[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 9788-9789]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE YOUTH TOUR

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I rise this evening in support of more than 
1,700 high school students who happen to be in our Nation's capital, in 
fact, this week. They are part of the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. 
During this year's tour, students will participate in leadership 
training and gain firsthand insight into the legislative process.
  Those electric cooperatives that sponsor these kids coming to 
Washington, DC, from my State, yours, and every other State across the 
country, are more than just poles and wires. They are about people and 
communities. Recognizing that youth are the future of those communities 
is what the rural electric cooperative program is all about--sending 51 
students to Washington, DC, for 51 straight years, so future leaders 
can have a front-row seat to American Government.
  What would rural communities look like without power? That is pretty 
difficult to imagine. Think about the power of electric cooperatives. 
Sure, our local electric co-ops keep the lights on, but, as I say, they 
do much more than that. Co-ops are not-for-profits and owned by their 
members. They recognize the need to invest in future generations. Co-
ops give back to the communities they serve, and the Youth Tour is 
proof of that.
  Each year, I enjoy taking time to visit with Kansans who are part of 
the Youth Tour because they are among the most energetic, engaging, and 
respectful young men and women I see

[[Page 9789]]

throughout the year in Washington, DC. It is always valuable for us to 
have folks from our home States come and visit us, but it is especially 
pleasing to have these young men and women visit us. In my view, it is 
a program that has figured out how to find the best and brightest and 
those with the greatest interest and find a way for them to come to 
Washington, DC, and see our Nation's Capitol and hopefully inspire them 
to continue their interest in government and politics throughout their 
lives.
  Youth Tour alumni have gone on to become university presidents, 
Fortune 500 CEOs, Members of Congress, and built lifelong friendships. 
In fact, just last week I had Jacob Helm in my office. He is from 
Norcatur, KS, a small town along the Colorado-Nebraska part of our 
State. Jacob is an individual I nominated to attend the United States 
Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, and he just graduated. He is now 
engaged to a fellow Youth Tour alumna, Michelle Peschel of Axtell, KS, 
which is on the other side of the State--Nebraska more than the 
Missouri part of our State. Both Jacob and Michelle grew up in 
communities of fewer than 500 people, and I am proud to see them giving 
back to their State and their country. They became engaged as a result 
of meeting each other on a Youth Tour back when they were in high 
school and will soon be married.
  My own interest in public service stemmed from a summer internship 
from my Congressman when I was in college, and I am hopeful that visits 
like these that the rural electric cooperatives provide for these young 
men and women--these visits to Washington, DC--will inspire these young 
people to get involved and work to improve their hometowns, our State, 
and our Nation.
  Each of these 1,700 Youth Tour students should be commended for being 
in Washington, DC, this week, just as our co-ops should be commended 
for realizing the need to invest in our future leaders.

                          ____________________