[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 92 (Friday, July 15, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 15, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  A SALUTE TO NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY UNDERGRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM 
                               GRADUATES

                                 ______


                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 1994

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the graduates of the 
National Security Agency Undergraduate Training Program [UTP]. On 
Monday, July 18, 1994, nine students will be recognized for completing 
the training program. As the author of this unique scholarship program 
which serves minority and disadvantaged students, I take particular 
pride in saluting the 1994 graduates. I am also pleased to note that on 
the date of the graduation, my friend and colleague from New Jersey, 
Donald Payne, will travel with me to the National Security Agency for 
the commencement exercises. Today, as I salute the UTP graduates, I 
want to share with my colleagues some important information regarding 
the creation of the Undergraduate Training Program.
  During my tenure as chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee 
on Intelligence, I was struck by the lack of minorities employed in key 
ranking and policy making positions throughout the intelligence 
community. To address the problem, I initiated legislation which was 
signed into law for the creation of a special Undergraduate Training 
Program. We were then able to secure the cooperation of the Central 
Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency to become the first 
intelligence agencies to include in their budgets the funds to provide 
full scholarships for minority and disadvantaged students.
  Through the program, minority high school graduates have their 
undergraduate college education fully funded and, following completion 
of college, are placed in midlevel positions at the intelligence 
agencies. While in college, students are provided a yearly salary, and 
full payment of their tuition, fees, and books. Many of the UTP 
participants enter such challenging fields as electrical engineering, 
computer science, computer engineering, and foreign languages.
  Mr. Speaker, since its birth more than 7 years ago, the Undergraduate 
Training Program has enjoyed great success. At the National Security 
Agency, 40 students are currently enrolled in the program, with an 
additional 23 students scheduled to begin the training program in 
August. The students participating in the Undergraduate Training 
Program are some of the best and brightest in the country. They are not 
only high academic achievers, but their future employment is already 
secure in promising fields throughout the intelligence community.
  Mr. Speaker, the graduate of the Undergraduate Training Program bring 
to the National Security Agency excellent skills and training which 
will benefit the agency in its mission. As I salute the 1994 graduate. 
I also take this opportunity to commend the Director of the National 
Security Agency, Vice Adm. J.M. McConnell, for his strong support and 
commitment to the UTP Program. I look forward to the opportunity to 
express my personal appreciation to Admiral McConnell, as well as 
personally salute the 1994 graduates at the upcoming commencement 
exercises.

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