[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2288]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO LaBRADFORD EAGLE DEER

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I wish to offer a statement 
about a distinguished South Dakota youth, LaBradford Eagle Deer. 
LaBradford, 16, of St. Francis, SD, was one of two teens who 
represented the United States at the United Nations' observation of the 
20th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty last October. Six 
young people from across the world were chosen to speak at the event on 
a panel about what they thought needed to be done about poverty.
  According to the United Nations' Web site, the U.N. General Assembly 
declared October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of 
Poverty and invited all States to devote the day to presenting and 
promoting, as appropriate in the national context, concrete activities 
with regard to the eradication of poverty and destitution. The 
resolution further invites intergovernmental and nongovernmental 
organizations to assist States, at their request, in organizing 
national activities for the observance of the day, and requests the 
Secretary-General to take, within existing resources, the measures 
necessary to ensure the success of the day's observance by the United 
Nations.
  Eagle Deer exemplifies the goals of this important day. Eagle Deer 
lives on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation, where almost half of 
children younger than 17 live in poverty, according to the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Center. Eagle Deer 
discussed the hopelessness that poverty creates in a person saying, 
``suicide, addiction, dropout and crime rates are so high in poverty-
stricken areas on our reservation, as well as other areas in the 
world.''
  Eagle Deer has taken a leading role to improve his community. An 
honor student at Todd County High School, he is president of the St. 
Francis Youth Center He coaches flag football and is himself involved 
in cross country, basketball, and track. Staying true to his culture, 
he has organized a traditional youth-honoring powwow. A sentiment that 
I agree with, Eagle Deer values education as a pathway out of poverty.
  LaBradford is an example to other poverty stricken children, and I 
commend his efforts to alleviate the effects of poverty on children in 
South Dakota and children worldwide.

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