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Show U.S. Congressman speaks at Jr. High Congressman Howard Nielson spoke to Pleasant Grove Junior High School students recently, answering their questions about the federal government. After a brief discussion about his experience prior to becoming a congressman, Nielson responded to the student's questions. They asked him what a typical day was like for a congressman. He said that they usually have a very long day. They will often have hearings from 9:30 a.m. until noon. They use Monday and Friday to get caught up on business and are in congressional sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. He added that they always have a large number of bills before them. The congressmen must become well acquainted with these bills so that they can vote intelligently. They must also know the constitution very well so that they do not make laws that are not constitutional. con-stitutional. The students asked him about the U.S. relations with the Soviet Union. He said that the two countries coun-tries need to work together. The new arms agreement that has the two countries checking on each other is good, he noted. In a related question, the students stu-dents wanted to know why we do not know very much about the Russian people. Congressman Nielson said that it is harder to get access to the information about the Russians. "They know more about us because the U.S. is more open and we have Radio Free Europe to dispense information in-formation about the west," he explained. ex-plained. He said he had met some of the Russians who are at Hercules for inspections and that he found them charming and intelligent. The students were interested in jobs in congress for young people. Nielson told them that young people are hired as pages to work during the summer between their junior and senior year in high school. He said that pages run errands and deliver messages. Older students can become legislative leg-islative assistants or interns and they will be able to learn how the government processes work. He urged students to take classes in law and political science if they are interested in politics or I government work. The congressman w ever, that many congrei senators have been teat L workedmother areas not,f law, and have done very 'f The students asked hi-' what congress was tryinr f stem crime and illegal drj-1 Nielson said that the r' passed some good legist crime last year and power to police in drug pi and prevention. 1 Some forward thinfc! wanted to know if the,-1 women in congress. i Nielson said that fe! about 27 women now a. J shoul d be more. He mentis: ' a Utah woman just bare; her bid to be a congress few years ago. He explained that worn-good worn-good dimension andahin-to andahin-to the congress. Maryland1: men and four women r people and it has two men r)'" woman in the senate, an;'! In response to a ques: noted that a congresskmi-i date must be at least 25 u; age. He mentioned that i ; Pepper had been in the k-since k-since 1958 andhadalsosr: senator. He told the students th lege degree is not require:: congressman but he higll' mends it. He stated that G: Bangerter had often : that he does not have 1 : degree but he wished hec Nielson said it is po-s serve without a degre?bt: and you are more apt to;, with a degree. The students asked he how he felt toward John o said that Tower was air qualifiedman andwouldb a great secretary of dele things in his personal!1 downfall. Nielson added that if lt; had more personal friene the senators and congress would have done better, j The students were infc the salary for a congress son told them the base t $89,500. He said there hf; proposal to raise it to & he was one who urged: defeated and it was. The students gave'' cheer to this news. |