"That's My Dream!": Visiting St. Mary's Academy

Congressman Blumenauer spoke to 75 high school students at St. Mary's Academy in downtown Portland. After discussing current initiatives in Congress, and his work on universal clean water access, environmental conservation, and reforming crop subsidies, the floor was opened to students for questions and comments.

The group touched on fluoride, foreign policy and the Iraq War, as well as strategies for decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels. Blumenauer spoke about both the environmental and the economic costs of this dependence, mentioning to gasps that "in the Iraq War, $18 billion dollars was spent on air conditioning" and that "petroleum cost $100 dollars a gallon to transport during the war."

Later in the morning, Blumenauer spoke with St. Mary's Mock Trial Team, which had just returned from the National Championship after earning first place in Oregon's State Championship. Team members discussed their winning strategies, focusing on their unity, unique legal strategies, and ease in the courtroom. Blumenauer closed with a question to the group about their thoughts on the legal process, and future ambitions.

"Supreme Court Justice," one of the girls shouted out. "That's my dream!"