[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1725]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING JOSHUA GILMER ON HIS ACCEPTANCE TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT 
   OF STATE'S CRITICAL LANGUAGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD 2015 SUMMER PROGRAM

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                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 10, 2016

  Mr. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate University of 
Missouri student Joshua Gilmer on his acceptance to, and completion of, 
the U.S. Department of State's Critical Language Scholarship award 
(CLS) 2015 summer program.
  Joshua, a graduate of Nixa High School in Nixa, Missouri, was one of 
just 550 out of about 5,500 applicants to be selected to receive 
admittance to the CLS program this year. This scholarship is a 
prestigious award, which offers a fully immersive language experience 
and cultural exchange to 13 countries around the world. The program is 
aimed at training the next generation of U.S. Citizens to gain an 
enriched cultural knowledge of other countries and to be well equipped 
for careers in diplomacy, international business, and other globalized 
industries.
  Through the program, Joshua completed an Intermediate Russian 
language course in Vladimir, Russia. His time overseas was spent 
fostering not only his language skills, but his knowledge of and 
ability to relate to Russian culture. In the rapidly globalizing world, 
a cultural understanding of other countries is a key to continued 
American success in foreign affairs.
  Mr. Speaker, Joshua Gilmer is now well-equipped with this new 
knowledge to broaden the horizons of his peers here in the U.S. I am 
proud to know that young people like Joshua from Missouri's Seventh 
Congressional District will one day help guide America's global 
economic interests, and urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
him on this achievement.

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