Military Construction, Veterans Affairs And Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

Floor Speech

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Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, today I rise to recognize the 30th anniversary of Public Law 96-114, which is the Congressional Award Act. My predecessor, Senator Malcolm Wallop of Wyoming, was a champion of this program.

In 1979, the late Congressman James Howard of New Jersey and Senator Wallop introduced the Congressional Award Act legislation.

Thirty years ago, as you recall, America was still living with the Cold War. The country was in the middle of a serious national conversation, one that would require America's young people to participate in a period of national service. It was a controversial concept, in part because the country had eliminated the armed services draft. Legislation to establish the congressional award had been introduced in Congress for several sessions, but no action had yet been taken. When Senator Wallop was approached as someone who might have an interest, he quickly understood and embraced the core of the program.

Our Nation's young people have worthy contributions to make to the world around it, he thought and he said, and the process required to earn an award was a productive path to determine their future. Senator Wallop felt that if America was thinking about requiring national service, then Congress should recognize and thank America's youth for their positive contributions made through the course of their own lives. He saw the congressional award as the perfect opportunity to do this.

When Senator Wallop agreed to serve as a sponsor of the congressional award, he made it a full commitment. The legislation quickly moved through
Congress, and it became law in his very first term of the three terms he spent in the Senate.

The congressional award is available to any young person in our country aged 14 to 23, no matter their life circumstances or their current abilities. Through goal setting, participants move from where they are to where they can be, providing service to others and exploring their own interest in the process.

Recipients of the award are not selected for it. The recipients of the award earn it. It has been my privilege to witness the success of this program both in my home State of Wyoming and around the country. I thank all of the Members of Congress who are involved in the congressional award in their own States and districts. I encourage those who have not yet done so to bring this program to their young constituents. And most of all today, I thank our former colleague, Senator Malcolm Wallop, for his gift--a gift of opportunity for America's young people through the creation of a congressional award, an award that was signed into law 30 years ago today.

Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

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