[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 62 (Monday, April 7, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S2449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  IOWA

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on my annual tour of Iowa's 99 counties, 
I visited recently the Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Valley in Waterloo, 
IA. This was during our last congressional State work period. I held a 
Q and A with the young Iowans who participate in that afterschool 
program. We talked about the importance of those programs, advice on 
how to be a good citizen, and celebrating African-American History 
Month.
  I was impressed by the students and appreciated the opportunity to 
hear directly from them. So I encourage Iowans to volunteer with this 
organization or any civic organization in need of such volunteers. 
Giving your time to others helps keep our communities strong. If there 
is anything you can do to benefit the next generation, you should do 
it.
  Besides this example of the Boys & Girls Clubs, I make a practice of 
going to about 10 or 12 high schools a year, and there are always a 
couple lessons that I am asked about: how to be a good citizen and 
``What advice you would give to us?''
  So I try to explain to these young people that the reason I go around 
to meet young people at high schools is because they never come to my 
open town meetings. You never get anybody under 18 years of age to do 
that.
  So I like to tell them that I consider representative government a 
two-way street: Those of us elected are one half of it, and our 
constituents are the other half of it. If you are going to have 
representative government, you have to know what is on the 
constituents' minds, and the best way to do that is to have dialogue 
face to face with your constituents. Obviously, it is not the only way 
you get opinions, but it is the best way to get that opinion.
  Then they say: Do you have any advice for us?
  I say: In America, you have a chance to either govern or be governed. 
You have a chance to rule or be ruled. And I hope, as young people, you 
choose the course of helping govern.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant executive clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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