[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 23, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1802-S1803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THOMPSON (for himself, Mr. Frist, Mr. DeWine, Mr. 
        Voinovich, and Mr. Smith of Oregon):
  S. 440. A bill to provide support for certain institutes and schools; 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


   legislation to provide support for certain institutes and schools

 Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, today Senator Frist and I are 
introducing a bill to establish the Howard Baker School of Government 
on the campus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
  The University of Tennessee has a long and proud tradition of 
providing the highest quality education to students from Tennessee and 
around the world. The Howard Baker School of Government would be but 
the latest installment in this institution's ongoing commitment to 
preparing its student body by giving them the tools and knowledge 
necessary to succeed in the pursuit of their dreams.
  With this said, I can think of no greater tribute to our friend and 
colleague, the former Majority Leader of this body, Senator Howard 
Baker, than to further his legacy of promoting the best in our 
political system by establishing this School in his honor.
  In many ways, Senator Baker's entire life has been a lesson in public 
service. Those of us from his home state of Tennessee have matured in 
his shadow and have been inspired by his vision. His positive influence 
has not, however, been limited by Tennessee's borders. Senator Baker is 
one of those rare individuals whose leadership has lifted the entire 
nation. Creating this School of Government in his name would not only 
be a tribute to a man but a logical extension of that man's continuing 
lifework.
  In 1966, Senator Baker became the first Republican popularly elected 
to the United States Senate in Tennessee's history. This was not 
because of a great rise in Tennessee's Republican population, but 
rather was an indication of Senator Baker's unique ability to reach out 
to people of different backgrounds with diverging views and spark in 
them that all-encompassing common vision--that we live together in a 
great nation that has an even greater future.
  Senator Baker served in this body from 1967 until January 1985, as 
Minority Leader from 1977 until 1981, and then as Majority Leader until 
his retirement. After leaving the Senate, Senator Baker served 
admirably as Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan and he continues 
to this day to provide us with a keen insight into the principles of 
true leadership.
  Throughout each phase of Senator Baker's life he has clearly 
demonstrated that statesmanship is not something relegated to our 
history books. It is alive and well. His continuing example is a call 
to each of us that we can and should rise to the challenge of 
citizenship in a way that brings us together as a nation and further 
strengthens this great experiment called the United States.
  I can think of no better union than the ideals and example of Senator 
Howard Baker with the dedication to higher education of the University 
of Tennessee. The Howard Baker School of Government will be an 
institution each of us can be proud to have supported and one that will 
further the principles of good government to which each of us is 
committed.
 Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce 
legislation to establish the Howard Baker School of Government at the 
University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I am proud to introduce this 
legislation with my colleague, Senator Thompson. Although the Senate 
passed this legislation last year, unfortunately it was not signed into 
law before the completion of the 105th Congress.
  The bill we are introducing today would create a new academic program 
at the University of Tennessee, and authorize the appropriation of $10 
million to establish the school and its endowment fund to provide long-
term funding for personnel and operations. I am pleased that this 
school is to be named in honor of Senator Howard Baker, who is a 
University of Tennessee alumnus. Senator Baker has enjoyed a 
distinguished career in public service. He served in the U.S. Senate 
for 18 years, held the positions of Minority and Majority Leader, was a 
presidential candidate, and has served as White House Chief of Staff to 
President Reagan. Senator Baker has been a long supporter of the 
University of Tennessee, working diligently to raise funds for various 
fellowships and scholarships. He has served his State and country with 
pride and integrity, and it is therefore fitting that we establish a 
School of Government in his name.
  The Howard Baker School of Government would comprise the existing 
political science, public administration, regional planning, and social 
science research programs, house manuscript collections from important 
public figures such as Tennessee's three presidents and leading 
twentieth-century

[[Page S1803]]

political figures, and institute a lecture series on public issues. In 
addition, the school will establish a professorship to improve the 
teaching, research, and understanding of democratic institutions, 
establish a fellowship program for students interested in pursuing a 
career in public affairs, and support the professional development of 
elected officials at all government levels. The School of Government 
will be housed in the renovated former Hoskins Library, and will be 
dedicated to advancing the principles of democratic citizenship, civic 
duty, and public responsibility through the education and training of 
informed citizenry and public officials.
  Again, I am proud to introduce this legislation which I believe will 
bring greater prominance to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 
while simultaneously honoring one of our State's most distinguished 
public servants.
 Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today in support of 
important legislation that would create an endowment for a public-
policy institute in Columbus. This institute will embody the spirit of 
our recently-retired U.S. Senator, the Honorable John Glenn.
  The bill would create an endowment fund for the John Glenn Institute 
for Public Service and Public Policy at the Ohio State University in 
Columbus, Ohio. The bill also creates endowment funds for the Mark O. 
Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University, the Paul 
Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, and the 
Howard Baker School of Government at the University of Tennessee.
  Mr. President, I have long believed that the study of politics would 
benefit greatly if more statesmen were to contribute their hands-on 
expertise. And not only that; it is the example of their supremely 
practical idealism that we really need if we are to understand and 
solve the problems confronting tomorrow's America.
  We in Ohio are proud to host the Glenn Institute, which will serve 
many purposes: (1) ``To sponsor classes, internships, community service 
activities, and research projects to stimulate student participation in 
public service, in order to foster America's next generation of 
leaders.''
  (2) ``To conduct scholarly research in conjunction with public 
officials on significant issues facing society and to share the results 
of such research with decision-makers and legislators as the decision-
makers and legislators address such issues.''
  (3) ``To offer opportunities to attend seminars on such topics as 
budgeting and finance, ethics, personnel management, policy 
evaluations, and regulatory issues that are designed to assist public 
officials in learning more about the political process and to expand 
the organizational skills and policy-making abilities of such 
officials.''
  (4) ``To educate the general public by sponsoring national 
conferences, seminars, publications, and forums on important public 
issues.''
  (5) ``To provide access to Senator John Glenn's extensive collection 
of papers, policy decisions, and memorabilia, enabling scholars at all 
levels to study the Senator's work.''
  All of these, Mr. President, are valuable goals. I understand the 
center plans to address specifically the consequences of media coverage 
on public service; analyze the effectiveness of civics education 
classes in our K-12 schools; design training programs for public 
officials on issues such as policy evaluation, communications 
strategies and ethics; and create an undergraduate major in public 
policy.
  Senator Glenn himself recently underscored the mission of the 
Institute, saying, and I quote: ``What we do today will determine what 
kind of country our kids will live in tomorrow. And that's worth 
working for.'' He also said, ``You can go to the National Archives in 
Washington, D.C., and it's almost a religious experience to look at the 
U.S. Constitution. But that piece of paper is not worth a thing without 
people to make it real. I look at public service as being the personnel 
department for the Constitution. People in public service are the ones 
who make it work.''
  Mr. President, I could not agree more, and that is why I'm backing 
this bill. The bill provides an authorization of $10 million for the 
Glenn Institute, and the Ohio State University must match that 
endowment with an amount equal to one third the endowment.
  It's a good investment in the future of our public life.
                                 ______