“I held a speech contest for high school students. They wrote about what America means to them. I read the two winning speeches. One student wrote about love and kindness. The other wrote about freedom and opportunity. I thank the students who participated. I hope they learned something and grew to love America more.”
Official Congressional Record
The Fourth of July fireworks are over, and the barbecue leftovers are long gone. Now we have the rest of the year to continue to reflect on America's founding 250 years ago. John Adams believed that independence should be celebrated with solemn reflection. In that spirit, I sponsored a speech competition for the high school students in Utah's Second Congressional District and asked teenagers to write about what America means to them. Tonight, I will read the two winning speeches as well as a little bit about the two students who wrote them. These speeches were selected out of a pile of speeches with blind reading, so I didn't know who had written them. Kambree Giles is a student at Millard High School in the Second District. She is entering her senior year. She lives in Meadow, Utah, a town with fewer than 350 people, where she is an active member of her school's FFA chapter. After graduating, she plans to serve an 18-month proselytizing mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This is her speech: George W. Bush said, ``For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people.'' I love this quote because it shows just how America should be. I ask you: What are you doing to help the people around you, and therefore to help this country? I believe that this country is a country of love and freedom. Each of us has the unique opportunity to help those around us. If we love those around us, we can make someone feel better. Love is the first thing I think of when I think of what this great country is. This country means being able and willing to be a helping hand. We all have the freedom to help those around us. We never know just how much of an influence that can be. When people think about this country, they should be inspired and feel proud to call it home. I want everyone who hears this to be inspired to show kindness and feel the sense of pride that this country brings. Every time I stand up to say the pledge or when I hear the national anthem, I feel a sense of pride to be able to call this country my home. I get teary-eyed because I know what this country stands for and the lengths kindness has gone to keep it free. The most important thing this country stands for, for me, is kindness. If anything is taken from my speech, I hope everyone that hears this leaves feeling a stronger sense of pride for our country. If we want America to stay great, we must choose to keep it great by treating all of its people with kindness, lifting others up instead of putting them down. This country immediately needs more kindness. Thank you, Kambree. The second one is from Rylee Moore. Rylee is the second winner of our America 250 speech contest. She is also from a small town, Delta, Utah, where she attends Delta High School and is entering the tenth grade. Rylee's words reflect love for our Nation's history and faith in its future. This is Rylee's speech: America means so much to me because it is a place where freedom meets opportunity, where people from all over the world, not just America, can come together to live, work, and dream. In my opinion, America represents being able to make a difference and choose your own path. The country is so diverse with so many cultures, ideas, and traditions, it is amazing. To me, America is also about standing up for what is right, working hard to make things happen, and better the world around us. It is far from perfect, but with the freedom to speak our mind and fight for justice, great communities are created. I am proud to live in a country that supports freedom and opinion. In conclusion, America brings hope, opportunity, and a place where I can imagine and create a bright future for myself as well as others. Thank you, Rylee. Kambree and Rylee are young, and their words reflect well on them, their families, and Utah, where they were raised. Like them, I am grateful for our country and excited about the next 250 years of American goodness and freedom. I thank each of the high school students who rose to the challenge and wrote a speech. I sincerely hope that each of them learned something new and that their love for this country grew even just a little bit. Mr. Speaker, I thank you very much, and yield back the balance of my time.
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