VERMONT STATE OF THE UNION ESSAY CONTEST FINALISTS

VERMONT STATE OF THE UNION ESSAY CONTEST FINALISTS

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2025)] [Senate] [Pages S1339-S1343] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] VERMONT STATE OF THE UNION ESSAY CONTEST FINALISTS Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask to have entered into the Record some of the finalists' essays written by Vermont High School students as part of the 15th Annual State of the Union Essay contest conducted by my office. The material follows: Finalists AMY VAUGHAN, OXBOW HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIOR Climate change is at the forefront of issues in the nation; however, its effect on farming and food systems is often overlooked. Climate change poses a growing threat to agriculture through fluctuating weather patterns that cause crop losses and increase production costs (EPA). These disruptions jeopardize food security and threaten farmers' livelihoods. While the challenges are significant, an effective, sustainable solution is to support outreach and educational initiatives, particularly through university extension services. By increasing funding for these programs, farmers and other individuals can be equipped with the knowledge needed to adopt climate-resilient techniques, strategies, and practices (University of New Hampshire Extension). This approach will strengthen the agricultural industry's ability to navigate a changing climate. In recent years, farmers have faced increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, including severe droughts, flooding, and fluctuating temperatures (NOAA Research). These changes contribute to soil degradation, water shortages, and crop failure (Chicago EPA). A study from the United States Department of Agriculture found that ``Increased temperatures can also lead to issues like crop sunburn from extreme heat, which can reduce annual yields for farms by as much as 40%'' (USDA Climate Hub). This, in combination with other climate issues, results in decreased farm revenue adding to farmers' struggles with financial instability (USDA ERS). Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis states that ``agriculture and related industries contributed roughly $1.537 trillion to the U.S. GDP in 2023''. Given the importance of agriculture to U.S. food security and the economy, we can not ignore the effects decreased farm revenue would have on our society as a whole. One step towards a solution is strengthening educational outreach efforts which can support farmers in understanding how to deal with this rising challenge. Land-grant universities have historically played a vital role in broadcasting research-based agricultural knowledge to the farming community (Association of Public Land Grant Universities). These programs offer valuable resources on crop management, pest control, irrigation techniques, and more (UW-Madison Extension). Many extension services include these topics in their program objectives. However, despite the acceleration of climate change, many extension services are underfunded and ill-equipped to meet the growing demand for climate-specific information. Increased investment in these programs will provide farmers with timely, actionable climate advice. University-led outreach programs can teach farmers about climate-resilient practices such as regenerative farming, crop diversification, and soil health improvement techniques (University of New Hampshire Extension). Furthermore, extension services can introduce precision agriculture technologies to optimize crop monitoring and resource use. Addressing the impact of climate change on agriculture requires more than just technological innovation or policy reform. It requires empowering farmers with the knowledge and tools to adapt. By investing in outreach and education through university extension programs, the United States can build a more resilient agricultural system capable of weathering the challenges of a changing climate, ensuring long- [[Page S1340]] term food security and sustainable farming practices for future generations. OWEN STYGLES, BELLOWS FREE ACADEMY FAIRFAX, SENIOR The 1990 Children's Television Act sought to empower the FCC to regulate children's media, requiring that it hold a certain level of educational value, and that the advertisements aired during children's shows meet specific guidelines. This bill came to be as a result of the growing television entertainment industry, and the worries surrounding how it affected children's minds and development. It was also deemed important due to the nature of advertising towards children, as they are largely unable to distinguish advertisements from tv programs, and are easily influenced. I mention this bill because it lays a strong foundation: children's media needs to support development, and highly suggestible children need to be protected from advertisers. I especially highlight this second point, as there would be far fewer issues if children were not such an easily targeted demographic, furthermore, broadcasters would be less likely to fund shallow, attention-grabbing shows in the first place if they weren't as profitable, allowing higher quality programs to make way on their own. This all brings us to today, where children are switching away from television, and towards digital media, such as YouTube videos. This new media, of course, is largely unregulated in comparison to broadcast television, and advertisers are now at liberty to exploit children's unawareness to commercials once again. Not only this, but the nature of what kids view, outside of the ads, is also less valuable, as it is being made only to hold their attention until the next ad. Cocomelon, one the largest channels on YouTube, is a notable example of this. They feature a near- endless supply of videos geared towards children that aim simply to hold their attention for as long as possible. Using bright colors, songs, and sound effects, this content manipulates children into viewing for extensive periods of time. The exploitation of children's attention is an undervalued and often missed issue related with the rise of digital media. This does not mean, however, that healthy content is not present. Many educational programs, such as Sesame Street, have created an online presence that is far more constructive for children, and, most importantly, isn't structured around making kids watch as many advertisements as possible. Because of this, I think the center of the problem lies in how high quality content is easily bogged down by the onslaught of this lower quality content, as it is far easier and faster to create. Akin to how you find organic food by looking for the USDA stamp of approval, I think children's content online should be tested and labeled for its quality. This would give educational and developmentally useful content a way to stand out among the rapidly uploaded, low quality content. It would also provide a kind of ``guide'' for parents, which would make their job of overseeing what their children watch far simpler. While this solution isn't perfect, I believe it to be the best way to end this highly underappreciated issue that is actively impacting millions of children's development. HANNAH SMILEY, MILTON HIGH SCHOOL, SENIOR For nearly two centuries, Church Street in Burlington, Vermont has been the heart of the state and the nucleus of the city--a lively community marketplace, bustling with shops and restaurants. In recent years, however, it has become a common controversial topic at gatherings or in any conversation; an issue that cannot be ignored. What was once a charming, safe city has become a dismal and even daunting area for Vermonters. What caused this change? The homelessness crisis that is plaguing the entire nation. Let's be clear; the issue isn't panhandling or encampments, rather it is the government's alarming lack of moral accountability and commitment to its citizens. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development reports that over 653,000 Americans--a population greater than Wyoming and the same as Vermont--were unhoused this past year, yet societal stigmas or the ideal of American individualism have led this issue to be disregarded as a competition for mere existence, or survival of the fittest. Rather than focus on the root causes of inflation, low wages, and lack of government support, people place blame on the victims. Unhoused people are villainized for their attempts at survival. The housing crisis is complex, however, there are concrete solutions. The US government has the moral responsibility to fulfill its Constitutional promise; ``to promote the general welfare'' of all Americans. This includes addressing the homelessness crisis which directly affects the welfare of citizens. The most comprehensive solution must include immediate relief for unhoused communities and a means of addressing the root causes of this crisis. According to this formula, the best solution to solving this epidemic is ``Housing First'' initiatives. This approach to the homelessness crisis, developed in New York City has a form of publicly-funded permanent housing that includes additional support to aid unhoused people. In short, the ``housing first'' model is designed to move long-term unhoused individuals--``the majority of whom are living with mental illness, substance abuse disorders, and other serious health problems,'' adds the Coalition for the Homeless--into subsidized housing with the addition of community support services. This type of housing support allows unhoused people to see health improvements and is proven to be less costly than forms of temporary care such as emergency shelters and correctional facilities. In addition, prevention programs, such as discharge plans for youth in the foster care system and policy change regarding a living wage, are vital to America's future. Many argue that providing adequate aid to fix the housing crisis is too expen