[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 50 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 50

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                      January 13, 2009.
Whereas Claiborne deBorda Pell was born on November 22, 1918, in the State of 
        New York;
Whereas after receiving a degree in history from Princeton University in 1940 
        and a Master of the Arts degree from Columbia University in 1946, and 
        after serving in the United States Coast Guard during World War II, 
        Claiborne Pell continued his career in public service as part of the 
        Foreign Service, serving in Czechoslovakia, Italy, and the District of 
        Columbia;
Whereas Claiborne Pell was elected to the Senate in 1960 by the people of the 
        State of Rhode Island;
Whereas in 1972, as a member of the Senate, Claiborne Pell was instrumental in 
        creating the Basic Education Opportunity Grants;
Whereas the Federal Pell Grants, renamed in honor of Claiborne Pell in 1980, 
        have helped over 54,000,000 low- and middle-income students attend 
        college and achieve their educational goals;
Whereas during his time in the Senate, Claiborne Pell was a supporter of 
        education, human rights, workers, international law and diplomacy, and 
        the arts, sponsoring the legislation that created the National Endowment 
        for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities;
Whereas the High Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965, sponsored by Claiborne 
        Pell, became the origin for the Amtrak system in the Northeast corridor;
Whereas Claiborne Pell became Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 
        in 1987, and an important voice in United States foreign policy and 
        against international military conflict;
Whereas after serving 6 terms in the Senate, Claiborne Pell retired in 1996;
Whereas Claiborne Pell was appointed United States Delegate to the United 
        Nations in 1997;
Whereas on January 1, 2009, at the age of 90, Claiborne Pell passed away in 
        Newport, Rhode Island: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the life, achievements, and distinguished career of 
        Senator Claiborne Pell;
            (2) emphasizes that, among his legislative accomplishments, Senator 
        Claiborne Pell changed the face of higher education by enabling millions 
        of low- and middle-income students to achieve the dream of a college 
        education; and
            (3) recognizes the Federal Pell grants, the educational grants that 
        bear his name, as a significant part of the legacy of Senator Claiborne 
        Pell.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.