[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 52 (Tuesday, May 2, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H2364-H2365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR REAPPOINTMENT OF MANUEL L. IBANEZ AS CITIZEN REGENT OF 
              BOARD OF REGENTS OF SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 42) providing for the 
reappointment of Manuel L. Ibanez as a citizen regent of the Board of 
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 42

       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 Manual L. Ibanez of Texas on May 4, 
     2000, is filled by the reappointment of the incumbent for a 
     term of 6 years. The reappointment shall take effect on May 
     5, 2000.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson).
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Dr. Manuel Luis Ibanez has been on the Board of Regents. 
I can vouch for his ability. He is being asked for reappointment to an 
additional 6-year term with the Smithsonian Institution. He served as 
president of Texas A&M University in Kingsville and is presently 
Professor of Microbiology.
  As a current citizen regent of the Smithsonian, he brings a unique 
knowledge of science because of his specialization in bacterial 
physiology. He possesses a broad background in academic and public 
service and combines that with his institutional experience in the 
areas of grants, awards, and funding.
  Dr. Ibanez has been a successful fund-raiser while serving as 
president of Texas A&M University and lends that experience to an 
institution that relies on constantly increasing its private fund-
raising base.
  He has also expressed support for expanding the Smithsonian's 
traveling exhibitions to reach parts of our country that do not 
normally have access to such exhibits.

[[Page H2365]]

  Dr. Ibanez has served successfully on the Smithsonian's Board of 
Regents for the past 6 years.
  I urge my colleagues to support S.J. Res. 42, which reappoints Dr. 
Ibanez for another 6-year term.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, again I rise in support of this resolution.
  I have listened to the words of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam 
Johnson) with reference to Dr. Ibanez, and I concur in those remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, the Smithsonian Institution is, as my colleagues know, 
both a museum of extraordinary note but also a very distinguished 
academic institution. It not only displays knowledge, but it diffuses 
knowledge, as well.
  Dr. Ibanez has served with distinction on the Smithsonian Board. So 
we have had Mr. Spoon, who is going to bring a new perspective, and Dr. 
Ibanez, who will continue to have an institutional memory of what has 
come before and what should go in the future.
  So I am very pleased to rise in support of this resolution and to, 
frankly, thank Dr. Ibanez for agreeing to continue to expend his very 
valuable time in this volunteer way on behalf of a great American 
institution, in fact a great world institution, the Smithsonian 
Institution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for his 
comments and I tell him that I appreciate those comments. Because Dr. 
Ibanez, of course, does live down near the valley in Texas and it is 
hard to get here, and sometimes those regents come from far away and we 
are proud to have representation from all over this Nation. It is a 
great institution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate joint resolution, S.J. Res. 42.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate joint resolution was 
passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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