By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
While you may have been on the couch Tuesday night cheering or jeering President Barack Obama as he gave his State of the Union address, Beebe High School senior Jessica Kloss was there, sitting in the balcony of the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol.
Kloss was the winner of Rep. Tim Griffin’s (R-Little Rock) State of the Union essay contest for students in his district. Griffin’s campaign covered airfare and a hotel for Kloss and for her father, David.
The Klosses decided to purchase another plane ticket so that her mother, Cindi, could also fly to Washington.
Jessica and her father attended the State of the Union address as Griffin’s guests. Each congressional office receives only one guest ticket, but the office of Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Jonesboro) offered its guest ticket to Griffin’s office.
“I spent quite a lot of time with Tim Griffin. It was really nice. His staff was awesome. They were really great,” Kloss said.
Kloss and her family arrived in Washington on Monday. Kloss said she met Griffin and took a tour of the Capitol. Later that evening, the Klosses visited the Lincoln Memorial.
On Tuesday after lunch, Griffin was able to introduce Kloss to one of her favorite senators, Rand Paul (R-Kentucky).
“It was great. I got to meet him in his office. He was really nice,” she said.
Kloss said, after the 20-minute meeting, he gave her a signed copy of his book.
She then went to the Smithsonian National Museum of Nature History, before getting ready for the big night.
At the State of the Union address, Kloss dressed in her Sunday best.
She met Willie Robertson of “Duck Dynasty” there. But he was wearing jeans, Kloss said.
And “I met Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio). He is nice. I got to say hi,” Kloss said.
She said the address started late and lasted a little over an hour.
“It was awesome. You get to see all the people below that you see on TV, that pass legislation that affects every person in the country. It was surreal,” Kloss said.
She said it was easy to tell to which party each of the legislators belonged.
The Democrats stood up and clapped at least 100 times and went crazy during Obama’s speech. The Republicans sat on their hands a lot. They stood up about three times, Kloss said.
She was not able to take any pictures because the organizers didn’t allow cell phones.
Kloss also said Fox News Channel personality Sean Hannity was sitting two seats away from her.
“He is a big deal. I got his autograph,” she said.
Kloss said she was able to see a different side of Washington.
“I learned congressmen don’t have cushy lives, eat fancy foods and stay in the nicest places. Most sleep on an air mattress in their offices. They are away from their families, and they work really hard to do the best job they can,” Kloss said.
She said Washington isn’t as partisan as many people believe. She said legislators may criticize, but their comments are not personal attacks. Most are friends.
Before returning back home on Wednesday, Kloss and her family went to the National Archives where they saw The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and The Bill of Rights.
“They are in a dimly lit room. It is kind of intense because they are the founding documents our country is based on,” Kloss said.
The family also went to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
Kloss’ trip to Washington increased her interest in government. “I care so much about the government. In today’s time, we are getting away from the principles of small government and personal freedom. That’s what this country was founded upon. I want to protect that,” Kloss said.
Griffin said after the visit, “Jesse is an extraordinary young woman with a very bright future. It was a pleasure meeting her and her father, David, taking them to the State of the Union address and showing them around our nation’s Capitol.”
After she graduates from Beebe High School, Kloss plans to attend the University of Arkansas and major in political science. She hopes to intern for someone’s campaign during the summer. Eventually, after graduating from college, Kloss would like to work up the ranks as a congressional staff member and then run for office.
Kloss is president of the Beebe High School’s Future Business Leaders of America.
