[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 146 (Monday, September 15, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8092-H8094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT 
                                 OMAHA

  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1372) celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 
University of Nebraska at Omaha and recognizing the partnership between 
the city of Omaha, its citizens, and the university to build a vibrant 
and dynamic community, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1372

       Whereas the citizens of Bellevue and Omaha, Nebraska, 
     worked together with vigor and determination during the early 
     years of the 20th century to create a nonsectarian university 
     where local high school graduates could receive a college 
     education;
       Whereas due to the fortitude of the Board of Trustees and 
     the generosity of donors, the first student body consisting 
     of 26 students gathered on September 14, 1909, in what was 
     formerly the old Redick mansion at 24th and Pratt Streets to 
     begin their college education at the University of Omaha;
       Whereas in spite of numerous financial challenges, the 
     University of Omaha never wavered from its commitment to its 
     founders to produce well-rounded and informed students by 
     offering coursework in foreign languages, history, ethics, 
     sacred history, science, and other traditional subjects;
       Whereas the University of Omaha's substantial and respected 
     curriculum prompted the University of Nebraska to announce in 
     the spring of 1910 that it would accept credits from the 
     University of Omaha as equivalent to its own;
       Whereas the Board of Trustees, realizing the need for 
     expanded facilities and programs would not be met through 
     voluntary donations, voted in 1929 to turn over the 
     University of Omaha to the City of Omaha to establish a 
     municipal university;
       Whereas the World War II years were turbulent for the 
     Nation and required many sacrifices, and students and faculty 
     at the Municipal University of Omaha unselfishly united to 
     support the war effort and their fellow students on active 
     duty with a variety of activities, including replacing the 
     traditional Homecoming bonfire with a scrap drive rally;
       Whereas the Municipal University of Omaha, under the 
     leadership of President Milo Bail, responded to the need for 
     expansion due to a postwar boom in student enrollment that 
     threatened to stress facilities and programs by erecting a 
     number of buildings to accommodate the quickly increasing 
     student population, including a field house, library, and 
     student center;
       Whereas the Municipal University of Omaha further responded 
     to the needs of returning members of the military by 
     participating in the Bootstrap Program, initiated by the Air 
     Force in 1951, to encourage military personnel to finish 
     degrees that had been started before the War;
       Whereas the University Regents, with the goal of 
     strengthening financial solvency as well as offering 
     affordable tuition, agreed to merge with the University of 
     Nebraska beginning July 1, 1968, a decision that has since 
     been lauded as the greatest educational gain in the City's 
     history;
       Whereas the University continued to increase program 
     offerings to students, including the development of doctoral 
     programs such as a cooperative program in psychology and 
     joint program in educational administration with the 
     University of Nebraska at Lincoln, independent programs in 
     public administration and criminal justice, and through the 
     generous support of individual donors, the Alumni 
     Association, and the NU Foundation, the creation of numerous 
     named professorships;
       Whereas when a need arose for off-campus classrooms and a 
     conference site to accommodate the business community, the 
     University of Nebraska at Omaha worked diligently in both the 
     public and private sectors to secure funding for the 
     establishment of the Peter Kiewit Conference Center in 
     downtown Omaha in 1980;
       Whereas the University of Nebraska at Omaha, in partnership 
     with private donors, demonstrated a continued commitment to 
     providing outstanding facilities with the opening of the 
     Durham Science Center in 1987, the Weber Fine Arts Building 
     in 1992, and expansion of the Thompson Alumni Center in 2006;
       Whereas the University of Nebraska at Omaha provides 
     valuable resources and expertise to the State of Nebraska 
     through the Nebraska Business Development Center, which 
     produces an annual economic impact of $350,000,000 and serves 
     200 communities;
       Whereas the University of Nebraska at Omaha established a 
     Teacher's College in 1908 that produces educators who teach 
     in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 73 other 
     countries;
       Whereas the University of Nebraska at Omaha worked with 
     business leaders to establish the Peter Kiewit Institute of 
     Information Science, Technology and Engineering to help meet 
     the employment needs of the Nation's technology and 
     engineering firms, as well as offer students a premiere 
     educational opportunity;
       Whereas the Peter Kiewit Institute of Information Science, 
     Technology, and Engineering has received accolades from many 
     organizations, including the National Science Foundation and 
     Carnegie Mellon; and
       Whereas 2008 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of 
     the University of Nebraska at Omaha, with commemorations 
     beginning October 8, 2008: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of the 
     University of Nebraska at Omaha and calls upon citizens to 
     observe such an anniversary with appropriate ceremonies and 
     activities; and
       (2) encourages State and local governments to recognize the 
     partnership among the City of Omaha, its citizens, and the 
     University of Nebraska at Omaha to build a vibrant and 
     dynamic community.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 
1372 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?

[[Page H8093]]

  There was no objection.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in full support of H.R. 1372, which 
celebrates the University of Nebraska at Omaha's 100 years of service 
and partnership between the City of Omaha and its citizens.
  Founded in 1908, Omaha, Nebraska and Bellevue citizens worked 
together to create a nonsectarian university where local high school 
residents could receive a college education.
  Starting with only 26 students in their first class, the University 
of Nebraska at Omaha has blossomed into an esteemed university. Today, 
the University enrolls almost 14,000 students and offers a diverse 
range of academic courses.

                              {time}  1800

  With only 71 undergraduate majors, 45 masters degree programs, 17 
graduate certificates and six doctoral programs, UNO possesses a wide 
array of courses for its students. The school makes a tremendous social 
and financial impact on its students and city. Students receive a 
quality college education, and the school generates $350 million per 
year for the community.
  UNO's unique history speaks to its accepting and inclusive culture. 
UNO started off as the University of Omaha. Due to financial 
difficulties and the high number of students who wanted to attend, in 
1929 the board of trustees voted to establish a municipal university. 
The newly named Municipal University of Omaha prospered and relocated 
to its final location on 60th and Dodge Streets in the fall of 1936.
  Later the university regents agreed to merge with the University of 
Nebraska. As a result, University of Nebraska at Omaha was born. That 
merger created a more sustainable and affordable college education, a 
principle the school lives by today.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my full support for the University 
of Nebraska at Omaha.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I wish to yield as much time as he 
may consume to the gentleman who is the sponsor of House Resolution 
1372 and an alumnus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, as opposed 
to the University of Nebraska at New Orleans or something, such time as 
he may consume for this particular issue.
  Mr. TERRY. I thank the gentleman, and I thank the committee 
leadership for bringing this resolution to the floor. I, of course, as 
the author, rise in support of H. Res. 1372, a resolution celebrating 
the 100th anniversary of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. I do want 
to start off at the beginning to tell my friend from Texas (Mr. 
Hinojosa) that this is not the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Huskers. 
This is the number-sixth-rated-in-the-Nation University of Nebraska at 
Omaha Division II football. That is a distinction that, once made, 
garnered a lot more supporters. So when it comes to voting, I want to 
make that distinction.
  In October of 1908, 26 students gathered to form the first class at 
the University of Omaha, achieving the goal the city fathers decreed to 
create a nonsectarian university where local high school graduates 
could receive a college education. Over the tumultuous years ahead, the 
University of Omaha grew in size and reputation, outgrowing its 
original buildings and then relocating to its current home near 
Memorial Park in what was then the far west edge of the town and now 
known as ``Midtown.''
  In time, the University of Omaha would be known as the Municipal 
University of Omaha and in 1968 would become part of the University of 
Nebraska system, developing doctoral programs in conjunction with the 
flagship campus in Lincoln, as well as a number of independent programs 
in the field of public administration and criminal justice. UNO, as it 
then would become to be known, would become known for its remarkable 
programs in engineering, IS&T, and technology fields that are housed in 
the Peter Kiewit Institute as well as the university's renowned 
aviation program.
  Today the University of Nebraska at Omaha has a significant impact on 
eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, serving over 250 communities and 
contributing nearly $300 million in economic impact to that area. With 
a current enrollment of nearly 15,000 students, the University of 
Nebraska at Omaha has grown significantly and in measurable ways. It 
has bettered the lives of the citizens of Omaha and has taken its place 
among some of the finest public universities of its size in the region.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my fellow Members to vote in favor of this 
resolution in recognition of a truly unique and outstanding educational 
institution as it celebrates its 100th anniversary in October of this 
year. And go Mavericks!
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers on this bill. But 
before I give up my time, I want to say to Congressman Lee Terry that 
there's no doubt in my mind that the University of Nebraska is 
certainly one to be reckoned with, and the University of Texas 
Longhorns always have to think very, very hard and be very well 
prepared to be able to take those Nebraska Cornhuskers.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to say a few words 
in support of this particular resolution that congratulates the 
University of Nebraska at Omaha in its 100th anniversary of its 
founding, which will be 100 years on September 19 of this year. I would 
like to thank my colleague, Mr. Terry, for introducing this resolution. 
I also have to clarify that he was not the alumnus. His wife is the 
alumna of this institution. And I want to recognize the contributions 
the University of Nebraska at Omaha has made to the education of the 
citizens of this Nation.
  It was founded with just 26 students and now serves over 14,000. In 
the 2006-2007 academic year, the university awarded over 2,400 degrees 
to its students. The University of Nebraska at Omaha is nationally 
recognized for a strong academic program. Last year alone, the 
university was honored as one of the Best Colleges 2007 list, and the 
Best Midwestern College 2007 list and the Best Graduate Schools 2009 
list, as published by ``U.S. News & World Report.'' In addition, the 
College of Business Administration's masters in business in 
administration students rank in the top 5 percent nationally, while the 
undergraduate students ranked in the top 15 percent on the most recent 
standardized exam on business topics.
  University of Nebraska at Omaha has graduated such notable alumni as 
Marlin Briscoe, Peter Fonda, and a couple of Senators. Despite that 
fact, it is still a good school. I would like to congratulate all of 
the students, the alumni, and past and present employees on all they 
have accomplished over the last 100 years at the University of Nebraska 
at Omaha.
  While I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, our efforts to 
help these college students will still be incomplete if we don't 
recognize the factors that all colleges are facing. Our higher 
education system is being squeezed by the high energy costs, just as 
the rest of society is. Schools are being forced to limit their 
operations, to reduce the number of school days just to save on utility 
costs and save their students the price of a day's commute. I know in 
both regular education as well as secondary education that the budgets 
for those particular institutions are written very narrowly and that 
whenever there is an unusual spike in something like the cost of 
electricity and the cost of fuel, that it is taken out primarily either 
in the short term or the long-term from the funds that are available 
for the faculty and for teachers for their salaries. It is simply a 
fact of life that if we do not get control of this energy crisis that 
is burgeoning, every school district in this Nation, whether it be a 
secondary, elementary, public or private or university level, every one 
of those schools is going to have the costs that will be borne by the 
teachers either in suppressed salaries at the current time or 
suppressed salaries into the future. That is the price we are paying 
for our failure to try to grasp this particular concept.
  The majority has been meeting behind closed doors to craft a bill to 
offer what seems to be, at least from leaks

[[Page H8094]]

coming out, more political cover than actual reform. I am reminded of 
the U.S. Senate. The U.S. House has always had galleries so that people 
could watch what is taking place. But at the very beginning of the 
United States, the Senate convened in a closed room and no one could 
see what was taking place in that particular Chamber. The first 
employee of the United States Senate was actually the Senate secretary, 
a protege of John Adams who held the job for 25 years. The second 
employee of the Senate was the doorkeeper whose responsibility was to 
make sure that the public and House Members did not enter into the 
Chamber of the United States Senate. In fact, the Senate went on at 
that time to establish a funding schedule that would pay all Members of 
Congress $6 a day and Members of the Senate $7 a day. They also 
established a rule that a secretary could take any communication to the 
House, but at least two House Members had to be responsible for taking 
any communication to the Senate.
  Well, the doorkeeper turned into the Sergeant of Arms as time went 
on. And eventually the Senate broke down and decided to actually allow 
people to watch the proceedings on the floor. Yet once again we find 
ourselves in an amazingly similar situation where the most important 
issue of our time is what we do with this energy crisis, and yet the 
bill that is supposed to be debated this day, this week on the floor, 
supposed to be being heard in Rules Committee as we speak, has yet to 
be heard in any public forum, has not had any kind of public hearing, 
and has not had any kind of committee work. And my bets are still that 
there won't be a heck of a lot of amendments that will be allowed to 
that particular procedure, all of it done in secret and private and 
then unveiled on the floor.
  That is not the way of good regular order. Regular order should allow 
public process and open vetting so that all ideas are explored and the 
best ideas are those that surface to the top. We are not doing that 
this week. And we vitally and desperately need to do that, or just go 
back to the days where we keep a couple of doorkeepers around so the 
wrong people are not allowed to participate in the process of the 
policy of the United States.
  We need to do that. We need a real energy policy that looks good not 
on paper, but keeps vital American resources viable and usable, not 
under lock and key. The students of this college need that for their 
future. All students need that for their future. Teachers need that if 
their retirement and their salaries are going to be kept impact. All of 
us need that if this economy is going to be vibrant and move forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I do not have other speakers at this time, and I would 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I wish to 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1372, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground 
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum 
is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________