“I love meeting kids from Eagle Pass. The students are always smart, engaging and full of curiosity and questions about government and current events. And, the chaperones and staff accompanying them always do a great job of guiding them and maximizing their experience,” U.S. Rep. Gallego said. “It was a joy to hang out with them. I wish I'd been able to spend the whole day listening to them, learning from them and hearing about their future plans.”

U.S. Rep. Gallego spoke to students, their chaperones, faculty and staff about his history with Eagle Pass, the work he does in representing constituents of 23rd District, and some of the challenges of the job.

"It was a great exchange and one I really enjoyed," he said. "I left feeling much better about the future of our state and our nation. It was pretty clear to me that these students are already leaders in their own right. I'm sure after visiting Washington they will better understand how government works – and how important and vital it is to our daily lives and how they can make a difference.”

The middle school students were from Memorial Junior High.