Empower our young people and encourage them to speak and have the confidence to be able to turn their words into action and become leaders, thats why i urge you to pass this motion, thank you. [applause] mr. Speaker im about to call a speaker from the southeast of england, before i do so, let me take the opportunity to welcome the minister for Civil Society rob wilson from whom well be hearing in due course. Thank you for joining us today. We look forward to hearing from you. Somebody from the southeast, who is it to be . Now, this is a device, somebody who has a book entitled how to be a successful politician. He is in danger of being a selffulfilling prophesy. I call on her. Thank you, mr. Speaker. My first is curriculum for life and the second one is there is a stigma. I think it has a third among, its only november. And already were having this. So much else we could be doing. But if we september 2013 start making the lessons more beneficial and we also make it compulsory and give us a qualification, at this moment, we dont get anything for it. We sort of turn up and given a learn about t to hinduism, it really helped me you have. Its not good enough. What are we actually getting for it . If young people are still voting for it, it doesnt matter if its compulsory or not. Its still clearly not good enough. [applause]. Mr. Speaker how about the southwest of england . Who is trying from the southwest . Someone waving a red handkerchief. He is obviously refereeing a race of some source. Grateful to him. Allow me to pop it back in my pocket. Thank you again for the opportunity to speak, mr. Speaker. My name is jack and i represent exeter and delavan. Now, ladies and gentlemen, more than 1 million 18yearolds in the u. K. Are signed up to facebook which compares with only 520,000 18yearolds on the electoral role. This is a shocking statistic in this delegates opinion. This is a further emphasis of why we need political education in our system. Politics should be a compulsory to teach young people the value of political engagement. If time were now and this were done, not only would our young people be aiding the principals of democracy, but it would also allow them to make strong well informed positions in their future. Thank you. [applause] mr. Speaker thank you very much indeed. What about the east of england, who have we got trying to contribute to the east of england. Well hear from the young woman ith the pink top, thank you. Im emily fox and i represent west norfolk in the east of england. This campaign, it was in the top three of norfolk so we know that was in the Education System and we know that needs to be changed. It covers all of the other topics, so its completely relevant to young people. We also need the finance because who knows, what person is this, they might go to university but they dont know how to pay for university. They dont know how to manage. His really needs to be solved. Maybe the stigma of Mental Health wouldnt exist anymore. Have been taught about these issues but many people havent and we really need to. If we are being asked to do things like pay taxes when we are older, we should know what its going towards. Going to uni in the future, maybe i dont know about the finance and other things i dont know, it would be helpful to us. These skills can be life savers, and if we dont know first aid, then we dont know how to stop someone choking, someone having a heart attack. That means we cant save lives, thank you. [applause] mr. Speaker thank you, the northeast, who is from the northeast, please. Im from the northeast. A manifesto, an issue, but imagine if at the start of the campaign we explain to people what each was about because they already knew it. It isnt just something you go to school for an hour a week and you learn some interesting stuff. T gives you that foundation. You got to think as well who is going to teach it. So it could be a math teacher, history teacher, teachers, i have been in a class, im now an expert in it. Im an expert in it. You have to think about, we passed it, who is going to teach it. You cant just go to one level and then say hang on, we forgot to do the big step here. Thats what we need to be considering. [applause] mr. Speaker thank you. Now i want to hear from somebody from london. You have been trying for a long, long time. Ill do my best to get more in, please. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I think that the curriculum of life is essential. We go into the world not knowing the right skills we theyd to survive. Im going uni, but do i know how i am going to pay my fees, make a personal statement. These are essential especially for people who want to go to further education that we lack. The political skills, some people dont know who the Prime Minister is. Its shocking that people of 18 dont know. Its important to have this education to empower young people so we dont go into the world not knowing enough. We can make decisions on our own and independently without having to rely on the internet for instance. Not everyone has access to that. Its important that we pass this motion. Also incorporates all of the things that we represent as youth. We could talk about religious discrimination, racial discrimination, we can bring it in. Thats something i feel passionate about. We can talk about Mental Health and that is taught as well. This covers a Broad Spectrum of issues and i think we should thank you. Otion, [applause] mr. Speaker thank you, i would like to hear the voice of school land, a scottish person. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Thank you for the support of the Youth Parliament and for us being in this chamber here today. [applause] im personally going to begin on personal experience that i had a couple of months back i took a first aid course. It struck me how important but yet quite simple of a skill that i learned that needs to be introduced to save lives. Shouldnt school as much as provide the qualifications we need to get to university and further education also provide the skills we need for life. Too long have i sat in classes coming into the classroom and walking out and not learning anything new. Need to create a better ucated generation and away from academic issues. It might have been mentioned before, there are 27 policies issue and they might be opposed to this motion spoke about how we have had it before and how its been successful. Look at the debate right now. Is it really successful . I think that examples should be taken away to scotland and spread across the u. K. We understand importance and we need to get the message across to the u. K. Thank you. [applause] mr. Speaker thank you. What about wales, do we have a wouldbe contributor from wales . This chap here, please, thank you, sir, your time has arrived. Im from north wales. Im a student who decided to take the international baccalaureate. The curriculum would not provide it. I want to make a point that this is a campaign is fantasticcally achievable. Last year professor donaldson conducted a review on the curriculum in wales. And influencing that presentation last year, he came out with his results and the government said they would have a massive, massive overall of the curriculum at large. This is a completely necessary campaign and one in which we can easily achieve, thank you, mr. Speaker. [applause] mr. Speaker im so sorry, had is always the most disspiriting part. Every debate has to be concluded. This one has to be concluded. There is an opportunity for others to do so. Jess maclin, army welfare services, germany, will wind up the debate. I know youll give her an enthusiastic welcome. Jess maclin. [applause] jess thank you, mr. Speaker. As young people eventually we have to grow up and get older. With that comes responsibility. Confronted with daily life, most of us think we have the common sense to get by. Are we prepared for the life ahead of us . We would put pressure on the government to give this status. There is an uninterested teacher putting on an old video about the importance of conception for more a more important class than to benefit your future in any way. No, its not. But insuring they also understand that good quality will only be achieved if teachers are trained and that locally you can see which schools have trained teachers time in ating adequate their curriculum to have an impact on our futures. I went over my bank account. My mom went with me. It was embarrassing. I felt childish. We shouldnt have to feel this way like were too naive or immature to make our way in life. It could have been something i had been done myself, but in reality i didnt know the type of account. I was grateful i did have my mum there. Going to teach us the difference between an i. S. A. And a. P. R. If change is constant, if this campaign is successful, the relevance in the environment were growing up in. Young people cannot rely on songs by hiphop artists about the importance of bills they have to pay. Our knowledge should be gained during our school years. Would a curriculum for life have the power to provide young people the resilience they need to thrive in our changing world. Our voice is already heard through other organizations solely dedicated to campaigning for curriculum for life. We have campaigned under to this before and made progress in this area. Does it ranking second highest suggests there is more yet to be done for this Campaign Raising the question, are the Campaign Actions enough to achieve real change and can we justify another year by campaigning for curriculum for life or is it time we turn our focus on conquering a new issue. Thank you. Weekend, air American History major events. Has we will reflect on the and thery bus boycott Civil Rights Movement as we hear rosa an attorney for those parks and the demonstrators. Then, unknown facts about the lives of u. S. General ulysses s. Grant and confederate general robert e. Lee. 9 00, ric burns on how the public learns about history through film and television. American history tv, all weekend and on holidays two, on cspan. Too, on cspan three. As 2015 reps up, we look at , newsmakingebates issues, hearings that took center stage on capitol hill this year. We revisit Mitch Mcconnell taking his position as Senate Majority leader, pope francis historic address to the joint session of congress, the resignation of House Speaker john boehner and election of paul ryan, reaction from congress on Mass Shootings here and abroad, gun control, terrorism, and the rise of a isis. Congress, year in review on cspan thursday, december 31 at 8 00 p. M. Eastern. Up next first Lady Michelle , obama hosts military families for a white house event. Hello, i am a navy spouse, and my husband is currently stationed in virginia. I was so excited to learn that i was selected as a holiday decorating volunteer. This has been surreal. This is my favorite time of year and i am sure that my fellow volunteers would agree that this is truly an honor and a joy to have had a hand in the magical set up around us. I have lost count of the number of jobs happy moments we shared, hanging ornaments while George Washington looks on, trying to make a room designed by Jackie Kennedy more beautiful. As i watch the room transformed by many hands, i have reflected on how the holidays are about community. As a mom and a Military Spouse, i am most satisfied to help decorate the white house as a way to show my appreciation to the first lady and dr. Biden for the hard work they do with armed forces, their initiative to highlight the challenges military families face. We felt the warmth of this initiative ourselves while my husband was deployed. We are inspired by the many ways americans have responded to this call for understanding and are providing solutions, from Mental Health resources to supporting military children to encouraging the hiring of veterans. Again, it is about community. And now, it is my honor to introduce first lady, michelle obama. [applause] first Lady Michelle thank you. Hi, everyone. What is going on . You guys doing ok . How are the grownups . [laughter] welcome to the white house. [applause] first Lady Michelle it is the holiday time. Let me start by thanking felicia for that wonderful introduction as well as all of the volunteers who have traveled from across the country. We have people who have come from around the world to help us decorate the white house for the holidays. I also want to say a special thank you to all of the service members, our veterans, our Wounded Warriors who are here with us today, as well as our amazing Military Spouses and are our fabulous military kids. Do we have any military kids in the house . [applause] first Lady Michelle yeah it is an important part of our tradition to kick off the season by celebrating with our extraordinary military families. We do this because of everything that you all do every day to make our country great. This time of year it is easy to get caught up in all of the holiday whirlwinds. Making the lists, the errands, the travel plans, that we sometimes forget what the Holiday Season is all about. But sharing the special time reminds us that the season is about so much more. It is about giving more than we receive, right guys . It is about toys, too. But it is about finding ways to lift up our communities every day, every season. That is what you all do for this country. Whether you are serving in uniform with multiple deployments under your belt, or serving without a uniform, as a Military Spouse holding down a household while continuing your education or careers. Or as a military kid, adjusting to maybe your seventh or eighth new school. You all represent the very best of us. The midst of all you have going on in your lives, you still find time to be leaders in your communities, volunteering with your congregations, organizing a local food drive, or running the pta meeting at night, Coaching Little League on the weekends, so many of you today truly embody that commitment to service. Take felicia for example lets , she lives in alexandria, virginia. Her husband is in the navy and like most Military Spouses, she has endured frequent moves. Their son has already lived in three different states. There is no wonder why she has no time to decorate her own house for the holidays, yet she still found time to be your with us to decorate the white house. And as a she put it, in her own words, diving into the holiday activity where we are stationed helps make each new place feel like home. Or take andrea marks from spotsylvania, virginia. Andrea, where are you . Hey, girl. Andrea is a retired 30 year army combat veteran. [applause] first Lady Michelle yes. And during her impressive career she did five overseas tours, she served as a drill sergeant and was part of a command team that led a brigade in operation freedom. Operation iraqi freedom. And she continues to serve. She spends time with Wounded Warriors through the uso. She volunteers with the special olympics. And you can see with holiday hat on, she was also here for decorating the white house. Looking quite festive. That kind of commitment to giving back, that is what the holidays are really all about. And, yes. It is about milk in a bottle, too. [laughter] that is one of the reasons why jill biden and i started our joining forces initiative. We wanted to make sure that we are serving all of you, all the men and women in uniform, the veterans and the families. And as we ring in the season, we we want to make sure that the 68,000 visitors that will pass through these rooms over the next few weeks will know about you and honor your service and sacrifice. This years holiday theme is a timeless tradition, and as usual we will be continuing our proud white house tradition of honoring military families with special decorations. The very first thing visitors will see in the east landing is a tree that pays tribute to our armed forces. This tree is adorned with goldstar ornaments that honor some of americas greatest heroes, the men and women who gave their lives for our country. Next to that tree is an ipad station that allows guests to tweet and email mail holiday wishes to our service members. Then there is an amazing tree in the blue room that i just saw, also dedicated to our military families. This years tree stands over 18 feet tall. I know. Big, big. It is covered from trunk to tip with messages to military families. And after the holidays we will be sending each Family Member their message as a special keepsake. And much like these military decorations, the rest of the decorations celebrate proud american traditions and our singular american spirit. You will see hundreds of messages from students from schools sharing their dreams. And you can read about their hopes and aspirations on these beautifully handcrafted snowflakes hanging from the ceiling. And in the White House Library we are honoring Great American authors and thinkers with manuscripts trimmed with pages of texts and quotes. And then kids, we will see this soon, you do not want to miss the state dining room, which features dozens of vintage nutcrackers. Little bitty Army Nutcracker men, right over there. And there is a six foot tall teddy bear. I have not seen that yet. I cannot wait to see that. Of course, in the state room, the official white house Gingerbread House that weighs 500 pounds. It is a big house. It is the white house. We also have more than 70,000 ornaments here in this house, 62 trees, a lot of trees. As well as 56 snowmen and snow women in the garden representing every state and territory in the country. And we have a dog display. She is like, get me out of here. Take her to the Gingerbread House. She can have whatever she wants there. [laughter] first Lady Michelle have you guys seen the dog display . I have not seen that either. There is a tree with treats and tennis ball ornaments. Sunnyk oh ibo and are excited about that one. I will have to ask them what they think about it. It is a great kickoff to a beautiful home, everything looks wonderful and the volunteers have done a phenomenal job. You kids will be the first to see it. Let me know what you think, if it passes muster. I want to once again thank all the terrific volunteers for creating this winter wonderland. I also want to thank the brilliant designers who are the genius behind these magical displays. Brian racanelli, i see you. ,a great designer what is my one of my dear friends helped decorate these rooms. And Caroline Ferrera and her team played a huge role this year. It time to have some fun. Before we do that, i want to say once again, i want to honor all the military families here today and around the world. Thank you for your outstanding service. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you to all of the families for your sacrifice, for being so brave, good and kind. That is why you guys get to be here first. And we wish you guys the happiest holiday. We wish everyone here in the country a happy Holiday Season. Hopefully you guys get to come down and visit the white house. For now, we have business to take care of. You guys want to follow me, you guys ready . We will have some special surprises for your parents. It may involve something you can eat. We will see the big tree and maybe bo and sunny will come by for a visit. We have to see. They may be busy. Anybody who is afraid of dogs, you tell me. They are pretty nice. They are bigger than they look on tv. You guys ready to go . We will take care of your children. Sit here, relax, do not break anything. And happy holidays, everyone. Thank you so much. [applause] now we take you on a walking to her of the white House Holiday decorations. Tour of the white House Holiday decorations. President obama spoke at the 93rd annual Christmas TreeLighting Ceremony in washington. During the event, we hear from jonathan jarvis, director of the National Park service, the oldest living ranger, and first lady obama. Actress Reese Witherspoon is the host of the ceremony. Reese good evening. Welcome to the annual Christmas Tree lighting