[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE GRADUATES OF THE CONGRESSIONAL YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL

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                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2014

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my fellow 
colleagues to join me in congratulating the 2013-2014 Congressional 
Youth Advisory Council. This year 53 students from public, private, and 
home schools in grades 9 through 12 made their voices heard and made a 
difference in their community, their country and their Congress. These 
students volunteered their time, effort, and talent to inform me about 
the important issues facing their generation.
  Each year, the students in CYAC exceed my expectations ten-fold. They 
share innovative, inspiring, and impacting ideas on how to build a 
better America now and in the future. Their impressive and diverse 
credentials speak for themselves. Participating in student government, 
community service, honor societies, athletics, fine arts, and language 
clubs exemplifies their educational excellence and steadfast commitment 
to our community.
  Over the past year, we met twice to discuss the most current issues 
of the day, such as the national debt, balancing the budget, and tax 
reform. But let me tell you, these students have done much more than 
just attend meetings. They have filled out surveys, done homework on 
current events, and engaged in policy conversations impacting their 
future.
  More specifically, they have interacted with community leaders, such 
as John Schomburger, First Assistant District Attorney for Collin 
County, who discussed his work at the Veterans court. They also toured 
the Collin County Threat Fusion Center with Kelly Stone, Director of 
Homeland Security for Collin County to learn how to respond to a 
terrorist attack and how the Department of Homeland Security and 
Department of Justice work together to prevent them in the first place.
  Lastly, to ensure that the blessing of freedom is passed from one 
generation to the next, the members of the CYAC spent time interviewing 
a veteran and documenting their experience for the ``Preserving History 
Project.'' As President Ronald Reagan said, ``Freedom is never more 
than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our 
children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and 
handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset 
years telling our children and our children's children what it was once 
like in the United States where men were free.'' I thank them for 
learning about the patriotic service of our dedicated veterans who 
sacrificed so much so we could live free. We are forever indebted to 
them.
  To each member of the Congressional Youth Advisory Council, thank you 
for making this year and this group a success. You are the voices of 
the future and know I am very proud of you. God bless you and God bless 
America. I salute you.
  Amit Banerjee, Andre Bergstein, Connor Bresnahan, Julia Bristol, 
Richard Chen, Bridget Colliton, John Copley, Brock Crawford, Mark 
Douglass, Alicia D'Souza, William Elliott, Audrey Fisher, Rakshana 
Govindarajan, Aayush Goyal, Grace Han, Katheryn Hawley, Brent He, 
Lauren Hebig, Sarah Hossain, Sydney House, Spencer Humphrey.
  MacKenzie Jenkins, Thomas Kim, Justin Kong, Candice Lee, Paul Lim, 
Connor Madden, Daniel Madden, Soumya Mandava, Hollis Meachum, Anthony 
Niedzielski, Jacob Przada, Regan Railey, Jason Randoing, Sam Schell, 
Ryan Snitzer, Connor Spencer, Anjali Sridharan, Brennan Stewart, 
Makenzie Stuard, William Su, Jessica Todd, Amelia Trotter, Simic Tuan, 
Victoria Van de Kop, Faith Wada, Andrew Wicker.

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