[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 146 (Thursday, September 12, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE YMCA'S YOUTH ASSEMBLY PROGRAM

   Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, today, I am proud to recognize 
in the Record an organization that has meant so much to so many 
worldwide.
  In June, the YMCA celebrated a major anniversary. Since its creation 
175 years ago, the YMCA is now located in 119 countries and serves 58 
million individuals, including my own family In Alpharetta, GA; the 
local YMCA is named for my father: the ``Ed Isakson/Alpharetta Family 
YMCA.''
  Now, the YMCA is celebrating 75 years of an important civic 
engagement program called Youth Assembly. Youth Assembly is a high 
school mock State legislative program, which I participated in as a 
student myself, serving as a press delegate in 1962.
  At Youth Assembly, students discuss current issues confronting their 
State with other high school students from across the State, along with 
educators, State administrators, and other elected officials. In 
Georgia, this program brings together a diverse group of students who 
come from very different parts of our State. Students choose from a 
range of areas relevant to the legislative process, including 
executive, judicial, legislative, lobbyist, and media roles. This 
program is competition-based, and those delegates who excel in each of 
the programs are recognized during the closing session.
  In Atlanta, the program is held annually at the State capitol, where 
volunteers from State departments act as resources for the students 
while they debate the issues. These volunteers, along with State YMCA 
staff, help guide students through mock committee meetings and 
procedures. Students debate and vote on the bills that their fellow 
delegates have written and presented. Bills that pass in committee are 
then taken to the floor of the house or senate for full debate and 
vote. Participants also engage in campaigns and elections for officers 
who will serve during the following year.
  Bringing these students together helps them learn not only the 
legislative process but also more about people from different 
backgrounds and from parts of their own State who may not be as 
familiar to their upbringing.
  For our democracy to survive, it requires citizen participation. 
Anything we can do to help students--and all citizens--to better 
understand government and recognize the importance of playing a role m 
its operation is important. If everyone were more involved day-to-day, 
we might see fewer disagreements, but we would certainly have a better 
understanding of how our country operate, and how opinions can differ 
without being disagreeable.
  Becoming involved in government helps us all, and I commend the YMCA 
on the 75th anniversary of this meaningful program for our 
youth.

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