[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 188 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H7334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CONGRATULATING ROBERT GAO, NATIONAL STUDENT POET

  (Ms. BUDZINSKI asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. BUDZINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Robert Gao 
from Champaign-Urbana on being selected as one of five National Student 
Poets.
  The National Student Poet Program is one of our Nation's highest 
honors for youth poets presenting original work. It is an incredible 
accomplishment that reflects Robert's talent, artistry, and the power 
of his work to inspire others.
  Robert says that his writing is influenced by his family and 
exploring his identity. He described that he fell in love with poetry 
because it allowed him to put his soul onto paper in a way that 
nonfiction writing couldn't.
  Previously, Robert has been recognized by The New York Times, the 
National Young Artist Foundation, and the Alliance for Young Artists & 
Writers.
  We are all so proud of Robert and cannot wait to see him continue to 
grow as an author and an artist.

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