Statesman Andy Goes to Washington

The Washington Monument as seen from the World War II memorial. Andy took this photo during an evening tour of Washington D.C. monuments.

Andy recently joined his school's chapter of the Junior State of America, an organization that promotes civics education and leadership programs for high school students. He traveled with the group to a JSA Winter Congress in Washington D.C. on Feb. 25-27.

He and his friends joined hundreds of other students from several states who convened in nine parallel Congresses to debate and vote on legislation. Representative Andy introduced his bill - to require women as well as men to register with Selective Service on turning 18 - in the House. But as it had already been soundly defeated in the Senate, it was not put to a House vote. (As it happened, the Senate that took up his bill defeated nearly every measure it considered. A tough group!)

The events took place Saturday and Sunday at the Doubletree Crystal City hotel in Arlington. After the bus ride down on Friday, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School group visited the Museum of Natural History. And on Saturday night Andy and his girlfriend, Senator Shannon, joined a group that took a bus tour of the city's monuments, including the Lincoln, Jefferson and World War II memorials.

A portion of the National World War II Memorial at night.