[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5074]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATIONS TO LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL AND GRANT HIGH SCHOOL 
                CONSTITUTIONAL COMPETITION PARTICIPANTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, today is primary day in the Mid-Atlantic 
and Northeast States, the so-called Acela Primary, the five States all 
served by Amtrak.
  Fortunately, we are going to get a break, briefly, from a primary 
season that is truly cringe-worthy.
  But for hundreds of people who were privileged to watch high school 
students from across America participate in the We the People 
constitutional competition, there is hope.
  These teenage scholars, most not old enough to vote or to drive, 
compete in a contest demonstrating their knowledge of the Constitution 
and democratic principles as well as their ability to think on their 
feet.
  At a time when civics education doesn't appear to be a priority for 
most of American education, this shows the appetite and the capacity to 
fill that gap.
  I have more than a little hometown pride in this undertaking. The 
Classroom Law Project has been a priority of my family for years and 
continues to be so.
  For the last 4 years, two public high schools in Portland, Oregon, 
have alternated the National Championship, with Lincoln High School 
finishing first in 2012 and 2014 and Grant High School in Portland 
winning the national trophy in 2013 and 2015.
  This year Oregon was able to send both teams to the national finals, 
and the pattern continued, as Lincoln won its third trophy in 5 years 
and Grant, given an opportunity to compete, finished third, an 
unprecedented accomplishment for one town's high schools.
  This amazing success speaks to the dedication of the young scholars 
and the amazing support of their families that was evident in the 
competition, the finals of which were held here in our Nation's 
Capital.
  Both teams have a core of volunteer coaches who are lawyers and 
judges, citizens who focus on these kids and civics. They care deeply.
  Having watched one of these young scholars several years ago in our 
household, I can testify to the intensity, the depth, and the passion 
for the Constitution and for our government.
  Time doesn't permit me to recognize all these outstanding young 
people and their mentors, the team that brought them here, but I must 
acknowledge the presence and advocacy of Peyton Chapman, the principal 
of Lincoln High School, their main coach, Steve Griffith, 
representative of all these amazing adults who invest so much in the 
young people, and Instructor George Ten Eych, because all of these 
programs rely on a dedicated professional in the classroom to make it 
happen.
  I had an opportunity on the floor of the House to meet with both of 
these teams late last week. Listening to their comments and questions, 
I celebrated their insights and hard work, their commitment, even as I 
wish we could have all of them on the floor of this House to elevate 
the discussion and deliberation, and I think they would add, frankly, 
to the decisionmaking.
  But until their time will come--and it can't come soon enough--in the 
meantime, we celebrate five consecutive National Championships for two 
public high schools in Portland, Oregon.
  Congratulations, Lincoln Cardinals, on your championship, and Grant 
High School, finishing third. Together, you have dominated this elite 
competition for 5 consecutive years.
  Congratulations.

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