State of the Union: CCHS student Emily Kaufman makes an appearance on Capitol Hill

BY KAYLA GATES

Political events such as the State of the Union Address are what most students can only learn about through their history classes. But for 15-year-old Emily Kaufman, a sophomore at Cooper City High School, this lesson became a reality as she accepted an invitation to Capitol Hill.

The 2020 State of the Union took place on Tuesday, February 4 in Washington, D.C. Members of Congress gathered in the House Chamber of the Capitol Building, bearing witness as President Donald Trump delivered his final address for the current four-year term.

As per tradition, representatives were permitted to bring a guest to accompany them. In recent years, many have opted to make a political statement through the selection of their plus-ones. With an opportunity to express their views towards President Trump, this year was no different.

In particular, Florida Democrats had much to say in the president’s presence. They emphasized critical healthcare issues, particularly President Trump’s promise to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Several representatives were ushered by people with close ties to the cause.

One such example was that of U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who serves on behalf of Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Schultz selected Kaufman, a Cooper City resident, as her guest.

“I was able to watch history and be in the room where it happens.”

Aside from being a full-time CCHS student, Kaufman pursues an outside career as a singer, dancer and actress. She performs at events of all magnitudes, both in and out of her community.

In 2017, Kaufman was invited to deliver the national anthem at Wasserman Schultz’s congressional inauguration. Since then, Kaufman has remained in close contact with her representative and their relationship prompted her invitation to the State of the Union.

Further, Kaufman’s condition made her the perfect candidate for protesting a lack of healthcare reform at the event. Kaufman suffers from juvenile diabetes, a chronic condition prevalent in teenagers that has required her to use insulin to control her blood sugar.

Wasserman Schultz planned to shed light on Kaufman’s insulin dependence, which her office described as “obscene prescription costs that threaten her family’s financial security.” The representative hoped to make the issue more personal for her fellow lawmakers.

“Emily has no control over the type 1 diabetes disorder she will live with for the rest of her life,” Wasserman Schultz said. “She’s one of the millions of Americans who need immediate protection from the outrageous costs of prescription drugs.”

“Emily and her family deserve relief, and I hope President Trump sees her in the House chamber.”

Wasserman Schultz and Kaufman were not alone in their fight. Pharmacists and other victims of high drug costs were also in attendance. Together, Florida lawmakers hoped to convince their colleagues to take action against unnecessary price-gouging by pharmaceutical companies.

“Emily and her family deserve relief, and I hope President Trump sees her in the House chamber,” Wasserman Schultz said. “The Senate could pass legislation tomorrow that would provide financial relief to her family and millions of others who are in the same tight financial spot.”

As the event came to a close and the federal government restored its natural order, Kaufman prepared to return home, not as a State of the Union guest, but as a CCHS student. Regardless, the opportunity demonstrated the ability of any individual to make a significant impact.

“It was a really big honor to be invited by our local congresswoman,” Kaufman said. “I was able to watch history and be in the room where it happens.”

Photo courtesy of Sun Sentinel