[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 134 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H8916-H8917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMISSION ON INDEPENDENT 
                       COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

  Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 343) recognizing the 
50th anniversary of the Commission on Independent Colleges and 
Universities.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 343

       Whereas the Commission on Independent Colleges and 
     Universities is a voluntary consortium of more than 100 
     nonprofit, private institutions of higher education located 
     in New York;
       Whereas the Commission on Independent Colleges and 
     Universities was founded in 1956 to develop a consensus among 
     a diverse membership of independent institutions of higher 
     education and to advance higher education public policy;
       Whereas the Commission on Independent Colleges and 
     Universities represents 109 member campuses with more than 
     450,000 enrolled students, including 300,000 residents of New 
     York;
       Whereas the Commission on Independent Colleges and 
     Universities produces several informative publications for 
     students, parents, and schools about member colleges and 
     universities, college admissions, and financial aid;
       Whereas the Commission on Independent Colleges and 
     Universities is one of the largest organizations of 
     independent sector institutions of higher education in the 
     world; and
       Whereas the member institutions of the Commission on 
     Independent Colleges and Universities provide access to high-
     quality education and opportunity for hundreds of thousands 
     of students: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress recognizes the Commission on 
     Independent Colleges and Universities for 50 years of service 
     and contributions to higher education and higher education 
     public policy.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Kuhl) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Kuhl).


                             General Leave

  Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H. Con. Res. 343.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 343, a resolution 
recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Commission on Independent 
Colleges and Universities, and I want to thank my friend and colleague 
from New York (Mr. Boehlert) for introducing this resolution and 
recognizing the important role that the Commission for Independent 
Colleges and Universities plays in educating New York students about 
their options for obtaining a postsecondary education.

                              {time}  1245

  This institution was founded in 1956 and incorporated in 1972, and 
the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities enjoys a 
diverse membership with a shared goal of shaping and strengthening 
public policies in higher education. Its membership institutions, which 
include more than 100 private nonprofit institutions of higher 
education, enroll close to 460,000 students, including 300,000 New York 
residents, and award 59 percent of our State's baccalaureate degrees 
and 81 percent of the doctoral and first professional degrees earned in 
the State. In my congressional district, there are nine campuses, which 
include Alfred University, Elmira College, Houghton College, CUCA 
College, Nazareth College of Rochester, Roberts Wesleyan College, 
Rochester Institute of Technology, St. Bonaventure College, and Saint 
John Fisher College.
  Independent sector campuses promote diversity in their missions and 
academic program offerings and in their student bodies. Approximately 
one in four, or 80,000, full-time and part-time graduates enrolled in 
New York State independent colleges and universities are considered 
nontraditional students. At dozens of campuses, more than one quarter 
of all undergraduates are age 25 or older. Sector-wide, one in four 
enrolled students, 26 percent, is Asian, African American, and/or 
Hispanic, nearly double the percentage of minority students who were 
enrolled in 1980, which was 15 percent.
  The importance of independent colleagues and universities to the New 
York economy is significant. A recent study produced by the Nonpartisan 
Center for Governmental Research estimates that the total annual 
contribution to the economy made by independent colleagues and 
universities rose 42 percent over the past decade to $41.4 billion in 
2005, up from $29 billion in 1995. This figure includes $20.8 billion 
in direct campus spending and $20.6 billion in spillover spending.
  In addition to their importance to the economy, the independent 
campuses each year provide billions in aid to thousands of lower-income 
students, working to ensure that every single qualified student can 
earn a college degree. Access to college education will provide access 
to better jobs and certainly more opportunities for our young people.
  The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities also 
participates in a number of outreach and educational efforts. For 
example, the commission produces publications for students and families 
that provide helpful

[[Page H8917]]

admissions information regarding member institutions and information 
about financial aid programs that may assist a student in obtaining a 
college education. Recently, over 500,000 copies of these documents 
were provided to New York high school guidance counselors and 
principals, in addition to public libraries and high schools in 
neighboring States.
  Mr. Speaker, over the past 50 years the Commission on Independent 
Colleges and Universities has provided invaluable information and 
assistance to New York's families and institutions. It is for that 
reason and all the others that I have articulated here today that I 
urge my colleagues to honor the 50th anniversary of this important 
organization and support House Concurrent Resolution 343.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I rise in strong support of House Resolution 343. But before I speak 
on the resolution, I would just like to say a few words about the 
author of the resolution, my friend and colleague and fellow New 
Yorker, Congressman Boehlert.
  Congressman Boehlert, during your time in Congress you have been a 
fair and open-minded public servant; you have been a model of 
bipartisanship. You have been a very strong voice for the Science 
Committee and for the scientific community, and I wish you good luck 
and congratulations in your future endeavors.
  I rise in strong support of House Resolution 343. This bipartisan 
resolution recognizes the 50th anniversary of the Commission on 
Independent Colleges and Universities. Founded in 1956, the Commission 
on Independent Colleges and Universities is a statewide association 
representing the public policy interests of more than 100 independent 
colleges and universities in New York State.
  The private colleges and universities of New York award 56 percent of 
the baccalaureate degrees, 71 percent of the master's degrees, and 87 
percent of the professional degrees earned in New York State. Over 
460,000 students in New York are enrolled in independent higher 
education, which comprises 38 percent of all students attending 
colleges in New York State. Collectively, these campuses employ over 
158,000 New Yorkers and generate more than $40 billion annually of 
economic activity within their communities.
  Before coming to Congress, I was lucky enough to work for 29 years at 
a member institution of CICU, and thus I have had the opportunity to 
see firsthand its effective and unified approach to ensuring access, 
quality, and diversity.
  As a result of CICU's relentless advocacy, New York's students have 
seen increases in both the Tuition Assistance Program and the Bundy Aid 
program, both of which are New York-based financial aid programs that 
fill a vital need in both student aid and in institutional aid.
  In Congress, I have found CICU and its president, Abe Lackman, and 
his staff to be a valuable resource on higher education issues, keeping 
me abreast of trends and concerns of the New York higher education 
community.
  The students and private colleges of New York are lucky to have CICU 
advocating on their behalf in both Albany and Washington. I would like 
to personally congratulate CICU on their 50th anniversary, and I look 
forward to working with them during the next session of Congress on 
ways to improve college access and affordability.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KUHL of New York. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 
as much time as he may consume to the distinguished Member and 
colleague of mine from New York (Mr. Boehlert).
  (Mr. BOEHLERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank my generous colleague for yielding 
me that time, and I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle for their kind words. It has been a great privilege to serve in 
this institution, and one of the things I take special pride in is my 
friendships across the center divide. So I thank you most sincerely.
  I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Commission of 
Independent Colleagues and Universities. Fifty years ago, half a 
century, the commission was established in my home State of New York 
with the goal of strengthening private, not-for-profit higher education 
institutions, a goal I wholeheartedly support and have worked 
tirelessly to achieve.
  New York has a long and proud tradition of higher education, and the 
CICU has worked day after day, week after week to improve and 
strengthen that legacy.
  Since 1956, enrollment in the independent sector has doubled from 
225,000 to nearly a half a million today, 460,000. The 109 independent 
colleges and universities that make up the commission are spread 
throughout New York State and the entire educational system. The 
consortium is led by several of our Nation's most notable institutions, 
including Columbia, NYU, Cornell, RPI, Hamilton, and many others, 
including, and pardon my understandable pride, the best of the lot, my 
alma mater, Utica College.
  Together, these institutions award over half of all undergraduate and 
three-quarters of all graduate degrees in New York, as well as training 
almost 90 percent of our professional students. That is quite a record 
of achievement.
  As the lead sponsor of this resolution, I thank my colleagues from 
New York for joining me in honoring the Commission on Independent 
Colleagues and Universities. I am confident that CICU will continue to 
help improve educational opportunities throughout New York State and 
the Nation for many years to come, and that is one of the most worthy 
of goals.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  MR. KUHL of New York. Likewise, 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 New York (Mr. Kuhl) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 343.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having 
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the 
concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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