On the recordNovember 15, 2013
It is my pleasure to rise today to congratulate Nina Davaluri on winning the 2014 Miss America competition, and to proclaim our welcoming her back to central New York for her homecoming celebration this weekend. I had the privilege of meeting Nina when she was Ms. Syracuse, and I can tell you that she will be a different kind of Miss America. She graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius High School and then went on to the University of Michigan, where she earned a degree in brain behavior and cognitive science. She was an exemplary student and, during her time in college, made the Dean's List and won several scholastic awards. She is also very involved in the community. She is talented and driven and civic-minded, and she believes in empowering women around the world through education and opportunity, and that is what she has been doing as Miss America. She has also already broken down barriers and changed the face of the Miss America competition as the first Indian American woman to be crowned Miss America. Madam Speaker, I would ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Nina Davuluri on her victory at the 2014 Miss America competition and wish her the best of success in all her future endeavors. ____________________
