Congressmen Visit Neshaminy Students

Kids at Neshaminy’s Maple Point Middle School is Middletown got a special treat on Monday when local Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (PA -8) and Missouri Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5) stopped by to answer questions and speak to students.

One item of note: Fitzpatrick is a Republican and Cleaver is a Democrat. The two congressman say they are friends despite some differences in opinion.

Cleaver advocated civility to the students and is chairman of a group in congress that preaches that message to those serving districts from across the country.

“This is an important message to declare to youth,” Cleaver, a former mayor and preacher, said after the event.

“The students at Maple Point Middle School had great questions for me and Representative Cleaver, and I hope that being able to talk to them as members of Congress from opposing parties in a civilized manner will stick with them as they grow up in an often uncivil political climate,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick said he believes both parties should work together to find common solutions.

Students asked questions on Syria, the economy, gun control, privacy and terrorism during the roughly hour-long town hall-style meeting with the school’s roughly 500 students.

Levittown-raised Fitzpatrick said he plans to travel to Cleaver’s district in the future and be involved in a similar event. The two noted similarities in their districts, and Fitzpatrick gave Cleaver a tour of Levittown before the two headed to Washington D.C.

Social studies coordinator Anne Schmidt said students have been learning about how governments works over the past week. She said it is easier for students to connect with politicians in person as opposed to just seeing them on a screen.

State Representative Frank Farry visited the school before the congressmen on Monday and State Senator Tommy Tomlinson is set to visit on Wednesday.