[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 122 (Thursday, July 31, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5293-S5294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise in recognition of the George 
Washington University Native American Political Leadership Program and 
the INSPIRE Pre-College Program.

[[Page S5294]]

  The Native American Political Leadership Program, NAPLP, provides 
Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian college students 
the opportunity to spend a semester living, working, and studying in 
Washington, DC. The promising young leaders who participate in this 
invaluable program gain rich academic, professional, and life 
experiences in part through congressional internships on Capitol Hill, 
including the Senate. Through one-of-a-kind programs, such as NAPLP, 
Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students learn 
about American Government and the public policy process with an 
emphasis on Federal Indian policy, which is important to protecting 
tribal sovereignty.
  This year, the George Washington University NAPLP hosted their first 
INSPIRE Pre-College summer session, which offered a similar educational 
opportunity to Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian 
junior and senior high school students. Exemplary high school students 
traveled to Washington, DC, to participate in the program's intensive 
3-week curriculum that motivates Native teens to become more active in 
the political process and teaches Native youth about the Federal trust 
relationship between Indian tribes and the Federal Government. I am 
pleased that NAPLP organizers were able to offer the first-ever INSPIRE 
Pre-College program for Native high school students this summer.
  Hailee Brown of the Navajo Nation; Robert Charles of the Native 
Village of Koyuk; Lisa Chavez of the Ak-Chin Indian Community; Delilah 
Coleman of the Navajo Nation; Lacayah Engebretson, Tlingit and 
Athabaskan; Ethan Dan, Yupik; Jessica Petty of the Smith River 
Rancheria of the Tolowa Indian Tribe; Devin Jensen of the Sault Ste. 
Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians; Warren Mountain of the Red Lake Band 
of Chippewa Indians; Kara Roanhorse of the Navajo Nation; Christie 
Wildcat of the Northern Arapaho Tribe were among the first high school 
students to participate in the INSPIRE Pre-College Summer Program.
  During my time in Congress, I have worked hard to ensure that the 
Senate staff and workforce better reflect the diversity of our great 
Nation. I am proud that the Senate Democratic Diversity Initiative 
maintains a strong partnership with the NAPLP, and I hope that the 
experiences gained while participating in these important programs will 
continue to provide these outstanding students with profound knowledge, 
academic success, and a pathway to careers in government both on and 
off of Capitol Hill. I commend the hard work and dedication of the 
NAPLP and the INSPIRE Program organizers as well as the many young 
scholars. I look forward to welcoming more Native leaders to the 
INSPIRE Pre-College program and the NAPLP program in the future.

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