[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19753]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              CONGRESSIONAL CONFERENCE ON CIVIL EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2004

  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, the Founders of this Nation understood that a 
free society must rely on the knowledge, skills, and virtue of its 
citizens and those serving in public office on their behalf. To enable 
our young people to be effective and responsible citizens we must do 
everything possible to ensure they receive an adequate civic education.
  On September 20-22 of last year, the first annual Congressional 
Conference on Civic Education was launched. The conference was 
sponsored by the Alliance for Representative Democracy and co-hosted by 
the four leaders of the U.S. Congress.
  One of the very important outcomes of the congressional conference 
was the establishment of state delegations that would return to the 
state to enact specific policies designed to restore the civic mission 
of our schools.
  I would like to recognize, Marilyn Cover, Executive Director of 
Classroom Law Project, and Barbara Rost, Program Director, the 
facilitators of the Oregon delegation for their leadership in working 
to design an action plan to improve civic education in our state. These 
state action team activities include implementing Oregon's already 
strong and comprehensive State civic standards. Leaders from the 
Governor's office, State House and Senate, Department of Education, 
school districts, and local communities will plan for re-invigorating 
civic learning in Oregon.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the success of the Oregon civic 
education delegation and their participation this year at the second 
annual Congressional Conference on Civic Education on December 4-6 of 
this year.