[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S151-S152]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CLAIBORNE DE BORDA PELL

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 8, submitted 
earlier today by Senator Reid.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 8) relative to the death of the 
     Honorable Claiborne de Borda Pell, former United States 
     Senator for the State of Rhode Island.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I join my colleagues, the people of 
Rhode Island, and people across the Nation in mourning the passing of 
Senator Claiborne Pell. It was my honor to serve with him here in the 
Senate. My first term in the Senate coincided with his last years of 
distinguished service in this body. In particular, I enjoyed the 
opportunity to serve on the Foreign Relations Committee during his time 
as chairman. He was known on the committee, and throughout the Senate 
on both sides of the aisle, for his unfailingly kind manner and his 
outstanding commitment to public service, and rightly so.
  Senator Pell had many accomplishments during his life in public 
service, including his authorship of legislation that created the 
National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for 
Humanities, but his work to create what came to be known as Pell grants 
was perhaps his greatest achievement. Pell grants have helped millions 
of Americans attend college who otherwise may not have been able to 
attend due to cost. Higher education is one of the most important 
investments our Federal Government can make, and Senator Pell, who was 
deeply concerned about the emergence of a widening educational gap 
between low-income and more affluent Americans, worked to try to ensure 
that individuals from low-income families are not denied postsecondary 
education because they cannot afford it. As this new Congress begins, 
it is my hope that we can carry forward Senator Pell's legacy and boost 
Federal need-based grant programs to help ensure the doors of higher 
education are open to all Americans regardless of their financial 
circumstances.
  Senator Pell's success in creating these grants, and giving so many 
Americans access to higher education, and to a better life, is a 
remarkable legacy. I am proud that I had the chance to serve with 
Senator Pell, and I join Americans across the country in honoring his 
memory.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed 
in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 8) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 8

       Whereas Claiborne Pell represented the people of Rhode 
     Island with distinction for 36 years in the United States 
     Senate, from 1961 to 1997, and was the longest-serving 
     Senator in Rhode Island's history;
       Whereas Claiborne Pell served in the United States Coast 
     Guard and the Coast Guard Reserve, beginning in 1941 and 
     retiring in 1978 with the rank of Captain;
       Whereas Claiborne Pell participated in the 1945 United 
     Nations Conference on International Organization that 
     established the United Nations, and was a champion of the 
     United Nations throughout his life;
       Whereas Claiborne Pell served as a Foreign Service Officer 
     from 1945 to 1952;
       Whereas Claiborne Pell sponsored the legislation that, in 
     1965, created the National Endowment for the Arts and the 
     National Endowment for the Humanities and, in 1966, created 
     the National Sea Grant College and Program;
       Whereas Claiborne Pell's vision led to the creation of an 
     improved passenger rail system in the Northeast and across 
     the United States;
       Whereas Claiborne Pell believed that economic means should 
     not be a barrier to a higher education and sponsored 
     legislation creating the Basic Educational Opportunity Grants 
     in 1972, which were renamed ``Pell Grants'' in 1980;
       Whereas Pell Grants have helped 54,000,000 people in the 
     United States secure a higher education;

[[Page S152]]

       Whereas Claiborne Pell sought to expand educational 
     opportunities throughout his tenure as a member and as 
     Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Education, Arts and 
     Humanities;
       Whereas Claiborne Pell served as Chairman of the Senate 
     Committee on Foreign Relations in the 100th through 103rd 
     Congresses;
       Whereas Claiborne Pell was a champion of human rights who 
     devoted himself to promoting a peaceful resolution to 
     international conflict and the elimination of the threat of 
     nuclear weapons; and
       Whereas the hallmarks of Claiborne Pell's public service 
     were unsurpassed respect, decency, and civility: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep 
     regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable 
     Claiborne Pell, former member of the United States Senate;
       (2) the Secretary of the Senate communicate these 
     resolutions to the House of Representatives and transmit an 
     enrolled copy thereof to the family of the deceased; and
       (3) that when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned 
     as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable 
     Claiborne Pell.

                          ____________________