David Skaggs: “Thank you very much, Barbara. I appreciate the opportunity to report on the Congress to Campus program. Although I have…”

“Thank you very much, Barbara. I appreciate the opportunity to report on the Congress to Campus program. Although I have been affiliated with it for a long time, I want to recognize the co-chairs of the program who couldn't be with us this morning, Larry LaRocco of Idaho and Jack Buechner of Missouri. They have done a terrific job over the years in moving this program along. This program, as many of us have participated in it well know, sends bipartisan teams of former Members to colleges and universities across the country and around the world. It engages our Members from all over the country in educating the next generation of leaders about the institution of Congress, the duties and responsibilities that we have as Members, and most importantly, the value of public service. Since our visits always involve a bipartisan team, they demonstrate, I think, pretty well that political debate can and should be respectful, dynamic, and courteous. Former Members volunteer their time leading classes, meeting with student leaders, meeting with community organizations, joining with student government meetings--all manner of activities on campus. The schools are encouraged to offer the program to the entire campus community to demonstrate how we do our work in the Congress. I have gone on many of these trips, most recently this spring with our former colleague Pete Smith of Vermont, on a visit to Evergreen State College in Washington State.…”