[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S2475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 411--RECOGNIZING A MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF 
                          GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

  Mr. HARKIN (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 
Enzi, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Isakson, and Mrs. Murray) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to.

                              S. Res. 411

       Whereas Gallaudet University grants more bachelor's degrees 
     to deaf people than any other institution of higher learning 
     in the world, is the only such institution serving primarily 
     deaf and hard of hearing students, and provides 
     groundbreaking research in the field of deafness;
       Whereas, in 1988, Dr. I. King Jordan became the first deaf 
     President of Gallaudet University, and the first deaf 
     president of any institution of higher education in the 
     United States;
       Whereas deaf and hard of hearing graduates of Gallaudet 
     University serve as leaders around the globe;
       Whereas Dr. I. King Jordan graduated from Gallaudet 
     University in 1970 with a B.A. in Psychology, and received 
     both a master's degree and a doctorate in Psychology from 
     University of Tennessee by 1973;
       Whereas, before his appointment as president, Dr. I. King 
     Jordan served as the Chair of the Department of Psychology 
     and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Science at 
     Gallaudet University;
       Whereas Dr. I. King Jordan was a research fellow at 
     Donaldson's School for the Deaf in Edinburgh, Scotland, an 
     exchange scholar at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, 
     Poland, and a lecturer at schools in Paris, Toulouse, and 
     Marseille, France;
       Whereas, from 1997 to 2001, Dr. I. King Jordan led the 
     first comprehensive capital campaign for Gallaudet University 
     and successfully raised nearly $40,000,000, which was used by 
     the University to strengthen academic programs, increase the 
     endowment, and construct the Student Academic Center;
       Whereas Dr. I. King Jordan established the President's 
     Fellow program to increase the number of deaf and hard of 
     hearing faculty members by providing support for deaf and 
     hard of hearing college graduates to complete their terminal 
     degree;
       Whereas in 1988, Dr. I. King Jordan proclaimed to the 
     world, ``Deaf people can do anything, except hear.'';
       Whereas Dr. I. King Jordan is a strong advocate on the 
     national and international level for deaf people and people 
     of all disabilities, and was a lead witness in support of the 
     Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (in this resolution 
     referred to as the ``ADA'') during a joint session of 
     Congress prior to the passage of ADA;
       Whereas in July 2005, Dr. I. King Jordan received the 
     George Bush Medal for the Empowerment of People with 
     Disabilities, an award established to honor those individuals 
     who perform outstanding service to encourage the spirit of 
     ADA throughout the world;
       Whereas Dr. I. King Jordan served in the Navy from 1962 to 
     1966;
       Whereas Dr. I. King Jordan has shared nearly 38 years of 
     marriage with Linda Kephart, with whom he has two children, 
     King and Heidi;
       Whereas Dr. I. King Jordan is a strong supporter of 
     physical fitness and has completed more than 200 marathons 
     and 40 100-mile marathons;
       Whereas Dr. I. King Jordan will retire as the first deaf 
     president of Gallaudet University on December 31, 2006; and
       Whereas Dr. I King Jordan is an accomplished, respected 
     leader who devoted his life to Gallaudet University and 
     efforts to improve the quality of life for individuals who 
     are deaf or hard of hearing, and individuals with 
     disabilities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) Recognizes the achievement of Gallaudet University; its 
     leadership, faculty and students; and
       (2) expresses appreciation to Dr. I. King Jordan for his 
     many years of dedicated service to Gallaudet University, to 
     the deaf and hard of hearing community, and to all 
     individuals with disabilities.

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