Sam Johnson

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work. I salute you. A copy of each submitted student summary follows: For this project I wanted to focus specifically on what I could do in five hours to make a difference in my community. I decided to focus my CYAC community service on helping The North Texas Food Bank with their current event called ``The Souper Bowl of Caring''. This event is done in conjunction with local grocery stores and allows shoppers to buy pre- packed bags of non-perishable food items to donate for distribution to the local food banks and shelters. I walked my neighborhood distributing flyers informing people about the event and solicited cash donations to help me pre- purchase bags for the event. I was able to collect enough money to buy 23 bags of groceries. Because I will volunteer for the event on Sunday, February 6th, several others I talked to promised to go in to Market Street and purchase bags on Sunday. This experience has shown me how much one person in a short amount of time can help several families survive for a couple of weeks. It confirmed to me that we can all make a difference in the lives of others by just taking a few hours out of our lives and focusing on helping others. --Dallas Rodriquez

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: Since I have been a competitive swimmer for over ten years, I thought that it would be a good idea to volunteer at the Plano Special Olympics Swim Team. Not only did I help these kids with their swimming, I made friendships that mean the world to the kids. I worked for about three months with them, and most of my swimmers achieved their goal at the championship meet, which was a gold medal. One swimmer was constantly afraid of getting in the water, but I eventually got him to conquer his fear and jump into the pool. Often, especially at schools, the mentally challenged kids are written off and no one pays attention to them, but that is just wrong. These are some of the nicest people that you will ever meet, and they are especially eager to learn. Not only is this a great opportunity to make these kids better swimmers, it is a chance to make these kids feel like they fit in and it makes them feel very good about themselves. I was very apprehensive about volunteering at first, but it was one of the most rewarding decisions that I have ever made. The Special Olympics is often short on volunteers, and I really recommend volunteering. --Alex Robinson

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it's been 45 days since the House passed our bill to keep the government open and cut spending for the rest of this fiscal year. Forty-five days, and Senate Democrats still have not passed a bill or come up with a plan to reduce spending. The American people have a right to know how we got here. For the first time since 1974, last year when the Democrats ran the House, the Senate, and the White House, the Democrat majorities failed to do their jobs, failed to pass a budget, failed to pass important spending bills. To create a better and stronger America, we need to cut spending, balance the budget, pay down the debt, and slash the deficit. The American people want, need, and deserve better than trying to run a government deep into debt. A sign in my office sums it up well. It says, ``It's the spending, stupid.''

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: LOVE WEEK is a tradition at Allen High School that is currently in its' 32nd year. The program had lapsed in the past three years, but was resurrected by the International Baccalaureate students as part of their focus on community service in 2009-2010. The idea for LOVE WEEK was developed 29 years ago by a high school class who was reading the novel 1984, by George Orwell. In the novel there is a ``hate week'' and the students decided to turn the idea around and form a ``love week,'' Each year an AISD student or Allen community member who is in need is chosen, and then various fund- raising activities occur during Love Week (usually the 2nd week of February) in order to raise money to aide the selected recipient. This year, I was one of two co-chairs responsible for overseeing the entire operations of Love Week. Subsequently, I helped choose this year's recipient out of about ten different candidates. This year's recipient was Mavrik Veal, a Kindergartener. He is currently battling two types of Leukemia is undergoing chemotherapy in order to have a bone marrow transplant in the next two weeks. --Joyce Kim

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010--2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people, recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: I had the opportunity to help out a charitable organization called V.O.L.T, which stands for Vision of Light Team. The `Vision of Light Team' is an eyeglass mission. They have been to Cameroon twice and recently to Guatemala. They hold vision clinics and distribute used eyeglasses to those in need. They have also trained a team in Cameroon to do vision clinics. V.O.L.T. regularly sends both eyeglasses and money to support this ongoing mission. I worked directly with the head of the charity to clean, organize and label the operational items so the charity is ready for future missions. The project was done over the course of 4 weeks and the main project was preparing, cleaning and labeling eyeglass donations for a future trip to Cameroon, Africa. The charity receives eyeglass donations from across the country. Once received, these glasses have to be sorted, evaluated, cleaned, tagged, and then sorted and re-packaged so they can be tested by an ophthalmologist for prescription strength After this process, they are then shipped or accompanied by missionaries to Africa for free distribution through the United Methodist Church to those in need. --Garrett Herington

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: For my community service contribution this year I participated in a dance marathon that raised close to five thousand dollars for Habitat for Humanity at Dallas. I was actually the founder of this event and coordinated every detail of the fundraiser. My dance marathon consisted of dancing and activities for a solid twelve hours. The event took place at my high school and included one hundred and eleven determined students. I was very happy with the outcome of this program and so was my beneficiary--Habitat for Humanity. Dance marathon 2011 was an incredible experience and a quite rewarding way to spend a Saturday. Not only did I dance with one hundred of my closest friends; I also met new people, raised awareness about a great cause, and raised money for a deserving neighbor in Dallas. The money we earned will be going to a family that lives in Dallas and the five thousand dollars will be used to most likely buy paint or a new door. It is great to know that I planned such a successful event, and it is even more wonderful to know I have personally impacted and changed a person's life. --Rebecca James

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this Nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: Volunteering through the lens of Congressional Youth Advisory Council has given me an opportunity to view my volunteering for church, community, and mission trips with hope, compassion, and a deeper appreciation of volunteering. With this charge in mind, I volunteered for a local church event during the fall and helped restore and clean a retired veteran's yard. I believe CYAC's charge to serve in our community is a sign of a healthy and caring society. Through an individual's willingness and desire to help others in less fortunate circumstances, volunteering can lead to changed lives and changed communities. Through CYAC's efforts, my involvement in church and Senior Citizen Services has given me a path that displays desire and gratefulness to citizens in need. A simple act of cleaning up for one in need is a solution to an elderly veteran who served our country with honor and with distinction. In addition, volunteering gives us opportunities to form relationships with people we would normally not bond with. Through CYAC's efforts, I learned that a compassionate civil society can care for its citizens, which I believe is a foundation for a great and grateful society. --Nathan Lee

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: When I was informed CYAC members would be asked to volunteer time to make a difference in the lives of others I began to look for the perfect serving opportunity. I found it at HOPE Resource Center. My job as Diaper and Wipe Coordinator for the Blessings Boutique is to contact churches and inform them about HOPE Resource Center and the blessings that HOPE brings to the young women in our community. I ask them to hold a drive to collect diapers and wipes and then deliver them to HOPE. I help the churches by providing information to pass along to their members about the Christ- centered ministry opportunities of HOPE. I stay in contact with the churches and help them with anything they need for the diaper drive. Once the church is done collecting diapers and wipes I arrange a time for them to drop off the donations they collected. I look back today and I can see the difference I have made in my community. I have impacted the lives of numerous young mothers and their babies. I have gained new insights in the lives of people touched by community service. I have a new found passion for serving others in my community. --Alyssa Johnston

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: I served at two different places: they were the Frisco Miracle League and Anne Frank Elementary school. I learned a lot while serving at these two places. I learned how to appreciate life more and be a kinder person. Community service always teaches me life lessons. The Miracle League has taught me how to live up life and be thankful for every blessing I receive while also being kind and courteous to every person I meet in the process. The Anne Frank Elementary school has taught me how to pour my life into another person and just how important giving someone your time really is to them. I am always talking about how much I learn from community service. Community service does more for the person serving than the person being served. I am thankful for all my endless blessings and how God proves many valuable lessons in serving others. --Michael Jarvie

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010- 2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this Nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: I volunteered at Dallas ramps in Dallas, TX in late October. I served with YMSL or Young Men's Service League. This was my 51th time to do Dallas Ramps. I liked this because I was able to build something with my hands and help my community at the same time. I built a ramp up to the building code in about 6 hours with the help of only four other people. We used pressure treated wood so it would last and spent much time building the ramp. The excitement of the recipient was incredible to watch. It makes their life so much easier. Usually these people can barely walk or are confined to a wheelchair. Now instead of struggling to climb up and down stairs or to be carried they have a nice non- steep ramp they can easily walk down or up. This helps the low income people of our society that are also handicap. --Jake Lofman

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council, CYAC, from the third district of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the third district's youth ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``a volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense; partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: For the past three years I have participated in the Addison Rotary golf tournament benefitting Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. My mother has been the treasurer of the Rotary club for the past four years so I have been able to see the inner workings of the tournament. During the last tournament my mother was really busy at work so I took charge of both the silent and live auctions involved with the tournament. The past tournament was able to raise over $200,000 for Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. Having to lead a group of people who are older than I am was very intimidating and slightly scary. The tournament has provided me with a great amount of leadership experience. It has also helped me realize the effort that goes into a community service project. The tournament has helped me develop a devotion to community service and the people around me. --Arin McGovern

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work. I salute you. A copy of each submitted student summary follows: For my five hours of community service I volunteered at my church, preparing food boxes for Thanksgiving. Every year my church helps put together Thanksgiving food boxes. I always look forward to it each year because my mom and I always go shopping for it. It's a way to help people less fortunate than us. It allows them to have a big Thanksgiving meal just like everyone else. No one should have to miss a holiday with their family for any reason, especially if they just simply can't afford it. Community service to me is anything where you help people with their lives. It doesn't matter how big or small the act may be, it's just making an impact on their lives that makes a difference. It can help to put hope back in people's lives or to let them know that there are people out there that work to help others. --Danielle Kasper

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work. I salute you. A copy of each submitted student summary follows: The Red Cross has been an integral part of my life since I founded the school chapter as a freshman and served in the Dallas Red Cross as a Tiffany Circle Intern and the Dallas Red Cross Youth Leadership Council. I hope to inspire my peers to realize that work is its own reward and giving of one's time is the greatest gift. I have seen a strong spirit of volunteerism in the members in installing smoke detectors, organizing fundraisers, and coordinating blood drives. Over 200 members are now actively involved, and by inspiring others to volunteer, the impact on the community increases exponentially. Red Cross blood collections in January were the lowest seen in a decade due to the severe winter storms. I wanted to play an active role and organized a large blood drive as a part of my CYAC community project. I also had the privilege of serving as an attorney in the Plano Municipal Teen Court. I defend and prosecute students from different backgrounds and my hope is that students realize the importance of not letting their impulses take over their common sense and deter them from having a bright future ahead. --Tess Michaels

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the third district of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the third district's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: I have had a unique opportunity over the course of this past year to serve at the DFW USO each Wednesday morning. This agency prides itself on serving, assisting, and providing morale for military personnel both past and present. I've thoroughly enjoyed this service site helping soldiers navigate through the airport to their respective gates, packaging and sending boxes of magazines for troops overseas, and working in the USO Club. The USO has been a great service site for me because of my love and respect for the United States military. The work I do is very rewarding. Nothing tops the opportunity to interact with the people who keep this nation safe each and every day. Listening to the stories of the soldiers has made me appreciate their sacrifice more than ever before. I look forward to continuing my work with the USO as well as embarking on a new undertaking with the Dallas Honor Flight, an organization that raises money to send World War II veterans to their memorial in Washington, D.C. CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the US. Armed Forces. --Blake Balda

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: As the president of the Frisco High School student council, most of my efforts go toward the Homecoming dance in October. I organized this entire dance and spent hours volunteering my time in order to decorate it and make sure everything is set at the standard of perfection. The theme of the dance this year was ``A Night at the Shore'' and all of the decorations were beach themed. I oversaw the completion of this project from the beginning to the very end, and the final product was extremely satisfying. This project was the fruit of my labor for months, and I spent 5 hours on the day of the dance, Saturday, October 2nd, decorating the banquet hall of the hotel to resemble a serene beach. I also had to fill out numerous proposals in order to get the venue, vendors, and theme approved From there I went to finding a DJ, and recruiting other members to spend their time both before and after the dance to help set up and clean up. This volunteer opportunity really helped me reach out in the community and help significantly raise the level of spirit at my school. --Niki Akhaveissy

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council, CYAC, from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: As an aspiring Service Academy cadet, I first joined Civil Air Patrol during the fall of my sophomore year. In the past few months, I have attained a high enough grade and rank that my role in the program has begun to change. Now, every Sunday, I head up to meetings early, and then spend 3 hours teaching cadets the art of drill, the science behind aerospace, and the gritty realities of emergency services. Beyond the basics of our classes, cadets learn discipline and attention to detail through drill. Giving them small amounts of authority as they progress slowly eases them into leadership roles, which builds confidence. As they advance through the program, we instill in them the character to take responsibility for the results of their actions, regardless of the results. In short, we make leaders out of schoolchildren. The experience is rewarding for me as well, because seeing a cadet progress is a strong testament to our work. In addition, training cadets is the best way to hone ones leadership and communication skills, which I believe I have improved through CAP. --Nicholas Corti.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: I have heard people say, ``When you give to someone else, you end up receiving far more than you give.'' After serving many volunteer hours, I believe this is true. On October 30th, 1 took part in an Adopt-A-Highway clean- up project in Allen. For two hours, we picked up gum wrappers, soda cans and anything else you could imagine along Highway 5. We gathered many bags of trash. In the end, we were hot and thirsty, but it felt good to know we left the highway looking better than when we started. My second activity was the Ultimate Gift Event. On October 23-24, several chapters worked on a beautification project for the Douglas Community in Plano. I cleared debris from the area and planted flowers. There was also a picnic and carnival for the kids in the area. It was two hours well spent. Study Buddies was my third activity. For 1\1/2\ hours on January 6th, I helped students living in the Chaparral apartments in Allen. We helped them with their homework and fed them pizza. Without our help, many of these kids would go to bed hungry. It was good to show these boys and girls that someone cares about them. --Andrew Baldwin.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the third district's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: I decided to volunteer with Upward Basketball at Christ United Methodist Church. Upward Basketball is a Christian affiliated basketball league for elementary aged children of any faith. The program focuses on providing a fun experience for all of the players and is a league that guarantees equal playing time for each player. While volunteering I had a variety of tasks to accomplish. I helped prepare the gym for both practices and games. This included preparing the basketball hoops, setting out bleachers and benches, and providing the coaches with any materials needed. After practices, I read devotionals to some of the children that included bible stories and topics such as teamwork and good sportsmanship. I believe I made a difference in my community because I was able to help create a fun, energetic and safe environment for children within the community. I was also able to set a positive example for the children through my actions and emphasize the importance of service and kindness. --Brianna Burnstad.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council, CYAC, from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work. I salute you. A copy of each submitted student summary follows: I have learned a lot through serving others. I feel as if I have grown as a person and feel better about myself. Helping others is the best way to give yourself satisfaction in life. I love spending time with kids and making a difference in their lives. It makes a difference in my life too as it teaches me to be a caring and kind individual. I plan on taking on the important role of becoming a doctor as I see myself helping kids in an environment just as great as Children's, so this volunteer placement would definitely fit into my long term career and life plans. As a young teen, I feel that children can connect and relate to us a lot more and feel so much more at ease when they know we care for them just as much. I learned that making a two minute conversation with a stranger can really light up their day. I learned how to be caring and compassionate for every single person that comes my way, every minute of the day. Being an active member of the community helps you gain a love for where you are from and a sense of compassion. --Sheila Chandrahas.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: Volunteering at places is an experience that teaches you to help people. But just volunteering at one place isn't enough and wouldn't be a great enough experience. Volunteering at multiple places means that you have both the time to volunteer and the want to help people. I'm one of those people that volunteered at multiple places. The first place that I volunteered at was at the Haggar Carnival. The second place I volunteered at was at the Sheraton Hotel at Downtown Dallas to help with the event, Love For Kids. The first place I volunteered at was at the Haggar Carnival. Haggar was my elementary school, so going there to volunteer was a nostalgic feeling. Arriving there, the jobs I received were with helping with activities, manning stands and moving items around. The second place I volunteered at was at the event, Love For Kids, at the Sheraton Hotel. There, during the time when Santa would be coming in a few weeks to bring joy and presents to little children, we were being little helpers by helping wrap presents and move the presents into big boxes to move them down to trucks to be taken to the little children waiting for Santa to come. --Ben Chou.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council (CYAC) from the third district of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the third district's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: As community service this year and in the spirit of CYAC, I volunteered to help a church prepare and serve a Thanksgiving Day meal. I unexpectedly ended up on pie making duty the first day as part of food preparation. I spent five hours making pies that day! Totally out of my usual character, I learned to make quite pretty pie crust edges! I learned a lot from this experience besides how to bake a pie. I enjoyed the camaraderie and the realization that people were enjoying the pies I baked. Day two was also unexpected as I ended up on the food server line serving green beans. I learned there is an art to being a food server and a coordinated effort is needed by all to make the process run smoothly. At the end of the day, it feels good knowing that you have made a difference in so many people's lives, at least for a day. The process of working together with other volunteers is a bonding process from all working cohesively in a wonderful environment for a common cause and opens the door to new friendships and understandings. There is definitely a feeling of contentment after a couple of days like this just knowing that you made a difference to somebody and made their day a little brighter! --Luke Emigh.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010- 2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council, CYAC, from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: I am very grateful for the chance to work with the Younger Generation Chorus of Plano over the past few months. I am always amazed at how wonderful they sound, especially given their very young age. They have taught me that age does not always dictate ability. Most of these choristers are not even in high school yet and they have performed all over the country. They have also taught me that once a talent has been discovered, it should be developed, though not at the expense of searching for one's other talents. I know that many of the choristers have other extra-curricular activities that occupy them and that they excel in those areas as well. The most memorable moment I had with the choir was the Christmas concert that was held on December 10, 2010. The work of these talented youth was technically astounding and spiritually moving. These students would not only sing the music or even perform the music; they would feel the music and give it life so that the audience could feel it as well. As a performer, that is not always easy to do. For these children to be able to do it so beautifully and consistently is astounding. It was an honor to be part of making it happen --Kai Fujisaka.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and privilege to inform the Members of the United States House of Representatives that the students of the 2010-2011 Congressional Youth Advisory Council, CYAC, from the Third District of Texas have completed a total of 500 community service hours, fulfilling and far-surpassing the requirements of their assigned CYAC in the Community service project. This year 46 students from public, private, and home schools in grades 10 through 12 made their voices heard by joining CYAC. As the Third District's young ambassadors to Congress, these bright high school students met with me on a quarterly basis to discuss current events and public policy. These impressive young people recognize an important truth: the heart of public service is found when giving back to the community. CYAC students volunteered their time and talents with over 30 organizations including Adopt-A-Highway, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels, Teen Court, and the USO, to name a few. As one student shared, ``CYAC in the Community has allowed me to realize my calling to serve those in the U.S. Armed Forces.'' I am beyond thrilled that CYAC has helped students unleash their full potential and chase their dreams. President George H.W. Bush once said, ``A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens--citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.'' With this statement as a benchmark, I am proud to congratulate the members of the 2010--2011 CongressionalYouth Advisory Council for showing themselves to be outstanding young citizens of this nation. It is my privilege to submit summaries of their work to the Congressional Record to be preserved for posterity and antiquity. To these young public servants, thank you, and keep up the great work! I salute you! A copy of each submitted student summary follows: On October 30, 2010, I volunteered at the Heritage Farmstead Museum. The Heritage Farmstead Museum is a facility dedicated to teaching children about the heritage of early farmers. When I first arrived I helped the other volunteers in their efforts to move about two hundred pumpkins to the side of the road to be sold. In doing so I helped to raise revenues for an underfunded facility in need of a few major repairs. Afterwards, we began picking up tiny pieces of trash left there the night before by little kids. I then assisted the mother of a small boy in setting up his birthday party. After this party was finished, I cleaned up and helped the patrons pack up the rest of their party supplies. I gained a lot throughout this process, but I believe I gained the most by working with others during this project. I gained a tremendous amount of respect for the people involved in this facilities operation. These kind folks work extremely hard to keep this facility running for children, and I assure you that most people don't get into public service for the money. I also of course gained a sense of accomplishment, pride, and joy in helping make this facility and my community a better place. --Harrison Halbach.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, soaring gas prices are impacting Americans all over the country. With gas costing nearly $4 a gallon, drivers are having to rethink how they get around. With families and businesses tightening their budgets, rising gas prices are exactly what they don't need exactly when they don't need it. That's why I am calling on the IRS to increase the gas mileage deduction, like it did in 2005 and 2008, to ease the pain at the pump for taxpayers. Taxpayers want, need and deserve this fair, simple and commonsense solution: for us to tap America's homegrown energy resources right here, right now. Call the White House. The number is 202-456-1414. Tell them to get with it.

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas

Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. That's the Dallas Morning News front page. And do you know what they're saying? Gas prices are going up for all drivers and it's time for the gallon of gas to come down or stop. You know, it has risen nearly a buck since last September. That's why I'm calling on the IRS to stand up for small business by increasing the gas mileage rate that they can deduct. The IRS increased the optional mileage rate during spiking gas prices in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina and in 2008. Gas prices are going upward, and there are no signs that the pain at the pump will subside anytime soon. Taxpayers today, especially small businesses struggling to stay afloat, want, need, and deserve rates that reflect the current cost of travel. They need those deductions. We need to drill for oil. Call the White House at 202-456-1414 and tell them about it.