[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 133 (Wednesday, October 19, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S11579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 59--RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                    THE WHITE HOUSE FELLOWS PROGRAM

  Mr. BROWNBACK submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

       Whereas in 1964, John D. Gardner presented the idea of 
     selecting a handful of outstanding men and women to come to 
     Washington to participate as Fellows and learn the workings 
     of the highest levels of the Federal Government to learn 
     about leadership as they observed the Nation's officials in 
     action and met with these officials and other leaders of 
     society, thereby strengthening the Fellows' abilities and 
     desires to contribute to their communities, their 
     professions, and their country;
       Whereas President Lyndon B. Johnson established the 
     President's Commission on White House Fellowships, through 
     Executive Order 11183, to create a program that would select 
     between 11 and 19 outstanding young Americans every year and 
     bring them to Washington for ``first hand, high-level 
     experience in the workings of the Federal Government, to 
     establish an era when the young men and women of America and 
     their government belonged to each other--belonged to each 
     other in fact and in spirit'';
       Whereas the White House Fellows Program has steadfastly 
     remained a nonpartisan program that has served 8 Presidents 
     exceptionally well;
       Whereas the nearly 600 White House Fellows that have 
     served, have established a legacy of leadership in every 
     aspect of American society that includes appointments as 
     Cabinet officials and senior White House staff, election to 
     the House of Representatives, Senate, and State and local 
     Government, appointments to the Federal, State, and local 
     judiciary, appointments as United States Attorneys, 
     leadership in many of the Nation's largest corporations and 
     law firms, service as presidents of colleges and 
     universities, deans of our most distinguished graduate 
     schools, officials in nonprofit organizations, distinguished 
     scholars and historians, and service as senior leaders in 
     every branch of the United States Armed Forces;
       Whereas this legacy of leadership is a national resource 
     that has been used by the Nation in major challenges 
     including organizing resettlement operations following the 
     Vietnam War, assisting with the national response to 
     terrorist attacks, managing the aftermath of natural 
     disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and reforming 
     and innovating in national and international securities and 
     capital markets;
       Whereas the nearly 600 White House Fellows have 
     characterized their post-Fellowship years with a lifetime 
     commitment to public service through continuing personal and 
     professional renewal and association, creating a Fellows 
     community of mutual support for leadership at every level of 
     government and in every element of our national life; and
       Whereas September 1, 2005, marked the 40th anniversary of 
     the first class of White House Fellows to serve this Nation: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the 40th anniversary of the White House 
     Fellows program and commends the White House Fellows for 
     their continuing lifetime commitment to public service;
       (2) acknowledges the legacy of leadership provided by White 
     House Fellows over the years in their local communities, the 
     Nation, and the world; and
       (3) expresses appreciation and support for the continuing 
     leadership of White House Fellows in all aspects of our 
     national life in the years ahead.

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