Applauding Congressional Conference on Civic Education

APPLAUDING CONGRESSIONAL CONFERENCE ON CIVIC EDUCATION -- (House of Representatives - September 28, 2004)

(Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, it is vitally important that our children have an understanding of the fundamental principles and values of our constitutional democracy.

Last September, the first annual Congressional Conference on Civic Education was held. The conference was sponsored by the Alliance For Representative Democracy and co-hosted by the four leaders of the U.S. Congress.

The conference established State delegations that returned to their States to advocate for better civic education. I would like to recognize Cindy Coker and Paul Horne, the facilitators of the South Carolina action team, for their efforts to improve civic education in South Carolina in the tradition of Sara Bookhart at the High School of Charleston in 1964.

The South Carolina action team activities include advocating civic education programs and curricula, hosting a conference on the civic mission of schools, participating in the review of social studies standards, which includes civic education, and providing input on the value of civic education on the State's school report card.

I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking all of the participants of the Congressional Conference on Civic Education and wishing them further success during their next conference in December.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops and we will never forget September 11.