[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 77 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 77


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 26, 2009

                                Received

                             April 20, 2009

               Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         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
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
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.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 24, 2009.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.