[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 1261]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    ``WE THE PEOPLE . . .'' PROGRAM

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, more than 1200 high school students from 
across the Nation will come to our Nation's capital this summer to 
enhance their knowledge and understanding of the history and philosophy 
of our Nation's most important documents: the Constitution and Bill of 
Rights. These ambitious students will be participating in the annual 
national competition of ``We the People: The Citizen and the 
Constitution.'' This laudable effort, which is federally funded, is the 
most extensive educational program in the country designed specifically 
to educate young people about the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of 
Rights. At a time when a study by the National Association of 
Educational Progress shows that three-quarters of America's students 
are not proficient in either American history or civics, the importance 
of this program is unquestionable.
  ``We the People . . .'' helps our students not only appreciate our 
constitutional democracy, but it allows them to ``participate'' in it. 
Students start with an instructional program where they learn about our 
Government's primary institutions while they discover the relevance of 
our Constitution and Bill of Rights to their daily lives. Their lessons 
then simulate real-life when the students participate in a 
``Congressional hearing'' where they ``testify'' before a panel of 
judges. By using the principles and knowledge they've learned in the 
classroom to role play, these students have the opportunity to delve 
into and appreciate both historical and contemporary issues facing our 
Nation.
  This program is not just reserved for high school students. ``We the 
People 
. . .'' recognizes that civic education should not wait until the 
students are almost able to vote. Teachers are encouraged to engage 
their students in simulated hearings at the elementary and middle 
school levels. In fact, more than 24 million students and 75,000 
educators have participated in the ``We the People'' program since its 
inception in 1987. Throughout the years, several of my staff members 
have served as judges in the State competition.
  This year, I am proud to inform the Senate that East Grand Rapids 
High School will represent Michigan in this prestigious event. These 
students demonstrated their exceptional command of issues relating to 
the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in the state competition held 
in Lansing.
  The ``We the People . . .'' program continues to be one of the best 
efforts to counteract the feelings of political apathy and cynicism 
amongst our Nation's youth. I wish the students at East Grand Rapids 
and all the students across the Nation who will be competing in this 
year's competition the best of luck. I know my colleagues will join me 
in recognizing the contributions the ``We the People . . .'' program 
has provided to students across the country.

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