Tony Thurmond: “this week in March is a traditionally busy one here in Washington as tens of thousands of children of all ages arrive in…”

“this week in March is a traditionally busy one here in Washington as tens of thousands of children of all ages arrive in the Nation's Capital. They come to the District of Columbia from all over the United States during their spring break vacation to learn about our Government and our history, both of which are unparalleled. Over the past 4 or 5 days, I doubt that there one Member of this Chamber who has not met several groups of his or her young constituents, boys and girls who have stopped by for Gallery passes, a photo, or just to say ``hello.'' I also doubt that there is one Senator who was not pleased to meet with these children as each of us recognizes that the youth of today represent the future of our country. That recognition clearly guides us as we work to ensure that the United States remains a nation of opportunity and freedom. While what we do here in the Senate helps our children, there are other organizations out there who dedicate all of their efforts to making the lives of our youngest citizens better. One such group is the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.”