Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) and Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) visited Manual Thursday morning to celebrate 11 students’ recent qualifications to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

Yarmuth previously sat on the House of Representatives’ Education and Workforce committees, and currently represents Kentucky’s 3rd congressional district, which encompasses Louisville.

“The problem with Congress is that at its optimum efficiency, it moves at about 10 miles an hour, while the country as a whole moves at 100 miles per hour,” Yarmuth said. “This is why we need young people like this … you guys will be the community’s future leaders.”

ISEF qualifier Diya Mathur (11, MST) said that she appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Yarmuth and Wasserman-Schultz’s policy perspectives.

“I learned more about the politicians’ views on government resource allocation, while they were able to see some of the current research being conducted by Manual students,” she said. “I was extremely honored to be a part of such a wonderful experience.”

Earlier this week, Yarmuth held a press conference for student journalists downtown, where he fielded questions from Atherton, Trinity, Assumption and Manual reporters.