Whereas
in 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 and
the Blind, which is now called Gallaudet University;
Whereas
that 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 Congress—
(1)congratulates and honors Gallaudet
University on the 145th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s signing of
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 people of the United States
and the world deaf community.
Passed the Senate
March 24, 2009.
Secretary