IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 77 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 23, 2009 Ms. Woolsey submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Recognizing and honoring the signing by President Abraham Lincoln of the legislation authorizing the establishment of collegiate programs at Gallaudet University.

Whereas, during 2009, the United States honored the 200th anniversary of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln; Whereas, on July 4, 1861, President Lincoln stated in a message to Congress that a principal aim of the United States Government should be to elevate the condition of men—to lift artificial weights from all shoulders—to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all—to afford all, an unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race of life; Whereas, on April 8, 1864, President Lincoln signed into law the legislation (Act of April 8, 1864, ch. 52, 13 Stat. 45) authorizing the conferring of collegiate degrees by the Columbia Institution for Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, which is now called Gallaudet University; Whereas this law led for the first time in history to higher education for deaf students in an environment designed to meet their communication needs; Whereas Gallaudet University was the first, and is still the only, institution in the world that focuses on educational programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing students from the pre-school through the doctoral level; Whereas Gallaudet University has been a world leader in the fields of education and research for more than a century; and Whereas, since 1869, graduates of Gallaudet University have pursued distinguished careers of leadership in the United States and throughout the world: Now, therefore, be it

That the Congress— (1)congratulates and honors Gallaudet University on the 145th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the law the legislation authorizing the establishment of collegiate programs at Gallaudet University; and (2)congratulates Gallaudet University for 145 years of unique and exceptional service to the deaf citizens of the United States and the world deaf community.