[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H11790-H11792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REAPPOINTMENT OF HOMER ALFRED NEAL TO THE SMITHSONIAN BOARD OF REGENTS

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 69) providing for the reappointment of 
Homer Alfred Neal as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the 
Smithsonian Institution.
  The Clerk read as follows:
  
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                              H.J. Res. 69

       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in 
     accordance with section 5581 of the Revised Statutes of the 
     United States (20 U.S.C. 43), the vacancy on the Board of 
     Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, in the class other 
     than Members of Congress, occurring by reason of the 
     expiration of the term of Homer Alfred Neal of Michigan on 
     December 6, 1995, is filled by the reappointment of the 
     incumbent for a term of six years, effective December 7, 
     1995.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Thomas] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Hoyer] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas].
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 69 which 
provides for the reappointment of Homer Alfred Neal to the Smithsonian 
Institution's Board of Regents.

                              {time}  1430

  The Smithsonian is governed by a 17-member board composed of the 
Chief Justice, the Vice President of the United States, three Members 
of the House of Representatives, three Members of the Senate, and nine 
citizen members.
  Homer Neal will complete his first 6-year term as a citizen regent on 
December 6. His extensive knowledge about science and his expertise as 
vice president for research and professor of physics at the University 
of Michigan have provided a significant contribution to the Smithsonian 
as a regent. Mr. Neal is being renominated for an additional 6-year 
term.
  Mr. Speaker, regents oversee America's preeminent cultural 
institution. the Smithsonian's museums preserve, study, and present our 
cultural and scientific heritage through the vast collections that they 
hold in trust for the Nation. The Smithsonian is also a leading 
research center for the arts, history, and science, with facilities, as 
we know, here in the District of Columbia along the Mall but also in 
eight other States and in the Republic of Panama. We are most familiar 
with the Smithsonian based upon its exhibitions, 16 museums, galleries, 
and of course the National Zoo. They receive 29 million visitors every 
year, and every one of those visitors visit for free.
  The Smithsonian is in essence the Nation's attic. They preserve 
unique records of art, history, plant and animal life. The total number 
of objects is estimated at more than 140 million. Some 120 million of 
those objects are specimens in the National Museum of Natural History, 
and there are more than 16 million postage stamps and related objects 
at the National Postal Museum.
  The Smithsonian is a unique American institution. The Board of 
Regents are an important functioning aspect of the Smithsonian.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Louisiana [Mr. Livingston], one of the regents of the Smithsonian 
Institution of the House of Representatives, the chairman of the 
Committee on Appropriations.
  (Mr. LIVINGSTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. LIVINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California 
the distinguished chairman of the Committee on House Oversight for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank him also and also the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Fazio], the ranking member, who cannot be here 
today, for moving these regent nominations so quickly through their 
committee and onto the House floor. The actions we take today will 
allow the Board of Regents to have a full complement as the Smithsonian 
begins to celebrate its 150th anniversary this January.
  The Board of Regents is indeed, as the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Thomas] has pointed out, the governing body for the Smithsonian 
Institution. Its 17 members include the Vice President, Chief Justice, 
three Senators, three Members of the House, and nine citizen regents. 
The gentleman from Texas, Mr. Sam Johnson, and I are honored to be two 
of those regents.
  A replacement will soon be named for Norm Mineta, who resigned on 
October 10. The nine citizen regents are appointed by joint resolution 
of Congress for 6-year terms.
  The caliber of the people who are willing to serve in these positions 
reflects well upon the Smithsonian Institution, and each of the 
appointments will ensure that the Smithsonian continues its 150 years 
of success. Each of the joint resolutions that we will consider today, 
as the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas] will explain in detail, 
will appoint nationally respected individuals who are leaders in their 
respective fields. Each are distinguished Americans. I am honored to 
serve with them all.

  Mr. Speaker, I will not elaborate on the individual nominees since 
the gentleman from California on each of the resolutions will do that. 
But I would be remiss if I did not add that I will be introducing a 
bill later this week to allow for a commemorative coin to celebrate the 
150th anniversary of the Smithsonian. The proceeds from the coin will 
help to pay for sending Smithsonian exhibits across the country over 
the next 2 years to celebrate the 150th anniversary and to display the 
Smithsonian's treasures for many communities across America. For the 
first time we will help the Nation's coin collectors by devoting 15 
percent of the proceeds for the numismatic collection at the Museum of 
American History.
  Mr. Speaker, I again thank the chairman and the ranking member for 
their speedy consideration of the bill. I urge the adoption and the 
appointment of the citizen regents.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, and that sounds like 
we have at least one more object to add to the Smithsonian's collection 
coming soon.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support House Joint Resolution 69.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague from California in 
support of the four joint resolutions before us today. They were all 
passed out of committee unanimously and will serve to continue the 
excellent stewardship that has been the tradition of the Smithsonian 
Institution.
  The four resolutions before us are complementary and will bring a 
diverse group of skills and experience to the board. Together, the 
nominees bring backgrounds in the sciences, arts, business, and the 
Federal Government.
  The Smithsonian Institution is the crown jewel among our Nation's 
fine museums and research facilities. Every day, hundreds of Americans, 
and indeed, visitors from around the world, visit the Smithsonian 
museums and marvel at their wonders. Whether it is school children 
seeing the remarkable pictures from the Hubble telescope at the Air and 
Space Museum and starting on their journey into the marvels of science 
or a grandmother seeing Dorothy's red shoes that she first saw years 
ago on the magical silver screen, the Smithsonian is like no other 
place.
  The first resolution, House Joint Resolution 69, reappoints Homer A. 
Neal, vice president for research at the University of Michigan. House 
Joint Resolution 110 appoints Howard Baker, former Senator and Chief of 
Staff to President Reagan. House Joint Resolution 111 appoints Anne 
Harnoncourt, the director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and House 
Joint Resolution 112 appoints Louis Gerstner, chairman of the board and 
CEO of IBM Corp.
  The Smithsonian is governed by a 17-member board and all of these 
nominations are noncontroversial and worthy of this House's full 
support. I urge my colleagues to support each of these measures and am 
pleased to join my friend from California in recommending these 
distinguished nominees to the House.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests for time, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shays). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution, House Joint Resolution 
69.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. HILLEARY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

[[Page H 11792]]

  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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