[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 113 (Monday, September 20, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9389-S9390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 138--COMMENDING JOHN W. KLUGE FOR HIS 
 DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE UNITED STATES ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 
                             90TH BIRTHDAY

  Mr. STEVENS (for himself, Mr. Lott and Mr. Reid) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                            S. Con. Res 138

       Whereas John W. Kluge has combined a unique history of 
     American entrepreneurship with pioneering contributions to 
     philanthropy, electronic education, and television and radio 
     broadcasting;
       Whereas John W. Kluge is a dedicated patriot who served his 
     country well as an Army intelligence officer during World War 
     II;
       Whereas John W. Kluge's commitment to public service has 
     made him one of the most esteemed and generous benefactors of 
     education, and has brought him the admiration and gratitude 
     of the people of the United States;
       Whereas John W. Kluge's deep belief in human potential and 
     creativity has quietly helped extend educational opportunity 
     through scholarships and other support of important civic 
     causes;
       Whereas John W. Kluge's wise counsel and leadership as the 
     founding chairman of the Library of Congress's first private 
     sector philanthropic organization, the James Madison Council, 
     have inspired many others to join in support of the Library 
     of Congress's programs and initiatives;
       Whereas John W. Kluge has established an endowed program at 
     the Library of Congress to bring leading senior scholars and 
     junior fellows from around the world to the Library to use 
     its great collections and to interact with the members and 
     staff of Congress;
       Whereas John W. Kluge has generously supported the first 
     Nobel-level award for lifetime scholarly achievement in the 
     study of the human sciences;
       Whereas John W. Kluge has generously supported the creation 
     of advanced training for library leaders of the 21st century 
     through a Leadership Development Program at the Library of 
     Congress; and
       Whereas John W. Kluge has inspired the people of the United 
     States by his example of support for programs that educate 
     and equip individuals for responsible and productive 
     citizenship: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) commends John W. Kluge for his dedication and 
     commitment to the United States;
       (2) expresses, on the occasion of John W. Kluge's 90th 
     birthday, its sincere appreciation and admiration for his 
     example of philanthropy and public service to the people of 
     the United States; and
       (3) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit a copy 
     of this resolution to John W. Kluge.

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I have come to the Senate to submit a 
resolution honoring the great philanthropist John Kluge whose 90th 
birthday is tomorrow. He is a personal friend.
  John Kluge is a self-made man. He came to this country as a young boy 
from Germany with virtually nothing but a china Dresden horse--which he 
still has. From these humble origins and through hard work he received 
a scholarship to Columbia University.
  After distinguished service as an army intelligence officer during WW 
II--and I say parenthetically he served in Alaska during that period--
he went on in the business world to create a vast media empire which he 
converted into a great engine of philanthropy, supporting many 
educational programs, aimed in particular toward helping minorities.
  John Kluge's quiet commitment to public service and generosity of 
spirit will live on for generations. For years to come, individuals 
will be able to attend college on a Kluge scholarship

[[Page S9390]]

who might otherwise be unable to afford it. Countless future national 
leaders will benefit from the intellectual stimulation he has made 
possible through his work at the Library of Congress.
  Mr. Kluge is the founding chairman of the James Madison Council, the 
Library of Congress's private sector philanthropic organization, where 
he has inspired many others to join in support of the library and its 
programs.
  Through his generosity, John Kluge helped the Library of Congress 
bridge the gap into the digital world by enabling it to invest heavily 
in technologies that bring the vast collections of the Library of 
Congress to people all over the world.
  As chairman of the Joint Committee on the Library, I was pleased to 
announce at a ceremony in the Capitol in 2000 with the Librarian of 
Congress, Jim Billington, Mr. Kluge's generous gift of $60 million to 
establish the John W. Kluge center in the Library of Congress. Thanks 
to this endowment, the Kluge Center brings some of the world's best 
minds--the Kluge Scholars--into residence to use the rich resources of 
the library and interact with national policy makers.
  John Kluge has also generously supported the creation of advanced 
training for a new generation of library leaders through the leadership 
development program at the Library of Congress.
  John Kluge is a man who has made a difference. He has touched 
countless lives and truly deserves the recognition of this body.
  I ask unanimous consent to submit this resolution and ask that it be 
held at the desk so others might join in cosponsoring this resolution. 
It is my intention to ask the leadership to try to clear it for 
adoption this afternoon.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the measure being 
submitted and held at the desk? Without objection, it is so ordered.

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