[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 123 (Thursday, September 20, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H5739-H5740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AMENDING CHARTER OF SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2061) to amend the charter of Southeastern University of the 
District of Columbia.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2061

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS TO CHARTER OF SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY 
                   REGARDING BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

       (a) In General.--Section 3 of the Act entitled ``An Act for 
     the relief of the Southeastern University of the Young Men's 
     Christian Association of the District of Columbia'', approved 
     August 19, 1937 (50 Stat. 697), as amended by section 1 of 
     the Act entitled ``An Act to amend the charter of 
     Southeastern University of the District of Columbia'', 
     approved October 10, 1966 (80 Stat. 883), is amended--
       (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``, one-third of 
     whom'' and all that follows and inserting a period; and
       (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``elected for a 
     term'' and inserting ``elected by the board for a term''.
       (b) Treatment of Current Trustees.--The amendment made by 
     subsection (a) shall not affect the term of office of any 
     individual serving on the Board of Trustees of Southeastern 
     University as of the date of the enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Mrs. Morella) and the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H.R. 2061.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, our colleague and ranking member of the subcommittee of 
the District of Columbia, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia 
(Ms. Norton), introduced H.R. 2061 on June 5, 2001. The subcommittee on 
the District of Columbia considered and marked up the bill on June 26, 
and the legislation was considered and ordered reported by the 
Committee on Government Reform on July 25.
  H.R. 2061 amends the charter of Southeastern University of the 
District of Columbia and removes a provision in its charter requiring 
that one-third of the board of trustees of the university be alumni of 
the university. This provision would enable the university to attract a 
wider pool of nominees to the board.
  I want to thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. 
Norton) for introducing this legislation on behalf of the president and 
board of directors of Southeastern University. I also want to recognize 
the dedicated work of Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis, who has headed 
Southeastern University and brought it to the level of recognition that 
it enjoys today.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support H.R. 2061, a bill to 
amend the charter of Southeastern University of the District of 
Columbia, which was incorporated by an act of Congress in 1937, giving 
it the flexibility to appoint its board of directors from a larger 
group of candidates.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2061, legislation I introduced 
on June 5, 2001, to remove the provision of Southeastern University 
charter requiring that one-third of the board of trustees be 
Southeastern alumni.
  Southeastern University President Charlene Drew Jarvis and the board 
of trustees asked me to introduce this corrective measure. The bill 
unanimously passed in both the subcommittee of the District of Columbia 
and the full Committee on Government Reform.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to express my appreciation to the Chair of the 
subcommittee for the District of Columbia, the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Mrs. Morella), for her support of H.R. 2061 and for her 
continuing support of all we do in the District of Columbia.
  Southeastern University was incorporated in the District of Columbia 
by an act of Congress on October 19, 1937. Its charter contains a 
provision requiring that one-third of the University's board of 
trustees be alumni. On September 9, 1997, I received letters from 
Southeastern University President Charlene Drew Jarvis and board of 
trustees Chair Elizabeth Lisboa-Farrow asking that I introduce 
legislation to remove this provision.
  President Jarvis and the board of trustees would like this provision 
removed in order to let the university draw from a wider pool of 
potential board nominees. Because the university was incorporated by an 
act of Congress, only the Congress can effectuate this change.
  Southeastern University is an important and productive institution 
which contributes to higher education and the economy of the District 
of Columbia by offering undergraduate and graduate degrees geared 
specifically to the needs of working professionals such as accounting, 
banking, business management, computer science, information systems 
management, health services administration, government management, 
marketing and taxation.

[[Page H5740]]

  Under the able leadership of Southeastern's president, Dr. Charlene 
Drew Jarvis, who formerly served with distinction as a member of our 
city council for 17 years, the university has emerged from past 
difficulties and reached many milestones.
  For example, in 1997, the Consortium of Universities of the 
Washington Metropolitan Area admitted Southeastern to its membership. 
Since Ms. Jarvis has been president, Southeastern's enrollment has 
doubled. Southeastern has developed productive partnerships with local 
businesses that foster community involvement, while at the same time 
promoting educational achievement. One such partnership is D.C. Link 
and Learn, a technological training center founded with Southeastern's 
help near Southeastern's main campus. In addition, Southeastern has 
obtained cooperative agreements with the Washington Teachers' Union and 
the Greater Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants to 
create partnerships in support of professional development programs.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2061 will allow Southeastern to complement these 
and other efforts under way to strengthen the university's role in the 
life of the District of Columbia. I urge my colleagues to support this 
corrective measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests to speak on 
this very important bill, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 
2061.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2061.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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