Honoring an Indianapolis treasure
Dear Friend,
Last week, First Lady Michelle Obama presented the prestigious 2014 National Medal for Museum and Library Service to 10 exceptional museums and libraries, including our very own Children's Museum of Indianapolis.
The award, given by the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, is the nation's highest honor given to museums and libraries for service to the community. This is the 20th anniversary of the program.
I'm so proud of the Children's Museum and all that it contributes to our city's residents and visitors. It's an honor to be the Congressman representing the district where the museum is located, and I want to share a photo from the ceremony with you. Pictured with the First Lady are Erica Hahn, Spencer Hahn and Museum CEO Jeffrey H. Patchen (left to right).
This coming week, I will be back in Indianapolis meeting with constituents and attending a number of events, including the IPS Multicultural Festival and our inaugural Youth Opportunities Fair. I hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
André
Inside Scoop
2014 Congressional Art Competition Winner
The winner of this year's 2014 Congressional Art Competition in our district is Kris Lovett, a freshman at Irvington Preparatory Academy. Her artwork is entitled "The Eye of the Wolf. "
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.
Students submit entries to their representative's office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.
Click here to view past winners.
HASC Passes National Defense Authorization Act
I told you last week that much of my week would be devoted to meetings on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the federal legislation that authorizes spending for our military and Department of Defense programs.
I'm pleased to report that four of my amendments were included in the final version of the bill passed by the committee. The NDAA will be considered by the full House during the week of May 19.
You can learn more about those provisions and my other NDAA priorities here.
This Thursday: 2014 Youth Opportunities Fair
This week, I will host our first Youth Opportunities Fair along with the Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY) and Shortridge Magnet High School. It will take place on Thursday, May 15, from 4-7 p.m. at Shortridge, and it is free and open (no registration required) to anyone who wants to attend.
The event will feature more than 40 local service providers, businesses and groups that offer youth summer programs, internships, volunteer opportunities and jobs. Our goal is to present local students and parents with a variety of summer options so they can explore different summer possibilities before the end of the school year.
Voting: Our Privilege and Responsibility
One of the greatest privileges of being an American citizen is the opportunity to voice your opinion through the electoral process. The 2014 primary election took place last week, and voter registration for the November election begins soon.
Below are important dates for Indiana voters:
May 20, 2014 – Voter Registration Begins
October 6, 2014 – Voter Registration Ends
November 4, 2014 – General Election Day