[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 49 (Monday, March 23, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S3618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 12--RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE SIGNING 
    BY PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN OF THE LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING THE 
      ESTABLISHMENT OF COLLEGIATE PROGRAMS AT GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY

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

                            S. Con. Res. 12

       Whereas in 2009, the United States honored the 200th 
     anniversary of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln;
       Whereas on July 4, 1861, President Lincoln stated in a 
     message to Congress that a principal aim of the United States 
     government should be ``to elevate the condition of men--to 
     lift artificial weights from all shoulders--to clear the 
     paths of laudable pursuit for all--to afford all, an 
     unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race of life'';
       Whereas on April 8, 1864, President Lincoln signed into law 
     the legislation (Act of April 8, 1864, ch. 52, 13 Stat. 45) 
     authorizing the conferring of collegiate degrees by the 
     Columbia Institution for Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb and 
     the Blind, which is now called Gallaudet University;
       Whereas that law led for the first time in history to 
     higher education for deaf students in an environment designed 
     to meet their communication needs;
       Whereas Gallaudet University was the first, and is still 
     the only, institution in the world that focuses on 
     educational programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing students 
     from the pre-school through the doctoral level;
       Whereas Gallaudet University has been a world leader in the 
     fields of education and research for more than a century; and
       Whereas since 1869, graduates of Gallaudet University have 
     pursued distinguished careers of leadership in the United 
     States and throughout the world: Now, therefore, be it
         Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
         (1) congratulates and honors Gallaudet University on the 
     145th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's signing of 
     the legislation authorizing the establishment of collegiate 
     programs at Gallaudet University; and
         (2) congratulates Gallaudet University for 145 years of 
     unique and exceptional service to the deaf people of the 
     United States and the world deaf community.

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