[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S195-S199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           VERMONT STATE OF THE UNION ESSAY CONTEST FINALISTS

 Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask to have printed in the 
Record some of the finalists' essays written by Vermont High School 
students as part of the 13th Annual State of the Union Essay contest 
conducted by my office.
  The material follows:

                               Finalists


         JACOB ANTONOVICH, BELLOWS FREE ACADEMY FAIRFAX, SENIOR

       My grandfather, Robert Antonovich, got drafted into the 
     Korean War where he served in the Army. At the present moment 
     he lays dying, at home, and without much dignity. My 
     grandfather is in dire need of hospice as he goes through his 
     last stages of life but at 88, he is unable to afford 
     privatized healthcare and my grandma (aged 90) is of little 
     help. Fortunately, as a result of my grandfather's service he 
     is entitled to receive benefits from the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs (VA). What upsets me is that where a 
     privatized hospice service could be there in 24 hours, after 
     almost two weeks, the VA is still unable to get anyone there 
     to help my grandfather walk through his last life with the 
     dignity he deserves.
       Beyond my grandfather, millions of Americans who put their 
     lives on the line to serve this country are stuck without 
     much dignity. According to the National Coalition for the 
     Homeless; between 130,000 and 200,000 veterans are homeless 
     on any given night which represents between one fourth and 
     one fifth of all homeless people. After putting their lives 
     on the line, why are so many veterans being dumped on the 
     streets in such poor conditions? Many of these problems could 
     be fixed by providing proper funding and ensuring that the 
     security of veteran relief organizations is a top priority. 
     For instance, of the $300 Billion budget for the VA only 
     about one percent was spent on homeless care programs. The 
     VA's budget is even less for community care, which covers 
     hospice services. Based on the 2023 Budget submission for the 
     VA, less than .0004 percent of the budget was allocated to 
     community care. To make matters worse, hospice care is only a 
     portion of that already small percentage leaving very little 
     money to help those in need.
       The poor treatment of veterans is a major problem in this 
     Nation. To fix this, I suggest

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     that more money be allocated to these specific areas of the 
     VA as to ensure that no veterans are left homeless, and that 
     all who served have a chance to live the remainder of their 
     lives in dignity rather than the abject squalor that many are 
     forced to live in today. I am still hoping that the VA will 
     be able to get hospice care to my grandfather before it's too 
     late, but with how a large portion of veterans in this Nation 
     are currently being treated, I'm not so sure. I hope that 
     through the hard work of our Nation's legislators, no 
     veterans will ever be left behind like the thousands of 
     veterans who are homeless today or my grandfather who is yet 
     to receive the care he needs at a price he can afford.


              ANDREW BARRETT, OXBOW HIGH SCHOOL, SOPHOMORE

       Mental Health America (MHA) unveiled in 2019-2020, that 
     ``20.78 percent of adults in America were experiencing a 
     mental illness.'' Mental health awareness is a minuscule 
     topic compared to most political conversations, but it cannot 
     be disregarded. Millions of American citizens face mental 
     illness; most go without treatment due to the expense and 
     shortage of mental health professionals. Mental health is 
     prominent in society, and its awareness needs improvement. 
     What is the solution? Increased funding for mental health 
     care, and early schooling on mental health is crucial for 
     advancement.
       Lately, due primarily to the pandemic, there has been a 
     spike in mental illness. Mental illnesses like depression can 
     disrupt people's capacity to function, whether at school, 
     work, home, or social life. As of 2020, 12.1 million adult 
     Americans experienced profound thoughts of suicide. 
     Additionally, MHA states, ``half (54.7 percent) of adults 
     with a mental illness do not receive treatment,'' and ``59.8 
     percent of youth with major depression do not receive any 
     mental health treatment.'' Mental illness can lead to 
     substance use disorder, proving hazardous to those suffering 
     from mental illness and potentially to others around them. 
     Society needs to be a safe place where individuals are 
     comfortable and capable of seeking support.
       The leading solution to the mental health crisis is better 
     funding for mental health care. Funding would come from 
     America's military spending. According to World Population 
     Review, America has the highest military budget and is 
     greater than the following ten countries combined. There is a 
     shortage of mental health specialists, and seeking aid is 
     unaffordable for most. A large portion of adults (42 percent) 
     with a mental illness ``reported they were unable to receive 
     necessary care because they could not afford it,'' according 
     to MHA. Therapy and care are too expensive for most people, 
     proving problematic in overcoming mental illness. Therapy 
     presents a sense of hope. Dr. Lloyd Sederer, a psychiatrist, 
     states, ``When there is hope, there is reason to participate 
     in treatment, to learn to manage the disease, and to reach 
     for life when faced with setbacks.'' Altogether, funding for 
     treatments and mental health care would help reduce the 
     mental health emergency in America.
       Along with funding for mental health care, social standards 
     need to change. There cannot be a stigma around mental 
     illness. People should feel comfortable and aware of mental 
     illness. Education on the matter is critical to accomplish 
     this because mental illness is real. If taught the subject at 
     a young age, people are provided awareness, and they will 
     feel comfortable seeking help and helping others.
       Mental health is an immensely influential element of every 
     person's life.


             ALEXANDER CALIFANO, CRAFTSBURY ACADEMY, JUNIOR

       In recent months, the Supreme Court has been at the center 
     of American political debate as it prepares to rule on a 
     number of crucial cases. Among these is Students for Fair 
     Admission vs. Harvard in which the Court will decide the 
     future of affirmative action.
       In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was signed into law by Lyndon 
     Johnson, legalizing affirmative action in the United States 
     with the goal of preventing discrimination in hiring 
     practices. This protection was later extended into the realm 
     of college admissions. The ability of universities to use 
     affirmative action as a tool to level the playing field for 
     historically disadvantaged groups is now in jeopardy. Those 
     who oppose affirmative action argue that by favoring 
     historically disadvantaged groups, universities discriminate 
     against other groups. That is simply untrue. The goal of 
     these practices is to promote student diversity, which 
     benefits all of us by expanding our intellectual horizons and 
     inviting us to view the world from new perspectives. The 
     diversity that affirmative action policies foster is 
     responsible for spreading knowledge of and empathy for people 
     from all walks of life and all races and cultures. If the 
     Supreme Court outlaws affirmative action, it won't just be 
     historically disadvantaged groups that will be hurt. We would 
     all suffer by losing an invaluable part of the educational 
     system.
       To prevent the Supreme Court from restricting the range of 
     educational opportunities available to racial groups already 
     struggling to make their way in this country, Congress should 
     make good on its endless promises to help Americans by taking 
     concrete action. This year, the Respect for Marriage Act 
     codified the right of individuals to enter into interracial 
     and same-sex marriages, protecting them from the caprices of 
     the Supreme Court. Congress should similarly codify 
     affirmative action policies. Such codification would ensure 
     that affirmative action can fulfill its intended purpose of 
     advancing historically disadvantaged groups while, at the 
     same time, giving America's future leaders a chance to 
     interact regularly with students who represent the diversity 
     of knowledge, beliefs, opinions, and ethnicities that make 
     American universities the best in the world and which have 
     made this country strong. Furthermore, by allowing policies 
     that help historically disadvantaged groups succeed, we will 
     be living up to this Nation's founding ideal--the notion that 
     all men are created equal. We can help make that dream a 
     reality by reversing the effects of race- based prejudice, 
     discrimination, and violence.
       If the Supreme Court decides to end affirmative action, 
     Congress must move to protect the rights of educational 
     institutions to craft admissions policies that would ensure 
     that applicants aren't punished for their race, ethnicity or 
     lack of resources and that future generations of students 
     aren't deprived of the diversity of thoughts, opinions, and 
     ancestries that have made America such a powerful force for 
     good.


           LEAH KUHNERT, WOODSTOCK UNION HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIOR

       Climate change is perhaps the most unavoidable issue facing 
     our world today, yet is often pushed off by lawmakers 
     worldwide in favor of other issues. Although fixing climate 
     change is a complex task, addressing environmental impacts by 
     sector is an important step towards taking much-needed action 
     before the effects of climate change are irreversible. 
     According to the EPA, agriculture accounted for 11 percent of 
     US greenhouse gas emissions in 2020. This is why, as a 
     country, we must take action to decrease industrial 
     agriculture and turn towards regenerative farming techniques.
       Governmental subsidies are what currently drives the 
     dysfunctional system of industrial agriculture. The 
     Agriculture Act of 2018 section 1202 outlines the crops 
     eligible for governmental subsidies, which include ``. . . 
     wheat, corn, grain sorghum, barley, oats, upland cotton, long 
     grain rice, medium grain rice, soybeans, designated oilseeds 
     . . .'' etc. These subsidies have effectively supported the 
     growth of specialized farms that mass produce only one of 
     these crops. The problem with this is that over-tilling and a 
     lack of crop diversity in these industrial farms destroy the 
     health of the soil. This renders ineffective the natural 
     process of carbon sequestration that relies on healthy soil, 
     contributing considerably to climate change.
       An essential step that can be taken is to re-evaluate how 
     subsidies are used and how they impact the environment. These 
     subsidies have created a system that primarily benefits 
     commercial agribusinesses in the long run. Meanwhile, it 
     disadvantages small farmers who raise a diverse range of 
     crops and livestock. When prices for industrially produced 
     foods are driven down by subsidies, small farmers are forced 
     to lower their prices in response, causing losses in revenue. 
     It isn't necessary to get rid of agricultural subsidies 
     altogether, but it's critical to change how they're used. 
     Instead of offering permanent funds to artificially prop up 
     monoculture, subsidies should be used as a specific and 
     short-term tool to support farmers in switching to more 
     regenerative and diverse crop production.
       A study by the University of Vermont found that 
     regenerative farming methods, such as rotational grazing, 
     crop rotation, and cover cropping result in the sequestration 
     of atmospheric carbon, unlike specialized farming methods. 
     Regenerative farming techniques contribute to a more 
     sustainable agricultural system while also helping mitigate 
     the effects of climate change.
       Switching to regenerative farming practices also makes 
     economic sense. By growing a more diverse selection of crops, 
     farmers are less vulnerable to revenue loss in cases of a 
     failing crop. Additionally, regenerative methods allow 
     farmers to do more with less land, which means spending less 
     money on farmland. Effective land use increases the health of 
     the soil and extends the lifetime of the farmland, and the 
     rotation of crops and livestock ensures a more sustainably 
     symbiotic system. Regenerative agriculture will contribute to 
     the stability of farmers in America, while also reforming the 
     food economy. Most importantly, this change will help to 
     mitigate the imminent destructive effects of climate change 
     that we're facing now more prevalently than ever. It's time 
     to end our subsidy system that rewards irresponsible and 
     unsustainable farming.


         ELLA MATTEI, NORTHFIELD MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL, FRESHMAN

       It is a basic human right to have access to healthy, 
     affordable food to create the best future possible for future 
     generations. Food accessibility is getting worse and worse 
     each year, even in a farming State such as Vermont; food is 
     getting more expensive to transport creating a higher price. 
     This inevitably causes problems for people with a low income 
     to have access to healthy food. Food deserts are an 
     increasing problem in poor neighborhoods and towns, and they 
     don't have enough money to fix them. Food deserts are 
     generally associated with low-population areas, abandoned or 
     vacated homes, high unemployment- rated areas, or less-
     educated people.
       Food deserts are more common in Black neighborhoods 
     according to a 2014 study from Johns Hopkins University. They 
     found that black and urban areas have a severe lack of 
     supermarkets while white areas had the most and mixed-race 
     areas were a mixed bag.

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     The idea of people not getting their basic needs met because 
     of a characteristic of them such as their skin color is mind-
     blowing. America claims to be a great country but won't feed 
     people because of the color of their skin. More than 39 
     million people in America suffer from hunger each year and 
     about 9 million of them are children. In America, we are 
     supposed to protect our citizens and the fragile minds of our 
     youth. Instead, there are children starving and we have not 
     made much progress to solve this nationwide problem. Here in 
     Vermont, 1 out of 4 people know somebody facing food 
     insecurity, and 2 out of 5 Vermonters are facing food 
     insecurity personally.
       To fix food insecurity, we must invest our Nation's 
     resources to support healthy food access to all populations. 
     60 years after LBJ's War on Poverty, it is embarrassing that 
     the richest Nation on Earth, which feeds other countries, 
     could possibly have people starving. If the government were 
     serious, it must invest in local community-based solutions. 
     Urban farms in places like Detroit should be a model for the 
     rest of our country's food deserts. Creating food-sharing 
     programs, and making more Federal food assistance programs 
     should also be a priority for this new Congress. They should 
     also create more food pantries where people can donate food.
       Many people would argue that it would be too expensive to 
     fix this national crisis because it would cost around $37 
     billion a year until 2030, but America is the wealthiest 
     country in the world and if we can afford to have the most 
     nuclear weapons when each weapon costs $8.4 million, we are 
     capable of feeding our citizens. Everybody deserves a chance 
     at being fed.


        LEILA MCMILLIAN, SOUTH BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, FRESHMAN

       Equality, respect, and understanding are things that 
     everyone deserves even, if not especially, those who are 
     psychologically or physically different. People with 
     disabilities or neurodivergence are often ridiculed or 
     avoided because they process and navigate the world around us 
     differently. It is my opinion that if other people actually 
     understood more about what it is like to be different than a 
     ``normal person'', then they might sympathize more and 
     bullying or other mistreatments might become less of a 
     problem.
       According to an NPR article; ``A new study suggests that 
     nearly a third of children and adolescents with disabilities 
     has experienced violence--defined as physical, emotional or 
     sexual abuse as well as neglect. It's everything from being 
     struck or verbally attacked by a family member to 
     cyberbullying. And they're reportedly twice as likely to 
     experience violence as young people without disabilities.'' 
     Because of the greater likelihood of being bullied for being 
     different, people might be less inclined to say anything if 
     they need help for fear of being ridiculed. A person might 
     hide their actions or needs to fit in with ``normal'' people, 
     but if they really need help and are too afraid to ask for 
     it, then serious problems like fights or school shootouts 
     could break out more often.
       People with neurodivergence or disabilities are often seen 
     as abnormal and people make such a big deal out of their 
     differences that it pretty well separates them from the rest 
     of society. According to NPR; ``A tremendous number of kids 
     are affected. An estimated 291 million children and 
     adolescents--slightly more than 1 in 10--have disabilities 
     such as hearing or vision loss, epilepsy or intellectual 
     disabilities.'' Our kids should not have to be the subject of 
     other's disgraceful humor, or be the butt of their jokes. 
     They should be able to grow up in a world that accepts people 
     for who they are, not what they are or what other people 
     think they are. They should have equal chances to work in 
     good jobs as any other person, because they are people too 
     and should be treated as such. Some people might not see the 
     problem as it is though, people all over the world have been 
     accused of witchcraft because of their differences, or have 
     been called cursed. ``It is not an easy issue.'' Says Fran 
     Kritz, a health policy reporter based in Washington, D.C. 
     ``We're talking about something that has multiple causes and 
     can't be treated with a vaccine or intervention. We have to 
     create new social norms and educational, social service, 
     health and other systems that prevent and respond effectively 
     to violence against children with disabilities. We need to 
     ensure that systems are sufficiently supported financially 
     and that personnel have ongoing training.'' We are people too 
     and we all deserve equality and respect as anyone does.


          ALAINA ROGERS, BELLOWS FREE ACADEMY FAIRFAX, JUNIOR

       The gun violence epidemic is an extremely serious issue 
     facing America today, and it continues to get worse. 
     According to the CDC and Pew Research Center, 45,222 people 
     lost their lives to gun violence in 2020, which is the most 
     recent year for which complete data can be found. As I have 
     grown up, I have seen the number of gun violence stories 
     hitting the news increase year after year. I have watched my 
     school crack down on safety and lockdown procedures. I have 
     been repeatedly made aware of the threats local schools have 
     had to deal with in recent years, and I have seen the strain 
     that gun violence has put on our country while nothing is 
     done about it. Gun violence has been a prominent issue in 
     America for many years, and it is only getting worse. It is 
     time for us to take action.
       There are steps our Federal Government can take to prevent 
     gun violence. Common sense gun laws that limit access to 
     these deadly weapons are crucial to ending this crisis. 
     Universal background checks must be strengthened, and the 
     loopholes that allow private sales, transfers of guns from 
     one person to another, and sales of firearms at large gun 
     shows to bypass background checks must be closed. According 
     to FBI records, more than 300,000 illegal firearm sales were 
     blocked by background checks in 2020. Background checks are 
     effective when they are conducted and have earned bipartisan 
     support from the vast majority of Americans. Eighty-eight 
     percent of Americans support universal background checks. 
     However, these background checks can only truly protect us if 
     they are required at the Federal level for all firearm 
     purchases and transfers.
       In addition to strengthening universal background checks, 
     assault rifles and high- capacity magazines must be banned at 
     the Federal level. These weapons are designed with the 
     purpose of killing other human beings and have no place in 
     American society. Assault rifles and high-capacity magazines 
     have the capacity to kill many people quickly, making them 
     highly dangerous. There was a Federal ban on the sale and 
     import of assault weapons from 1994 to 2004, and studies show 
     that mass shooting fatalities were 70 percent less likely 
     during that time. A ban like this must be reinstated and the 
     prospect has received bipartisan support.
       Gun violence is a very complex issue. Many things need to 
     happen to truly ensure domestic tranquility. However, the 
     first and most crucial step is to enact common sense gun 
     laws, and we must take action quickly. 2022 was a challenging 
     year for both our country and the State of Vermont in terms 
     of gun violence, with both the Buffalo and Uvalde mass 
     shootings and skyrocketing crime rates in the Burlington 
     area. As we wait to solve this problem, tens of thousands of 
     people lose their lives every year. It is imperative that we 
     take action, to protect our current generation and ensure 
     that future generations grow up feeling safe and secure in 
     their communities and their country.


              HANNAH SMILEY, MILTON HIGH SCHOOL, SOPHOMORE

       365 days. 648 mass shootings. 44,208 people dead due to gun 
     violence this year alone. No family has been left untouched 
     by the immense harm caused by gun violence. Everywhere we go, 
     we live in constant fear of being attacked or losing someone 
     we love. It has changed the way we as Americans live our 
     lives. This isn't the so-called ``American dream'' so many 
     speak of. In fact, gun violence has stripped the most 
     important part of our Constitution from us; our right to 
     live.
       Our country has become, dare I say, accustomed, to gun 
     violence. Some may even call it our ``new normal''. We're 
     almost numb to the constant news of shootings all over the 
     country. It seems as though we can't escape it, now more than 
     ever. Pew Research Center states that since 2010, the number 
     of total gun violence deaths has increased by 43 percent. 
     These deaths include suicide, mass shootings, and homicide. 
     When looking at these statistics, we often fail to realize 
     that these ``statistics'' are actually real people. Real 
     families. Real lives.
       In order to see the full picture of gun violence, it's 
     important to hear stories from survivors themselves. In a 
     2021 interview, Ashley, a Sandy Hook shooting survivor who 
     was only seven at the time of the widely known school 
     shooting, claims to have PTSD from this event. She said, ``It 
     was just a whole lot of anxiety that I had never felt as a 7-
     year-old. I had hardly even felt sadness . . . It kind of 
     made us realize that the world's not all sunshine and 
     rainbows, I guess.'' Ashley's story is heartbreakingly 
     terrifying, yet it's not unique. Her story sounds like 
     countless others who've described similar feelings of anxiety 
     and trauma. Survivors feel as though they can't escape the 
     terrors. How can we, as human beings, continue to let 
     innocent people lose their lives to gun violence?
       There are several solutions to the issue of gun violence in 
     the US, the main one being stricter gun laws. For example, 
     Japan, a country with one of the lowest gun violence rates in 
     the world, has issued strict gun control laws. The process of 
     purchasing a gun in Japan is both time-consuming and 
     expensive. Those interested in purchasing a gun must undergo 
     a multi-step process consisting of a gun safety class, 
     recurring written exams, mental and physical health checks, 
     an extensive background check, and gun storage inspections. 
     According to The New York Times, in 2020, around 192,000 
     licensed firearms were purchased in Japan, which is fewer 
     than the number of registered guns in Alabama. For context, 
     Japan's population is roughly 20 times Alabama's population. 
     America's obsession with guns has triggered an epidemic of 
     hate and violence.
       We must act on the issue of gun violence by issuing and 
     enforcing stronger gun control laws to make our country a 
     safer place for everyone. This solution is vital to American 
     life as we know it.


              JOSHUA STEARNS, HANOVER HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIOR

       The most basic tenet of our democracy is that politicians 
     are chosen by the people. First observed in 1812, 
     gerrymandering has allowed politicians to define their 
     districts to choose their voters, overriding the will of the 
     people. Districts are as old as our Nation and play an 
     instrumental role in who victors

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     up and down the ballot, thereby defining our communities. 
     With the Nation more polarized than ever, gerrymandering has 
     become increasingly ambitious in the past decade.
       In the Constitution, the framers stipulated that ``the 
     Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every 
     thirty Thousand,'' but today the average congressional 
     district has 747,184 constituents. The Permanent 
     Apportionment Act of 1929 capped the number of 
     representatives at 435. Since then, the population of our 
     country has nearly tripled, causing an explosion in the 
     number of Americans per congressional district. Beginning in 
     1967 with the Uniform Congressional District Act, every State 
     was mandated to conduct elections for the House of 
     Representatives using single-member-districts (SMDs). This 
     requirement normalized gerrymandering as politicians 
     throughout the country manipulated boundaries to select their 
     voters and maximize their chances of victory in subsequent 
     elections.
       SMDs empower politicians of both parties, Democrats and 
     Republicans, to gerrymander. Gerrymandering can be clearly 
     observed after the 2020 redistricting in Democratic-
     controlled States like Illinois and Republican-controlled 
     States like Wisconsin. Gerrymandering directly influences 
     many of the important issues we face today, from abortion to 
     gun control to climate change. While both parties 
     gerrymander, it has tended to skew elections towards 
     Republicans nationally, particularly because district 
     manipulation in Southern States results in the 
     disenfranchisement of people of color, one of Democrats' most 
     important voting blocs. In Georgia, where Senator Raphael 
     Warnock won a majority of the vote in 2022, Democrats won 
     only 35 percent of the State's U.S. House seats. In contrast 
     to SMDs, multimember-districts (MMDs) combined with 
     proportional representation award each party a certain number 
     of seats based on the percentage of the votes garnered. Using 
     MMDs, Georgia Democrats would have been awarded about half of 
     the U.S. House seats. Such is the case in many States. This 
     representation discrepancy caused by gerrymandering could 
     have wildly changed the outcome of the 2022 elections.
       This method by which we select those who represent us in 
     the peoples' house, intended by the founders to be 
     representative, currently is undemocratic. Just because 
     gerrymandering has been part of our political fabric for 
     centuries does not mean that it should endure. Should we not 
     choose to further democratize our Nation?
       Solving this systemic issue will not be easy--most 
     institutionalized processes are difficult to reverse. But it 
     is possible. To do so, we must begin with repealing these two 
     Congressional Acts which have undermined our democracy, and 
     we must transition to proportionally representative MMDs. To 
     fully realize the possibility that is our democracy, we must 
     also increase the number of representatives of the peoples' 
     house, to ensure the fair, equal, and meaningful 
     representation of every citizen of this great country. 
     Because every American deserves equal representation.


             LYLA TRIGAUX, BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, FRESHMAN

       Despite living in Vermont, one of the most progressive 
     states when it comes to LGBTQ rights, I still see 
     discrimination in my day to day life. In my neighborhood 
     alone, there are hateful stickers plastered all over signs, 
     claiming someone ``can't be born in the wrong body.'' As a 
     freshman in high school, I fear for my transgender classmates 
     who are targeted by these stickers, and I also fear for those 
     who have to experience discrimination like this in school, as 
     well. School is supposed to be a foundation for building a 
     healthy and happy life, but for the nearly two million youth 
     in America who identify as LGBTQ, school too often becomes 
     the opposite. Congress must pass bills like the Safe Schools 
     Improvement Act to make our school system and our country a 
     more inclusive place.
       Bullying at school can not only prevent youth from 
     learning, but it can also pose a threat to their wellbeing. 
     LGBTQ youth are at an increased risk of being bullied. 
     According to the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 32 percent 
     of lesbian, gay or bisexual students said they have been 
     bullied on school property, compared to 17.1 percent of 
     straight students. This negative environment can lead to 
     serious outcomes for these students, from failing to graduate 
     to taking their own lives. According to the Trevor Project, 
     the suicide rate of LGBTQ youth is more than four times 
     higher than the suicide rate of straight, cisgendered youth, 
     and feeling unsafe at school is a contributing cause. With 
     lives on the line, we must take steps to make our schools 
     safer for everyone.
       The Safe Schools Improvement Act was a bill introduced to 
     the House in 2021 aimed at stopping bullying and harassment 
     in schools. The bill requires schools to enact policies to 
     not only prohibit, but also prevent bullying and harassment 
     based on protected categories like gender identity and sexual 
     orientation. Preventing these incidents from happening in the 
     first place is what makes this bill a good solution. While 
     supporting LGBTQ youth after bullying or harassment has 
     already occurred is important, it's not enough. Schools being 
     able to stop it from happening in the first place is what can 
     save someone from trauma. Making this bill a law may also be 
     a quicker process than writing a whole new one. According to 
     the Trevor Project, of the LGBTQ youth that seriously 
     consider suicide each year, at least one attempts it every 45 
     seconds. The faster we pass this bill the more lives it may 
     be able to save.
       All students deserve equal access to education and the 
     chance to learn without the distraction of threat to their 
     safety and mental wellbeing. For too long, LGBTQ youth have 
     had to endure a hostile school environment. Supporting the 
     Safe Schools Improvement Act is an important step towards 
     ending bullying, protecting students' rights, and saving 
     lives.


         SAMANTHA URBINA, BELLOWS FREE ACADEMY--FAIRFAX, JUNIOR

       As of the 2020 census almost 19 percent of the United 
     States population are Latino or Hispanic. Latinos are the 
     second largest ethnic group, the largest minority group and 
     our history is being glossed over in our high school 
     education, being forgotten in a country founded by 
     immigrants. Correcting this injustice starts in the 
     classroom. For example, there is not any mention of our 
     contributions during the world wars. I know there was though, 
     my great uncle, a Mexican-American, was part of the 101st 
     Airborne division during World War II. From what I can 
     remember of all the history that I have learned from 
     elementary school to now, there has been little to no mention 
     of the colonization of Latin and Central Americans or any 
     Latino history or contributions to the United States. The 
     Chicano movement was active during the 1960s and Hispanic-
     Americans were also fighting for equality during this time, 
     but almost all of the attention in class and textbooks was 
     focused on Civil Rights for Black Americans, Women, and 
     Native Americans. Talking to my friends from other high 
     schools such as Essex, Champlain Valley Union, Colchester and 
     Burlington said they had little to no education on Latino 
     history. Either it was barely mentioned in a world history 
     class, only talked about cultures in Spanish class or a short 
     unit about North American Indigenous peoples.
       The lack of education is part of the reason for the 
     stereotypes and misinformation about Latinos and who we are. 
     Latino history in America is American history and it should 
     be added to the curriculum, and the excuse that areas that 
     don't have a large population of Latinos-like Vermont-don't 
     need to learn that part of history is wrong and demeaning. It 
     causes us to feel invisible in our own home and school. 
     Learning and being educated is connected to how everyone 
     thinks as an adult. The lack of Latino history taught can 
     lead to prejudice and biases against this group of people. 
     Drowning out those loud voices that talk with hatred gets us 
     one step closer to complete equality and equity between 
     everyone, it won't be perfect but the hope is that it will be 
     better.
       Progress starts here. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 
     is not enough, we can do better than that. School Boards 
     should change the curriculum to include everyone's history, 
     even if there aren't students that are Latino, by not 
     teaching inclusive history it is like we don't exist. In a 
     world history class; tell the story of the colonization of 
     Latin and Central American countries. In American History; 
     let the students know that Latinos had a part in our wars, in 
     the Civil Rights movement, that our voices were loud enough 
     to be heard. Change starts with a clear view of United States 
     education standards shifting to be as inclusive as they 
     claim, changing for all the Latino kids who feel invisible to 
     be proud of who they are and where they come from.


       GRETCHEN WERTLIEB, SOUTH BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, FRESHMAN

       When you think of global warming, you probably think of 
     factories, vehicles, and anything else that emits gas, or, 
     more scientifically, greenhouse gasses. But there is one huge 
     factor that not many people think of. Something we contribute 
     to every day. Food waste.
       Feeding America is the largest food rescue organization in 
     the country. They send all that food to people in need of 
     meals or food banks. According to Feeding America, about 108 
     billion pounds of food is wasted every year. That's 
     equivalent to 130 billion meals that could go to people in 
     need. All in all, around 40 percent of all food is wasted in 
     the US, which comes out to about $408 billion a year.
       Even if you can get fresh food easily from your local 
     grocery store, your family farm, or somewhere else, food 
     waste impacts you more than you think. Food waste sitting in 
     landfills produces tons of methane, a greenhouse gas even 
     more dangerous than carbon dioxide (CO2). ``In the 
     United States, food waste is responsible for more than twice 
     as many greenhouse gasses than commercial aviation, leading 
     some experts to believe that reducing food waste is one of 
     our best shots at combating climate change'' (New York 
     Times). Greenhouse gasses trap heat in by drifting up into 
     the air and mixing with other gas molecules. In an article 
     from MIT through the Climate Portal, Jesse Kroll, Professor 
     of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Chemical 
     Engineering, is quoted as saying ``Greenhouse gas molecules 
     will absorb light . . . This traps the energy, which would 
     otherwise go back into space, so it has the effect of heating 
     up the atmosphere''. This, combined with so many other 
     factors of global warming, is enough to heat our planet to 
     the point of destruction.
       Although it's a big problem, food waste still has some 
     people skeptical about solutions. Some people don't have a 
     place to

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     compost food, or don't know what to do with it. It's also 
     hard to know what to do with the already giant piles of food 
     in landfills. One thing we can do to decrease food waste is 
     talk to people about it. Getting your neighborhood or town 
     involved with simple practices like composting or a community 
     garden can make a difference. You can also be more mindful 
     when buying produce at the store. The majority of foods in 
     landfills are foods that don't look as pretty as what you 
     would see in a store. Just because that tomato is misshapen 
     or the lettuce has a brown spot doesn't mean they aren't 
     edible.
       Another good way to decrease food waste is donating to 
     organizations that rescue food, like Feeding America. You can 
     also donate directly to your local food bank, which provides 
     meals for families in need. This is a great option, because 
     food waste also contributes to food insecurity. Whatever you 
     may choose to do, we can all be more mindful when thinking 
     about our food consumption and the consequences.

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