Pete Olson

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize First Colony SynchroStar's Abby Remmers, who was named to the 13-15 U.S. National Swim Team 2. Abby Remmers competed against the top 30 athletes ages 13 through 15. Remmers outperformed them all, and earned-a spot on the National Team. The final phase of the competition took place in Mesa, Arizona. Remmers will spend her summer training in both Riverside and Moraga, California and will represent the United States in early September at the Pan- American Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, I would like to congratulate Abby Remmers for earning a spot on the 13 through 15 U.S. National Team. She is making Sugar Land proud and we look forward to seeing her represent both our district and country this upcoming September.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate two Sablatura Middle School teams, Aqua Tronz and Hydro Tech, for advancing to the National SeaPerch Challenge at Louisiana State University. The U.S. Navy National SeaPerch Challenge is an underwater robotics competition. Both Sablatura teams qualified for nationals by finishing as two of the top seven overall teams at the regional competition. The teams build and operate their own remotely-operated vehicles that function underwater and are designed to complete an obstacle course. The SeaPerch Challenge competition judges the students' underwater vehicles in poster and interview first, and then two underwater challenges follow. The first being an obstacle course and the second being an orbs challenge where the students move different sized balls into submerged containers. The students develop problem-solving, teamwork and technical skills through their work. Both teams are coached by Marc Smith, and we are very proud of what he and his teams of bright young students have accomplished. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the two SeaPerch teams, Aqua Tronz and Hydro Tech. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate The Lutheran South Academy band in Houston for winning the state championship. The Lutheran South Academy band made school history by winning the state championship for the first time. The band competed in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Large Ensemble contest, and was awarded superior ratings along with the state Sweepstakes Award. In addition, the school's jazz ensemble was also awarded an excellent score at the competition. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to The Lutheran South Academy band for winning their first ever state championship. We look forward to hearing more beautiful music from these young musicians and wish them success in their future endeavors.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Pearland High School's indoor drumline for winning the state championship. The Pearland High School Indoor Drumline won the Scholastic Marching A Championship in the Texas Color Guard Circuit Percussion State Championship. Notably, this is the first year since 2005 that Pearland High School has had an indoor drumline. The drumline is directed by Nicholas Guiliano. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Pearland High School's Indoor Drumline for winning the state championship in their first year. We look forward to hearing great things from these students and are proud of them for representing Pearland so well.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Stafford High School Boys Track & Field Team from Stafford, TX for winning the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Class 4A 2016 State championship in Track & Field. Despite some inclement weather and difficult opponents, the Stafford Spartan Boys Track & Field Team brought home the school's first state title since 1992. The team won the championship by defeating 57 other schools. The effort was led by impressive performances in the 100 meter dash (1st), the 4x200 relay (2nd), the 4x100 relay (4th), the 110 hurdles (1st), and the High Jump (3rd). We are proud of what these young men were able to accomplish and are excited to see what lies ahead for them. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Stafford High School Boys Track & Field Team for all of their success at the UIL State Championships. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Thurgood Marshall High School track and field team for winning the University Interscholastic League (UlL) 5A state track championship for the second year in a row. The Marshall Buffalos were led to victory by their coach Lloyd Banks. Their overall score of 52 points outperformed the competition by a substantial 16 points. Junior sprinter Shamon Ehiemua helped lead his team to success by defending his state title in the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.62 seconds. In addition to Ehiemua's efforts, teammate John Isom placed fifth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.19 seconds. Teammates Cedarian Lynch, Ehiemua, Jarmaiz Whitaker and Isom were awarded a gold medal in the 4x100-meter relay with an astounding time of 40.13 seconds. Their win is even more impressive considering runner Jeremy Smith was recovering from a foot injury during the relay. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the Fort Bend Marshall Track and Field Team for winning the 5A state track championship for the second time. Thank you for bringing this championship title back to Fort Bend County.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, this week, the people's House celebrates National Police Week. We celebrate heroes like our colleague, Dave Reichert, who caught the Green River killer after 20 years. We celebrate heroes like Ann Carrizales from Stafford, Texas, who was shot in the face and near her heart and sped off at over 100 miles per hour to apprehend the thugs who shot her. We celebrate heroes like these young teenagers from my hometown of Sugar Land, Texas, who sold lemonade for cops because blue lives matter. We celebrate lives like Harris County Deputy Sheriff Darren Goforth, who last year was gunned down in cold blood--shot 15 times in the back of his head and his backside. He was pumping gas in his uniform with his cruiser. Heroes like Dave Reichert, Ann Carrizales, Darren Goforth, and young Texans selling lemonade have a message for America: Blue lives matter.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening to the high school students who are the future of this great nation. They provide important insight from across the political spectrum that sheds a light on the concerns of our younger constituents. Giving voice to their priorities will hopefully instill a better sense of the importance of being an active participant in the political process. Many of the students have written short essays on a variety of topics and I am pleased to share them with my House colleagues. Kanika Draksharam attends Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas. The essay topic is: Select an important event that has occurred in the past year and explain how that event has changed/shaped our country. Amid a flood of controversy in June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a longstanding controversial law. Five justices affirmed LGBT American's Constitutional right to wed, leading to many changes for not only those who supported the bill, but the entire country as well. Undoubtedly, in the past year, the legalization of same sex marriage has brought many differences to the United States, and has helped shaped us into a more accepting country. The legalization of same sex marriage has brought various economic benefits in addition to the obvious social ones. Due to the law being passed by Congress, the economy has seen a sudden boost. Take New York for example; whose economy was boosted by over two and a half million dollars due to same sex marriage couples being able to get married in state. Since the law being passed, marriage license fees, local celebrations, and wedding related purchases, have contributed greatly to the economy. We can see that this law has helped our economy in a positive manner, which is a good change our country required. The income being brought in by this new change is aiding in curbing the economic deficit as well. Contributing to this, is also the fact that insurance companies are being used more, since people are able to utilize the advantages of being married that these companies provide. Additionally, the passing of this law raises tax revenues by bringing in between twenty and forty million dollars more than average per year, helping the economy greatly. Fiscal benefits are a large factor in what our economy has gained. The government would have to spend more on Social Security and Employee Health Benefits, but it would actually end up saving money when it the attention is turned to medical health programs, by almost a hundred million dollars. It's clear that passing this law has resulted in positive impacts on the economy. Large corporations have advocated for this, making it something that is widely advertised as a positive change in society, going from being condemned in the past. Many of these companies such as Google, Apple, Verizon, Morgan Stanley and Microsoft have recruited people from this community to work for them, sending society an accepting message. Marriage equality is a freedom that many groups across American have long strived for in the past. Now that the past year has brought this rightful prospect to our country, it has also brought positive changes for not only them, but all of American as well.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Gabriel Agu from Richmond, TX for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists to represent the state of Texas at the Congress of Future Science and Technology leaders. Gabriel attends Strake Jesuit College Prep School and is one of 13 high school honor students selected from the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas. These students were selected as Texas delegates at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders. This program was designed for high school students to be recognized for their hard work in school, as well as to support their aspirations of working in a science or technology field. The National Academy was founded by Richard Rossi and Dr. Robert Darling; Mr. Rossi currently serves as president. The Congress is being held at the Tsongas Center at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell from June 29th through July 1st. Gabriel was selected by a group of educators to be a delegate for the Congress thanks to his dedication to his academic success and goals of pursuing science or technology. We are proud of Gabriel and all of his hard work, and know he will make Richmond proud. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Gabriel for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Aryan Singh from Katy, TX for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists to represent the state of Texas at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders. Aryan is one of eight high school honor students selected from the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas. These students were selected as Texas delegates at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders, a program for high school students to be recognized for their hard work in school and supported to continually strive toward their aspirations of working in the medical field. The National Academy was founded by Richard Rossi and Dr. Robert Darling; Mr. Rossi currently serves as president. The Congress is being held at the Tsongas Center at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell from June 25th through the 27th. Aryan was selected by a group of educators to be a delegate for the Congress because of his dedication to his academic success and goals of pursuing a medical science. We are proud of Aryan and all of his hard work, and know he will make Katy proud. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Aryan for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Chandler Garrison from Pearland, TX for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists to represent the state of Texas at the Congress of Future Science and Technology leaders. Chandler attends Glenda Dawson High School and is one of 13 high school honor students selected from the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas. These students were selected as Texas delegates at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders. This program was designed for high school students to be recognized for their hard work in school, as well as to support their aspirations of working in a science or technology field. The National Academy was founded by Richard Rossi and Dr. Robert Darling; Mr. Rossi currently serves as president. The Congress is being held at the Tsongas Center at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell from June 29th through July 1st. Chandler was selected by a group of educators to be a delegate for the Congress thanks to her dedication to her academic success and goals of pursuing science or technology. We are proud of Chandler and all of her hard work, and know she will make Pearland proud. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Chandler for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I come from Texas. The world thinks that Texans take care of Texans, and Texans always brag about Texas. We do. The Fort Bend Star introduced me to Bob Schultz. I work for Bob. Bob lives in Richmond, Texas. He is 51 years old. Bob was given a death sentence--pancreatic cancer. After 19 rounds of chemotherapy, tons of radiation, and endless surgeries, Bob beat his cancer. Bob recovered by volunteering almost daily at the MD Anderson Hospital in Sugar Land, to make sure that coffee is made at 5:30 in the morning and that the linens are prepared for the 6 a.m. opening of that great facility. Mr. Speaker, I am going to close with seven words of Texas pride: God bless a true Texan, Bob Schultz.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening to the high school students who are the future of this great nation. They provide important insight from across the political spectrum that sheds a light on the concerns of our younger constituents. Giving voice to their priorities will hopefully instill a better sense of the importance of being an active participant in the political process. Many of the students have written short essays on a variety of topics and I am pleased to share them with my House colleagues. Saku Gopinath attends Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas. In your opinion, what makes the political process in Congress so challenging? Anyone can see that Congress as it operates today is largely ineffective, failing to represent its constituents, and the numbers support this opinion. As a Gallup poll stated, the approval rating for Congress was at an all time low during the 2013-2014 period at 14.5%, indicating the lack of faith the American people have developed in it. In my opinion, it is the attitude towards politics that makes the political process in Congress so challenging--an attitude that sacrifices democratic values to pursue victory above all else. The political process of Congress is essentially the rules, procedures, and practices by which the majority organizes the institution to achieve its goals of policymaking and resource allocation; this process creates a power struggle, five different struggles to be exact, but each is necessary for Congress to function per its design. Of the struggles between the President and Congress, the House and the Senate, the political parties, the elected majority party leaders and majority party committee chairmen, and the individual members to get the most for their districts and states from the Federal government and thereby ensure their reelection, I will focus on that between the political parties. A clash of contrasting ideals is an old story in America, its origins dating back all the way to America's creation with the opposition between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists with differing ideas of the scope and purpose of the new government. At that time, however, the parties chose to compromise, and incorporated principles from each belief to create stronger policies. The fact is that the rivalry between these two broad philosophies often proved highly productive, and this cooperation was able to take place because they shared a commitment to democracy. The competition between opposing views has begun to degenerate into something toxic, however, creating an environment in which politics is treated as war, and compromise is seen as a weakness. While it is unclear what the exact cause of this problem is, its symptom is clear: ineffectiveness. Evidence of this is provided by the 234 bills passed by the 113th Congress, the lowest recorded total in congressional history. It is obvious that the fervor to win too often trumps everything else--including respect for opponents, the integrity of institutions, and even the health of the democracy itself. A clear example of the detrimental effect this attitude is having on the political process of Congress is the i6 days the government was shut down in October of 2013 due to Congress's inability to compromise. The time has come to remedy this problem, and for politicians to adopt a new attitude--or rather, return to an old state of mind. The only way to simplify the political process of Congress is to create a renewed sense of commitment to democracy-- above party interests and ideology, or economic interests. It is only in the context of such a shared commitment that differences in opinions and beliefs can be fruitful and benefit the American people.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening to the high school students who are the future of this great nation. They provide important insight from across the political spectrum that sheds a light on the concerns of our younger constituents. Giving voice to their priorities will hopefully instill a better sense of the importance of being an active participant in the political process. Many of the students have written short essays on a variety of topics and I am pleased to share them with my House colleagues. Smriti Ahuja attends Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas. In your opinion, what makes the political process in Congress so challenging? From 5140 bills in Congress every year, less than five percent of them are passed and become laws. That is only 257 bills. The United States Congress has been known to be extremely slow in terms of passing laws, but what most people don't realize is that passing a law is harder than it sounds. There are many obstacles that result in the political process in Congress being so challenging. First, the process to pass a law itself is extremely long winded. First, the bill is assigned to a committee for study. This study could take months in order to fully develop the bill completely. Then, if the committee releases the bill, it must be debated on, revised, and approved by a simple majority. After approval, it moves to the Senate where it is assigned to another committee, and another simple majority is needed for the bill to move to the joint committees of the Senate and the House to work out any tweaks that are necessary. Then, the resulting bill goes to the House and the Senate to be approved. Overall, this whole process could take months which is why the process is so challenging. Every single aspect of the process has to go smoothly in order for the process to flow well. Second, Congress members must work together even with different opinions. Most Congress members are split between two political parties, Republican and Democrat. These two political parties tend to have opposing views which results in political polarization, and laws aren't able to be passed because of conflicting opinions. Even more than that, Congress members usually have their own opinions as well, that can also result in incompatible ideas between not just parties, but specific members. Also, Congress members are split between the House and the Senate, and these two parts of Congress have their own agenda. Since both houses must approve the bill, different agenda can lead to challenges and obstacles. The political process in Congress is extremely challenging, with 535 individuals all debating and advocating for their own opinions. Hopefully, in the future, Congress can become less polarized and pass more laws for the benefit of the nation.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Trinity Pace for winning first place in the 2016 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Quick Draw Art Contest. Trinity is in eighth grade at St. Laurence Catholic School in Sugar Land, Texas. This talented student won both first place in the Quick Draw Art Contest and was also titled ``Junior High Champion,'' where she earned a cash reward, scholarship to the Glassell Junior Art School, and finally a Junior High Gold Ribbon of Excellence. Out of 600 students who applied for the contest, only 26 were selected to move forward. The Houston Rodeo Art Programs have produced 50 years of talented students and phenomenal art. We are so proud of Trinity, and look forward to seeing the fantastic art she will create in her bright future. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Trinity for her success at the Quick Draw Art Contest at the Houston Rodeo. We can't wait to see what she does next.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Kimberly Hunold, RN, for being the first recipient of the Pearland Medical Center Nurse of the Quarter Award on March 29, 2016. Kimberly was selected for this special award by Emergency Room Director Rhonda Abbe. It was awarded to her by the Pearland Medical Center CEO Matt Dixon and Chief Nursing Officer Jody Noirot. Kimberly earned this distinguished award thanks to her daily efforts to serve her patients, and her commitment to Pearland Medical Center and its residents. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Kimberly Hunold for being awarded the Nurse of the Quarter Award. We appreciate her hard work and all that she does for the city of Pearland.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Maria Bennett from Katy, TX for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists to represent the state of Texas at the Congress of Future Science and Technology leaders. Maria attends Cinco Ranch High School and is one of 13 high school honor students selected from the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas. These students were selected as Texas delegates at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders. This program was designed for high school students to be recognized for their hard work in school, as well as to support their aspirations of working in a science or technology field. The National Academy was founded by Richard Rossi and Dr. Robert Darling; Mr. Rossi currently serves as president. The Congress is being held at the Tsongas Center at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell from June 29th through July 1st. Maria was selected by a group of educators to be a delegate for the Congress thanks to her dedication to her academic success and goals of pursuing science or technology. We are proud of Maria and all of her hard work, and know she will make Katy proud. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Maria for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Claire LeFevers for earning the prestigious Girl Scouts Gold Award, their highest honor. Claire is a senior at St. Thomas Episcopal School in Sugar Land, Texas. Her extraordinary community service project that earned her the Girl Scouts Gold Award consisted of a group effort, led by Claire, to fix up the outer grounds of a Care Center, located in Schulenburg, Texas. There, the service group built outside furniture and brought decorative potted plants. In addition to this project, Claire also worked with outside organizations in the community, in efforts to provide the Care Center with necessary materials for their residents. Through her hard work, Claire's group directly helped 70 people. The Gold Award is administered to less than five percent of high school aged scouts who exemplify incredible leadership measures through practical, yet impactful projects. We are so proud of Claire, and we thank her for graciously serving her community. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Claire LeFevers for receiving the Girl Scouts Gold Award.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Coy Gardner from Katy, TX for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists to represent the state of Texas at the Congress of Future Science and Technology leaders. Coy attends Katy High School and is one of 13 high school honor students selected from the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas. These students were selected as Texas delegates at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders. This program was designed for high school students to be recognized for their hard work in school, as well as to support their aspirations of working in a science or technology field. The National Academy was founded by Richard Rossi and Dr. Robert Darling; Mr. Rossi currently serves as president. The Congress is being held at the Tsongas Center at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell from June 29th through July 1st. Coy was selected by a group of educators to be a delegate for the Congress thanks to his dedication to his academic success and goals pursuing science or technology. We are proud of Coy and all of his hard work, and know he will make Katy proud. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Coy for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists. Keep up the great work.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Emily Fiedler for her artwork earning the title of ``Best in Show'' at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's Junior High Contest. Emily is in eighth grade at St. Laurence Catholic School in Sugar Land, Texas. This talented student earned the Junior High title of ``Best in Show'' for her artwork, ``Holy Cow.'' In addition to this elite award, Emily received a scholarship to the Glassell School of Art. The Houston Rodeo Art Programs have produced 50 years of talented students and phenomenal art. We are so proud of Emily, and look forward to seeing the fantastic art she will create in her bright future. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Emily for her success at the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Junior High Art Contests. We can't wait to see what she does next.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Anton Zhou of Sugar Land, Texas for being named a Texas Young Master in visual arts for the spring of 2016. This is one of the most impressive awards given to a young artist in their state. Anton currently attends Clements High School and previously attended the XinSheng Wang Art School. At 17 years of age, Anton has won multiple awards and recognition for his well-known impressionist and contemporary art style. Founded in 2002, the Texas Young Master program was developed by the Texas Cultural Trust and the Texas Commission on the Arts. They recognize students from 8th through 11th grade who have proven incredible artistic talent in either visual, performing, or literary arts. Students recognized as a Texas Young Master are awarded $5,000 in scholarships each year for two years, to assist with continuing education in their selected art form. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Anton Zhou for being named a Texas Young Master. We can't wait to see what the future brings for him.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate the National Association of University Women of Houston, Texas for hosting their 57th South Central Conference in serving young women. The National Association of University Women (NAUW) was established in 1910 in Washington, DC by Mary Terrell, Dr. Sara Brown, and Mary Cromwell. The internationally known, non-profit organization directs their efforts toward young women, inspiring them to strive for success regardless of their circumstance. The NAUW works to accomplish this by granting high school seniors with scholarships and advocating women's rights, educational issues, and inspiring young women of tomorrow to make a difference. The 57th South Central Sectional Conference will be held from June 16th to the 18th at the Hilton Westchase Hotel in Houston, Texas. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the National Association of University Women for hosting their 57th South Central Conference in Houston. We appreciate their public service.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening to the high school students who are the future of this great nation. They provide important insight from across the political spectrum that sheds a light on the concerns of our younger constituents. Giving voice to their priorities will hopefully instill a better sense of the importance of being an active participant in the political process. Many of the students have written short essays on a variety of topics and I am pleased to share them with my House colleagues. Jordyn Weber attends St. Agnes Academy in Sugar Land, Texas. The essay topic is: Select an important event that has occurred in the past year and explain how that event has changed/shaped our country. An especially important event that has occurred this year is the terrorist attacks that took place in Paris, France on Friday, November 13, 2015. Not only did this attack prove the eminent threat that ISIS poses to the western world, but it also brought about a new era of terrorism. The attack on Paris was the first time that local ``soft targets'' have been ambushed in this kind of attack. Soft targets refer to areas such as super markets, hotels, concert halls, restaurants, clubs, and any place that attacks every day normal people. These areas were always assumed to be safe from attacks as it was assumed terrorists wanted to kill large numbers, but this notion was changed after the terrifying attacks occurred in Paris. This new threat of attacks has altered the way the United States will live and fight in our war on terror. The arising of this soft target attacks has shaped American fear in a new way. Since the 9/11 attacks, most Americans have experienced some subconscious fear of terrorist attacks, but never before has that fear been about going to a grocery store or to eat dinner. We now must face an era where we have to worry about the possibility of lower scale attacks. This brings about questions on how the United States should decrease the possibilities of the attacks. Since the attacks in Paris many citizens have begun to question the right steps to take in protecting our nation from the threat of a future terrorist attack. This questioning has led to two main issues at hand; how should the United States monitor the threat of terrorism in our country as well as who should be allowed to enter the country without posing a threat? The first question of how should the United States monitor the threat of terrorism has been demonstrated in many ways. Should the US begin to observe conversations and invade the privacy of those believed to be possibly involved in terrorism within our country? Should we begin taking actions overseas like other countries have begun doing? One thing that is for sure is that the United States needs to get serious about their war on terror. This is going to shape the future of American life. If we sit back and do nothing Americans will continue to live in a world of fear of everyday activities. The government must take action to put American's minds to peace. The second question of who poses a threat to our national security has brought up a huge debate in regards to the refugee crisis. When it was uncovered that one of the attackers from Paris arrived to Europe disguised as a refugee everyone began to question allowing the flow of refugees into the United States at this time. This is shaping and brining into question what the United States's priorities need to be, the protection of our own citizens? Or the leadership in the protection of our world's most vulnerable people? The attack on Paris has impacted the United States in an enormous way. It has instilled a new kind of fear among US citizens as well as brought into question many new issues that will continue to shape the future of the United States.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening to the high school students who are the future of this great nation. They provide important insight from across the political spectrum that sheds a light on the concerns of our younger constituents. Giving voice to their priorities will hopefully instill a better sense of the importance of being an active participant in the political process. Many of the students have written short essays on a variety of topics and I am pleased to share them with my House colleagues. Jonathan Frost attends Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas. The essay topic is: What makes the political process in Congress so challenging? John Adams once said, ``Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.'' Today the political process in Congress is challenging because the representatives in Congress have lost that shared set of core values. Congress was not always in the gridlocked state that it is now. While political parties have always differed on priorities, strategies, and tactics, until recent decades members of Congress held a set of core values. Such values included a shared view of America's role in the world, the independence of the judiciary, respect for the Constitution, universal freedom, a shared religion, and the desire for the nation to put America's interests first. What do we have today in Congress instead of that shared set of core values? Instead of acting as a unified body that acts in the interests of the people of the nation, Congress acts more like a divided group of tribes who always try to harm the opposing tribe. The tribes primarily call themselves ``Republicans'' and ``Democrats'', both of which would rather hurt each other than do what's best for the nation. If Congress could agree again on a shared set of core values, then the legislative process would be easier and more productive. To spawn these shared values, the stubborn allegiance most Congressmen have to their respective parties cannot continue. The challenge of getting political parties to change their ways is exasperated by many decades of bad blood and misbehavior. Many observers date the deterioration of the political parties from the character assassination of Clarence Thomas and his nomination as a Supreme Court Justice. The personal and insulting nature of the tactics of a few Democrats led to a downward spiral of revenge and payback that continues to this day. The practical solution will require courageous leadership by strong and popular leaders of each of the two major political parties to join together in forging a concise set of core values to guide the work of the legislative branch. Only those leaders can define the values, but here are a few that might guide us: Individual Responsibility Compassion for those who cannot provide for themselves Hard Work Innovation Free Enterprise Strong Military In the same way that great organizations are guided by a shared set of core values, Congress could consider only legislation that does not run afoul of the agreed set of core values. Sadly, the course of human history suggests that it is unlikely that two such visionary leaders will simultaneously emerge.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Coy Gardner from Katy, TX for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists to represent the state of Texas at the Congress of Future Science and Technology leaders. Coy attends Katy High School and is one of 13 high school honor students selected from the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas. These students were selected as Texas delegates at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders. This program was designed for high school students to be recognized for their hard work in school, as well as to support their aspirations of working in a science or technology field. The National Academy was founded by Richard Rossi and Dr. Robert Darling; Mr. Rossi currently serves as president. The Congress is being held at the Tsongas Center at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell from June 29th through July 1st. Coy was selected by a group of educators to be a delegate for the Congress thanks to his dedication to his academic success and goals of pursuing science or technology. We are proud of Coy and all of his hard work, and know he will make Katy proud. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Coy for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists. Keep up the great work.