Pete Olson

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. Melissa Lee is a student from Sugar Land, Texas. The essay topic is: The rise of ISIS. The United States has always been wary of the Middle East. With an almost decade-long occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan in addition to sanctions on Iran, America has attempted to delicately balance prevention of future attacks as well as peaceful relations with other world leaders. The U.S. has experienced unstable footing in this particular area due to untimely action and a lack of understanding of Middle Eastern culture. A series of terrorist attacks in Paris last year became a new spark to a longstanding debate of how to protect the nation, establish justice, and promote healthy ties with other countries. The attacks caused the U.S. to rethink its position on issues such as immigration and foreign policy. Though the bombings were tragic and a forever reminder of the darkness of human nature, they ignited a healthy dialogue about the future of America. On November 13, 2015, three teams of radical men purportedly aligned with ISIS launched six attacks in and around Paris. One hundred thirty people were killed and many more injured. As the world watched the bloody scene unravel, many questioned the effectiveness of America's foreign policy. Should the U.S. crack down on the Islamic State and increase support for rebels fighting this extremist group? Or should it avoid interfering with the Middle East so as not to arouse anger or hatred towards America? Foreign policy assurances intended to assuage these fears proved empty as they turned out to be mere words than action. However, nobody raised an uproar; the Middle East seemed too far away and the carnage of terrorist attacks was too distant from the comforts of American life. But the U.S. received its wake-up call on December 2, 2015. A radicalized health department employee accompanied by his wife opened fire at a holiday party in San Bernardino, killing 14 and seriously injuring 22 people. The attackers had been inspired by foreign terrorist groups and had committed to jihadism. Suddenly, Americans realized the growing threat of extremists in the Middle East and the extent of their influence on Muslims around the world. The Paris attacks followed by those in San Bernardino made it clear to a growing number of people that the danger of radical jihadists is not a distant problem. Many still want to turn their heads away from the tangled web of terrorism, corruption, ineffective peace talks, and false promises encountered overseas. But as Americans have observed acts of terrorism grow closer and closer to home, they are confronted with the emerging reality that, unless the U.S. takes action promptly, these threats will travel to its shores and mature into a monster of evil, killing the innocent and having no mercy upon those who do not hold the same beliefs as the terrorists.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jared Holloway 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. Jared 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. Jared 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 Jared 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 Jared for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists. Keep up the great work.

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. Grant Dentry attends Pearland High School in Pearland, 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. For 54 years, the United States and Cuba have been hostile towards each other. The hostility stemmed from close diplomatic relations formed between Cuba and the USSR against the United States during the Cold War era. However, as of December 17, 2014 Barack Obama and Cuba's current leader Raul Castro agreed to normalize the relations between each other and lift restrictions placed on travel, trade and diplomatic embassies. Reuniting the alliance of the United States and Cuba is now called ``The Cuban Thaw''. This is a significant event because it ends the last of the conflict and tensions from the Cold War which ended in 1991. This event should help both countries because we will soon be able to trade freely with each other which helps boost both economies. Also, the House of Senate removed Cuba from the United States State Sponsor of Terrorism list and the United States returned five Cuban prisoners after they returned two of our prisoners. Both governments have allowed visitation between the two countries and are positioned to lift the ban on financial transactions between banks. Cruise lines have also been approved by both governments as well as commercial flights between the countries which is expected to bolster tourism. U.S. telecommunications companies are now allowed in Cuba which will help their infrastructure, although many Cubans may not be able to afford cell phones yet. Reuniting with Cuba may also help to soften and eliminate their communist ways of government. Because of these two countries cooperating with each other again, it builds a better reputation for the U.S. and helps expand our global networking and economic power. Many American business owners can now expand their markets to include Cuba which is a short distance from the Florida coast. The United States is now open to Cubans who want to expand their business into the U.S. which will greatly help Cuba and create new jobs in both countries. Due to this new alliance, both countries can become stronger and benefit from each other through mutual trade, travel and business. It is a major boost to the U.S. economy because we can import and export with Cuba at a low cost due to the close proximity. The improved business activity and restored diplomatic relations with a close neighbor is good for the United States and the world.

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. Ingrid Wu attends Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas. The essay topic is: What makes the political process in Congress so challenging? One of the most challenging aspects of Congress is developing efficient communication. In our current political bill making process, as bills are passed along, discussed, voted, and decided on like a game of telephone. It may lose momentum and the vigor of one bill at the beginning of its life cycle wanes as time passes and it gets reviewed and revised over and over. Of course, when it comes to dealing with the laws of the country, everything should be reviewed with scrutiny; however, maintaining the life behind a bill is also important and a hard job of Congress. Additionally, Congress is also met with difficulties regarding opposing opinions. In our current era, politics is something that is increasingly gaining popularity. We see it on TV talk shows, highway billboards, school posters, and even on daily consumer products. With America's two major parties--Republicans and Democrats--having such a profound influence on the opinions of society and, thus, politics, much is hindered. For example, just recently, Congress was met with the challenge of repealing the Affordable Care Act and, through this, the clash of ideals and beliefs caused the process to be in a standstill. Visibly, the repeated efforts of Congress went to vain. In recent years, the number of bills passed has been continuously decreasing. Compromising both sides of the political spectrum and creating a bill to encompass the beliefs if both sides is a necessary and difficult responsibility of Congress. One reason why such a situation is happening may be partially due to either the processes and weight of Congressional action but also the unwillingness of both branches and the party backing the majority of both the cede in some areas and the lack of constraints, especially time constraints. Finally, another challenge of Congress is to understand the people's wants and needs, for understanding these subjects is a way to foresee which ways politics should lean and what exactly needs to be done. Through many different facets, even the Congressional Youth Advisory Council, Congress has taken initiatives to seek the opinions and analyze the lives of individuals on a small scale. Through similar programs of community outreach and developing the next generation, Congress has made great effort to reign in this challenge.

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. Emily Jue attends Clear Springs High School in League City, 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 important event that occurred this past year was the legalization of same-sex marriage throughout the country. Thousands of Americans gathered in Washington D.C. to hear the ruling of the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage. On June 26, 2015 the Supreme Court declared through a vote of 5-4 that all Americans would be able to marry nationwide, no matter their gender or sexual orientation. This ruling made the United States the twenty-first country to legalize same- sex marriage and specifically affected thirteen states that had a ban on same-sex marriage. This momentous event brought a new civil right to the United States and a victory to gay rights advocates. The legalization of same-sex marriage has changed our country by offering the privilege of marriage to couples that are not the traditional ``male and female'' couples. Marriage offers a promise of love and commitment within couples and through the legalization of same-sex marriage, couples of the same-sex are able to give the same commitment and love that traditional male and female couples are able to give. The legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States also represents acceptance and equality to those in the LGBTQ community by offering these people the same civil rights as other citizens in the country have. By giving this fundamental freedom to couples of the same-sex, the United States is able to offer equality to all couples regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The legalization of same-sex marriage has also changed our country by normalizing and bringing acceptance to those of the LGBTQ community. By allowing people in the LGBTQ community to marry, the United States fosters a sense of acceptance to these people who are sometimes treated with disrespect and contempt. Through accepting same-sex marriage, the United States accepts those in the LGBTQ community which is a step towards the equality for all people and has had momentous impacts on the United States. By legalizing same- sex marriage, the United States moves one step closer to equality for all people, regardless of gender or orientation, and offers a beacon of hope to those in the LGBTQ community and a means for acceptance.

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. Emily Guenther attends Dawson High School in Pearland, Texas. The essay topic is Cuba-U.S. Relations. The United States and Cuba severed relations in 1961 because of speculation that the Cuban government could not be trusted. At that time, Fidel Castro established trade ties with the Soviet Union amid rumors that the U.S. was using the embassy for spies, which caused tension between the two. And for more than 50 years the conflict between the two countries has continued. But in July of 2015, Cuba and The United States re- established relations and opened embassies in Havana and Washington D.C. This event has triggered much debate; with many Americans believing that this is an opportunity to regain trust with Cuba and open new areas of growth. This has been a hot topic in Washington because of the different views and opinions from both sides. Many favor renewed relations as positive step, especially for the people along the coast with many immigrants settling in places such as Florida. They also argue that with mutual cooperation on issues such as exploration for oil, and increased trade and tourism, this can be a large boost of economy that will be crucial in the building of ties with Cuba. Others have reacted more negatively and strongly oppose mending relations until numerous issues are addressed. Some find that Fidel Castro not being punished for his dictatorship and the lack of human rights is unfair for the citizens of Cuba. After the new relations were addressed some things were changed quickly such as travel to and from Cuba becoming a lot easier, and few minor business deals being established. But as some relations have been established, most things remain the same; the embargo of trade with Cuba by the U.S. is still in place, which only Congress can change. And Cuba remains a communist government without free elections and still has questionable human rights issues that must be addressed. There continues to be much debate with little change since both embassies were established, and it will be difficult to undo relationships that have been hardened for many years.

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Elizabeth Ortiz 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. Elizabeth 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. Elizabeth 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 pursing science or technology. We are proud of Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth 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 Allix Kean 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. Allix attends Harmony Science Academy of West Houston 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. Allix 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 Allix 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 Allix for being accepted into the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists. Keep up the great work.

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. Jessica Huang attends Dawson High School in Sugar Land, Texas. The essay topic is: With Liberty and Justice for all. ``You will never be a part of Congress.'' To this day, this statement by a past mentor is one of the main motivators that pushes me to strive towards my vocational goal of working in the government, and working my way up to become a state representative or senator someday. To any rational person, one could see that the numbers are against me--only about a fifth of Congress is women, and 11 members are Asian. Thus, being an Asian female, the overwhelming tide of numbers is clearly not in favor of my aspirations. Nevertheless, these numbers and my fifth grade teacher, who did not believe I had a chance simply due to my ethnicity and background, did not phase me. Through passion, empathy, and commitment, I strongly believe that I will one day be able to sit on Capitol Hill, in spite of my race, my gender, or others who believe I do not have a chance to make it as an Asian female politician. I have always been interested in how government functions; it amazes me how much influence one person or representative can have over millions of people. I realize how necessary government is, and we need a government not only to protect us, but to represent us, to make life fair and equal for all. Yet, I have always found something quite contradictory in the above statement that, if a democratic government such as ours was meant to `represent' its people, why are our representatives mostly Anglo-Saxon? Mostly male? Mostly of the upper class? It seems as if only a small portion of the American population even has a say or a position; yet Americans believe they are all `free' and `equal.' That may be true on paper, but when observing whole group or crowds of people, skepticism can set in. This is what makes the political process so challenging in my opinion--the lack of representation in Congress of minority groups can make many feel oppressed, and students like me feel like we don't have a chance to achieve our dreams and goals. Regardless, I hope to be a part of the change--to become a Congresswoman and be an example to younger minority Americans who aspire to be government officials, too. After all, if we wish to be world leaders in the international community, we must first figure out internal politics to truly give ``liberty and justice for all.''

Mr. OLSON

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Tejes Srivastava from Sugar Land, 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. Tejes attends William B. Travis 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. Tejes 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 Tejes and all of his hard work, and know he will make Sugar Land proud. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Tejes 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 Thomas Torres from Houston, 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. Thomas attends J. Frank Dobie 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. Thomas 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 Thomas and all of his hard work, and know he will make Houston proud. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Thomas 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 Samuel Yeboah 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. Samuel attends St. Thomas 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. Samuel 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 pursing science or technology. We are proud of Samuel and all of his hard work, and know he will make Houston proud. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Samuel 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 Skylar Williams from Houston, 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. Skylar attends J. Frank Dobie High School and 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. Skylar was selected by a group of educators to be a delegate for the Congress because of her dedication to her academic success and goals of pursuing a medical science. We are proud of Skylar and all of her hard work, and know she will make Houston proud. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Skylar 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 Isabella Ferrara 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. Isabella attends Cinco Ranch High School and 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. Isabella was selected by a group of educators to be a delegate for the Congress because of her dedication to her academic success and goals of pursuing a medical science. We are proud of Isabella 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 Isabella 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 Andre Ferreira 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. Andre attends Cinco Ranch High School and 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. Andre 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 Andre 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 Andre 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 Eric Muthondu from Richmond, 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. Eric attends Randolph Foster High School and 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. Eric 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 Eric 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 Eric 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 Hayley Wisnieski from Richmond, 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. Hayley attends William B. Travis High School and 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. Hayley was selected by a group of educators to be a delegate for the Congress because of her dedication to her academic success and goals of pursuing a medical science. We are proud of Hayley and all of her hard work, and know she will make Richmond proud. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Hayley 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 Bianca Ellegon from Richmond, 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. Bianca attends Terry High School and 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. Bianca was selected by a group of educators to be a delegate for the Congress because of her dedication to her academic success and goals of pursuing a medical science. We are proud of Bianca and all of her hard work, and know she will make Richmond proud. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to Bianca 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 Sungmin Cho 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. Sungmin 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. Sungmin 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 Sungmin 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 Sungmin 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 the symphonic band of McMeans Junior High (MMJH) in Katy, Texas for their upcoming performance at the National Middle School Concert Band Festival for the Music for All National Festival, hosted at Butler University in Indianapolis. The MMJH symphonic band, under the direction of George Liverman, will not only perform in front of professionally and nationally known experts at the Music for All National Festival, but will also engage in master classes, leadership sessions and other beneficial events to heighten and sharpen their instrumental skills. Through these workshops, students will have the ability to meet independently with professionals and get helpful advice regarding their personal instrument and position within the symphonic band. We are extremely proud of the McMeans Junior High Symphonic Band, and we can't wait to see their success at the National Middle School Concert Band Festival. On behalf of the Twenty-Second Congressional District of Texas, congratulations again to the McMeans Junior High Symphonic Band for earning the opportunity to perform at the Music for All National Festival. Keep up the great work.

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. Conor Devlin attends Thompkins School in Katy, Texas. The essay topic is: An Informal Treatise on Immigration. Something that has been plaguing my mind, most of western Europe, and this presidential cycle, is immigration. Initially, let me delineate ``refugees'' and economic migrants because many people, especially the authoritarian left, like to use a sweeping generalization and label them all refugees when they are clearly not. Refugees are people who are forced to leave their country due to war, extreme persecution and natural disasters. An excellent example would be the Kurds in northern Iraq, who are currently in battle with the Turks, ISIS, and Russia, and the middle eastern Christians who are being executed and forcibly converted by ISIS and Islamic regimes. These people are the embodiment of refugees; the Kurds are fleeing from war and persecution and the Christians are fleeing from extreme persecution and discrimination. On the other hand we have the economic migrants who are abandoning their countries and arriving at the border of Europe by the thousands. These, predominately male muslims, have no desire to assimilate into Europe despite what many of Europe's leaders may think, and they simply arrive wanting to receive benefits and free money from the European governments who seem all so willing to give them. The issue stems from the seemingly unwillingness on behalf of many leaders in the EU who simply do not want to be branded as racists for proposing the idea that introducing a population of people who are antagonistic and loathe the European culture could possibly be a bad idea. The word racism thus becomes the metaphorical boogeyman who all politicians seek to avoid as the ruinous label will practically cut short their career. With this in mind it is easily understandable why so many people seem to reject common sense when dealing with a crisis of such a scale as this. If they speak out they will be silenced and utterly destroyed by their supposed friends and their own media. An atmosphere of fear has allowed the migrant crisis to take hold of all of Europe and install a brand new culture of violence and danger--something not yet witnessed in the largely peaceful and safe continent. Another reason the crisis is still occurring is due to politicians enthrallment with the idea of cultural relativism. Cultural relativism is the idea that all cultures are seemingly equal ergo importing all of these middle eastern men will have no negative effects on society because their culture, where women are gang raped beaten and killed, where gays are killed, and where followers of other religions are persecuted, is seemingly equal to egalitarian free western culture. But it is not, their culture is degenerate and incompatible with western culture. Censorship and cultural relativism are leading the way to a disastrous future in Europe and in order to see what lies ahead for the US one would need to simply gaze across the pond at our embattled allies.

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. Cameron Lavine attends George Ranch High School in Richmond, 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. Throughout history, the United States has been a beacon of hope for immigrants around the world. Beginning in the early 1700's, when the first of the Scots-Irish immigrants came to America, we have generally been extremely welcoming to foreigners, even if we did not necessarily want them. The Scots-Irish, more specifically the Paxton Boys, caused many problems for Americans and Native Americans, yet, despite the danger they presented to society, the Scots-Irish were still allowed to enter the United States. Then, in the mid-1800's, there was a wave of Irish immigrants because of the famine and there was a wave of Chinese immigrants into America. Although Chinese immigration was later on restricted, people were still allowed to enter this country. There are many other groups of people who have been able to seek refuge in the United States as well, and the latest asylum seekers are the Syrians who have been displaced by the poverty and violence that resulted from a civil war. However, instead of opening our arms and providing assistance to those in need as we have done in the past, many people want to close off the United States. The number of Syrian refugees has increased severely over the past year, creating a large burden on European and Middle Eastern nations such as Greece, Germany, and Turkey. Many of these countries are calling upon the United States to take action since they are the current hegemonic power. However, a majority of American politicians believe that we should ignore that call. This humanitarian crisis has turned into an ethical dilemma: Should the United States accept the Syrian refugees who are trying to escape poverty and violence despite the potential dangers, or should we close our doors in order to protect national security? This event has really sent the traditional belief that the United States is safe haven for anyone trying to escape persecution, violence, and poverty into a tailspin. For the first time, the U.S. is considering turning its back on those in need, a direct contrast to past events where America was a willing safe- haven for those seeking asylum.

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. Claire Jeffress attends Dawson High School in Pearland, Texas. The essay topic is: Majority Rule. While growing up and learning about the differences between right and wrong, one is often taught about being fair. When being first taught about the majority rule, I was told one uses the majority rule to be fair to all parties involved. Majority rule is defined as a political principle in which the greater percentage of people who share the same view should exercise greater power. Intuitively this makes sense. If most people want to pick Joe to be President, then Joe should be President. However, we must make sure that Majority Rule does not become Majority Tyranny. Nazi Germany is an example of how devastating an impact a brainwashed majority can have on the very lives of a religious minority. Majority rule should only be applied until the point that it infringes on the liberty of another. In America, one of the ways we have balanced majority rule with individual rights is that we have enshrined each person's rights in our constitution. In many countries, if the majority does not like what you say, they can stop you from saying your point of view. Here, our right of free speech is protected by the constitution. Similarly, I am entitled to go to church and share my religious beliefs even if others feel differently. The majority is not allowed to vote away my right to speak my opinion or my right to exercise my beliefs. In many other countries, I can be thrown in jail just for sharing my views or going to a church that the majority doesn't believe in. America balances the will of the majority with the rights of the individual by enshrining those rights in our Constitution. America also protects the individual by having checks and balances in our three branches of government. Venezuela is a good example of where majority rule can go wrong. The people of Venezuela elected Hugo Chavez as their leader. Unfortunately, it was an example of one person, one vote, one time. Mr. Chavez used his power of the majority to steal and redistribute money from individuals to his majority. He also put many of his own people in the courts to ensure that only his voting majority was protected. People who disagreed with his policies were jailed and had their property confiscated. In America, we have an independent Supreme Court and Congress that can override the President if he tries to violate individual rights in our constitution. I cannot be punished just because I disagree with the President. Many people sometimes think of Democracy as a simple example of majority rule. This thinking is too simplistic. Our founding fathers realized that simple majority rule would just lead to another country torn apart by a tyranny of the majority. They ensured individual liberties were protected through our Constitution and three branches of government. Once the individual was protected, the majority could determine our policies and direction.

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. Connor Cerda attends Seven Lakes High School in Katy, 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. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that state level bans on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. It also ruled that the denial of same-sex marriage licenses and the refusal to preform same-sex marriages was no longer allowed. This has been a very controversial topic for decades and through this ruling, it truly showed where America as a country is heading. In the eyes of Christians and pastors around the U.S., this ruling spat in God's face and in the founding fathers' faces of this great nation. They founded this nation on the teachings of the Bible, but every generation since has fallen away. The Bible specifically describes marriage as the unity of man and woman and that is what it was intended to be for all of eternity. Christians, by no means, hate homosexuals or those who practice same-sex marriage; but rather, Christians hate the practice of it. It breaks the hearts of Christ followers to see people fall into this sin and false illusion that this practice is okay. As for pastors, this ruling is even more troubling to them. They are now under pressure from the public to perform these marriage ceremonies and recognize these same-sex couples even though it goes against all that they stand for and believe in. However, those who refuse often face harsh public criticism. On a religious standpoint, this ruling has affected the relationship between church and state. Although separate, it is hard to trust a government to protect one's religious rights if they make decisions that directly oppose what this country was so proudly founded upon and what people strongly believe in. This nation was founded on strong and bold principles that not many countries share. The fact that the U.S. is changing these principles is disturbing. And for what benefit? There is no clear reason or purpose to pass this ruling besides it was what a group of people wanted and the U.S. government gave in. There is no positive outcome or benefit that has been reaped from this ruling. It is scary to think about what other principles this nation is willing to sacrifice. If anything, it created a gap between the citizens of this nation and the country as a whole. A certain level of trust was lost that will be extremely hard to gain back. It also creates a messed up view from the perspectives of other countries. They look at the U.S. and see a screwed up society that believes marrying the same sex is okay and a given right to people. This country is socially going down hill through the decisions made by the government and the people and this ruling was just another step towards this fall.