 Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Leadership Training Institute of America (LTIA) for its goal to call America's youth to their highest personal standard of excellence and their greatest potential for leadership. To maintain greatness as a nation, we must strive for excellence as individuals. And the standard of excellence is largely set by our nation's leaders-leaders in politics, business, the media, and in our pulpits. Training programs that encourage youth to achieve their highest possible standard of excellence are setting the necessary foundations for tomorrow's leaders. The Leadership Training Institute originated in Arkansas. But through its staff, youth participants, and donors, reaches across many states, including my home state of Oklahoma. LTIA strives to impart to America's youth the common virtues in our Nation's great leaders and the source and continuity of those virtues over the course of our history. Thomas Jefferson recognized, "God who gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that those liberties are the gift of God?" The programs and activities of LTIA are designed to prepare youth to face the moral challenges of our day with a foundation that is scientifically reasoned and replete with experiences of America's greatest leaders. This training, which is rich in Biblical perspectives, plays an important role in preparing today's youth to set standards of excellence for themselves and others in their homes, schools, communities, and government. U.S. Congressman Steve Largent 30 April 1998 | 
