappy. The United States should focus on decreasing 
     government spending to improve the economy because without a 
     stable economy, citizens suffer and the state of the union 
     crumbles.
                                  ____



        Trevor McNaney, Milton High School, Grade 12 (Finalist)

       Amidst not only our challenges in the past year, but in our 
     progress as well, we as a nation have proved our unity and 
     strength. We have confronted issues, such as gun control and 
     gay marriage and have worked hard to figure out how to best 
     deal with issues like these. We have proved ourselves as 
     pioneers; we have explored the wonders of space and have 
     developed amazing technologies new to the world. I ask the 
     American people, with their strength and their unity, to 
     confront an entirely different issue. One that is so 
     intertwined with our lives and society, yet one that is so 
     ignored. I ask the people to confront a world issue. Today, I 
     ask that each and every individual of this nation to consider 
     the impacts that our society has on the environment.
       We as a nation have come to understand that in order to 
     prosper, we need to work, produce, and consume with our 
     earnings. Companies produce goods that are meant to be broken 
     and thrown away so that consumers will simply buy more of 
     their product. I argue that we are smarter. A society that 
     values monetary gain at the demise and destruction of the 
     environment is one that will not last. Without a healthy 
     environment, we cannot have a healthy society. We are too 
     scared to look at the destruction and pollution that we are 
     causing as a society and as a global economic system. I ask 
     what is more fearful, deciding to make progress today or 
     ignoring the issues of tomorrow? Ignoring until there are no 
     longer any issues to worry about, until the Earth itself has 
     perished along with its inhabitants. Now is our gateway and 
     foundation to the future. We must change the way we live in 
     order to live.
       The exciting possibility is that we can change. We hold 
     more knowledge and resources than we ever have before. 
     America, it is time that we put the environment first. It is 
     time that we alter the way that we view and interact with the 
     world around us. By 2026, every home needs a solar panel and 
     seventy percent of the buildings we use need to use gray 
     water. And by 2030, seventy-five percent of the 
     transportation industry needs to use bio-fuels. By 2035, 
     seventy percent of vehicles need to be electric and seventy 
     percent of America needs to be powered by clean renewable 
     energy and resources. Dismiss the idea that it cannot be 
     done, that we as a society and the world cannot solve the 
     problems that we have created. And most of all, dismiss the 
     notion that ''it is not your problem.'' The problems are 
     here, they are real, and they are now. This world is our 
     home, let's treat it like one.
                                  ____



        Emil Koenig, Vermont Commons School, Grade 12 (Finalist)

       This past year has posed many serious national security and 
     foreign policy challenges for the United States. The nation 
     encountered various issues like the Edward Snowden's NSA 
     leaks, chemical weapons uses in the Syrian civil war, and a 
     government closing. While all of these issues are

[[Page S521]]

     significant and have captured the headlines of the news 
     media, we must also keep in mind the small issues that can 
     potentially transform into global conflicts.
       Currently, for example, one of the seemingly more exotic 
     issues threatening world peace involves the disputed Diaoyu 
     (or Senkaku) Islands in the South China Sea. Although these 
     barren rocks might seem truly worthless, as they are 
     uninhabited and lack natural resources, this fact did not 
     stop China, Japan or South Korea from staking conflicting 
     claims and angrily criticizing each other, escalating a small 
     territorial issue into a potentially larger crisis. While 
     China flaunts its growing dominance in the region, the South 
     Koreans and Japanese reject Beijing's territorial claims.
       In my conversations with various Chinese people during my 
     last year studying abroad in Beijing, most people strongly 
     sided with their government's territorial claims. In almost 
     the same breath, they catalogued a long list of grievances 
     from the turbulent history of Sino-Japanese relations. Many 
     still vividly recalled earlier atrocities, such as the ``Rape 
     of Nanjing,'' When Japanese troops stormed Nanjing, raping 
     women and burying people alive.
       Chinese authorities play on these popular fears, 
     disseminating propaganda that blames Japan for countless 
     issues. Debates about truly useless ocean rocks, therefore, 
     become conflated with deeply felt passions from the past, 
     which is why it is important to understand the cultural and 
     historical backgrounds of various conflicts in order to 
     resolve them.
       Because the situation now brewing in the South China Sea 
     stems from deeply felt cultural and historical origins, the 
     situation is extremely volatile. When the United States flew 
     two bombers over the islands to demonstrate close ties with 
     Japan, we may have raised the level of tension to a still 
     higher level. Following the flights by our bombers, the 
     Chinese, the Japanese, and the Koreans all sent planes to fly 
     over the islands, to demonstrate their respective ownership 
     claims over of the islands.
       As a nation, if we want to avoid potential wars, the 
     government should consider more peaceful options, such as 
     encouraging negotiations, before sending in war planes. The 
     government must practice more diplomatic conversations with 
     Chinese, Japanese and Korean partners in order to reduce the 
     likelihood of war. Flying war planes over disputed islands 
     never solves issues; it mainly risks causing more tensions.
       In sum, to avoid international incidents, the United States 
     must practice a more responsible system of foreign policy. 
     The tension of the East Asian region is only one example of 
     when America used force prior to engaging in other forms of 
     international communication. Instead, the US government must 
     assess historical and cultural backgrounds of various 
     conflicts and first try to resolve them through peaceful 
     means, rather than skyrocket the likelihood of starting wars.
                                  ____



Abigail Morris, Champlain Valley Union High School, Grade 11 (Finalist)

       Many United States issues have been the subject of 
     attention from the media, citizens and officials. However, in 
     my opinion the environmental issues in the US have not had 
     their share of the spotlight. Small measures, whether 
     involving policy or simple publicity, could change the US 
     environment for the better. One of these measures is 
     increased regulation of the fracking industry.
       Hydraulic fracturing or ``fracking'' is the process of 
     gathering oil by forcing highly pressurized fluid into oil or 
     gas formations, so that the oil or gas flows to the surface. 
     The use of fracking has jumped to 25% of oil production, up 
     from 1% in 2000. It has spurred hopes of an energy 
     independent United States, but there are many drawbacks, 
     especially where the environment is concerned. Fracking 
     endangers plants, livestock, and most importantly, human 
     beings. Refusal or reluctance to crack down on the fracking 
     industry could seriously harm the health of the United States 
     and its people. We must not let ourselves be lured by the 
     economic benefits of fracking, and instead must examine it 
     closely to determine if energy independence is worth the 
     risk.
       Of the 750 chemicals that can be used in fracking fluid, 29 
     are carcinogens. In Wyoming, Pennsylvania and other states, 
     these chemicals have contaminated drinking water in 
     residential areas. If there is no way to change the chemical 
     makeup of fracking fluid or illegalize fracking completely, 
     making sure the fracking industry is subject to strict 
     regulation is the next best course of action.
       Progress is being made, however. The FRAC (Fracturing 
     Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals) Act was introduced 
     in 2011, which shows that the issue has caught the attention 
     of Congress. However, both the House and Senate versions have 
     yet to be passed. These bills need to be brought back to the 
     attention of Congress, because as long as the fracking 
     industry is not subject to the same regulation as every 
     other, the natural environment and citizens of the United 
     States will continue to be at risk.

                          ____________________