[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 15689-15690]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING KASDIN MILLER ON HER ELECTION AS PRESIDENT OF GIRLS NATION

 Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, last week I had the honor of 
swearing in the American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation president. I am 
proud to announce that Kasdin Miller of Montgomery, Alabama, was 
elected president by the other participants in this fine program. Three 
of the last six presidents of Girls Nation have come from my home State 
of Alabama. Girls Nation celebrated its 56th year this year, and 96 
teenage girls from 48 states participated. These teenagers were 
selected through their participation in the American Legion Auxiliary's 
Girls State program. I would also note that Alabama Girls State 
celebrated its 60th anniversary this year, making its program one of 
the oldest in the country.
  The Girls State and Girls Nation programs of electing senators and 
creating state legislatures and local governments is an extraordinary 
learning process. Participants in Girls State and Girls Nation, and 
their counterparts in Boys State and Boys Nation, gain first-hand 
experience in how our laws are made. Each summer, some 20,000 
enthusiastic young women participate in Girls State sessions across the 
nation, where they study local, county, and

[[Page 15690]]

state government processes. These young people are our leaders of 
tomorrow, and I salute them for their interest in government. Former 
participants in Girls State include three current members of the U.S. 
House of Representatives-Barbara Cubin of Wyoming, Connie Morella of 
Maryland, and Jennifer Dunn of Washington. Perhaps one day we may see 
Kasdin and other Girls Nation participants on the floor of the Senate 
and House.
  Kasdin, a rising senior at the Montgomery Academy, also had the high 
honor of being elected Governor of the Alabama YMCA Youth in Government 
program. I enjoyed meeting her when she came to Washington as Alabama's 
Youth Governor in June. She has been a leader on her school's debate 
team and earned a spot in the national tournament this year. She excels 
in the classroom as well. Kasdin is an intelligent young lady who has a 
bright future, and she is to be commended for her achievements. Indeed, 
I congratulate all of the participants in both Girls Nation and Boys 
Nation for their accomplishments and encourage them to continue to 
prepare themselves to be America's future leaders.

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