[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13104]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       PROMOTING CIVIC EDUCATION

  (Mr. GIBSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBSON. Mr. Speaker, during my time in the military, I had the 
privilege of serving as an assistant professor of American Government 
at the United States Military Academy at West Point. The opportunity to 
educate young minds about our democracy, our Constitution, our 
exceptional way of life was one of the greatest privileges I ever had.
  The continuation of our Nation relies upon the engagement of an 
informed citizenry. In a time when education funding is being stretched 
thin at the Federal, State, and local levels, civics and history are 
often among the first subjects to be pared down or even eliminated.
  I'm proud of the work of my colleagues such as Representative Honda 
and Representative Cole and what they're doing to promote civic 
education. One of my own constituents, Jonathan Estrin from Columbia 
County, has been helping them. I'm proud of him, as well.
  Though it is the role of the State and local governments to establish 
curricula, I support Federal efforts to assist States and localities 
who wish to empower their students by civic education.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure future 
generations come to learn about our Nation's history and remain engaged 
as citizens.

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