[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ESSAY BY INGRID WU

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2016

  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the 
brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my 
Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening 
to the high school students who are the future of this great nation. 
They provide important insight from across the political spectrum that 
sheds a light on the concerns of our younger constituents. Giving voice 
to their priorities will hopefully instill a better sense of the 
importance of being an active participant in the political process. 
Many of the students have written short essays on a variety of topics 
and I am pleased to share them with my House colleagues.
  Ingrid Wu attends Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas. The 
essay topic is: What makes the political process in Congress so 
challenging?

       One of the most challenging aspects of Congress is 
     developing efficient communication. In our current political 
     bill making process, as bills are passed along, discussed, 
     voted, and decided on like a game of telephone. It may lose 
     momentum and the vigor of one bill at the beginning of its 
     life cycle wanes as time passes and it gets reviewed and 
     revised over and over. Of course, when it comes to dealing 
     with the laws of the country, everything should be reviewed 
     with scrutiny; however, maintaining the life behind a bill is 
     also important and a hard job of Congress.
       Additionally, Congress is also met with difficulties 
     regarding opposing opinions. In our current era, politics is 
     something that is increasingly gaining popularity. We see it 
     on TV talk shows, highway billboards, school posters, and 
     even on daily consumer products. With America's two major 
     parties--Republicans and Democrats--having such a profound 
     influence on the opinions of society and, thus, politics, 
     much is hindered. For example, just recently, Congress was 
     met with the challenge of repealing the Affordable Care Act 
     and, through this, the clash of ideals and beliefs caused the 
     process to be in a standstill. Visibly, the repeated efforts 
     of Congress went to vain. In recent years, the number of 
     bills passed has been continuously decreasing. Compromising 
     both sides of the political spectrum and creating a bill to 
     encompass the beliefs if both sides is a necessary and 
     difficult responsibility of Congress. One reason why such a 
     situation is happening may be partially due to either the 
     processes and weight of Congressional action but also the 
     unwillingness of both branches and the party backing the 
     majority of both the cede in some areas and the lack of 
     constraints, especially time constraints.
       Finally, another challenge of Congress is to understand the 
     people's wants and needs, for understanding these subjects is 
     a way to foresee which ways politics should lean and what 
     exactly needs to be done. Through many different facets, even 
     the Congressional Youth Advisory Council, Congress has taken 
     initiatives to seek the opinions and analyze the lives of 
     individuals on a small scale. Through similar programs of 
     community outreach and developing the next generation, 
     Congress has made great effort to reign in this challenge.

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