[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H3770-H3771]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING ESTABLISHMENT OF COLLEGIATE PROGRAMS AT GALLAUDET 
                               UNIVERSITY

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 77) recognizing and honoring 
the signing by President Abraham Lincoln of the legislation authorizing 
the establishment of collegiate programs at Gallaudet University.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 77

       Whereas, during 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, 
     which is now called Gallaudet University;
       Whereas this 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 House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) congratulates and honors Gallaudet University on the 
     145th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's signing of 
     the law 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 citizens of the 
     United States and the world deaf community.

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


                             General Leave

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous 
material on H. Con. Res. 77 into the Record.

[[Page H3771]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 77, which 
congratulates Gallaudet University for 145 years of exceptional service 
to the hearing-impaired student community.
  In 1856, Mr. Speaker, Amos Kendall, a local businessman in 
Washington, D.C., adopted five deaf children. He soon learned that 
there were few opportunities for education for blind and deaf kids in 
Washington, D.C., so he took it upon himself to do something about the 
state of education, and he donated two acres of his estate to create a 
school that would ensure these students a place to learn.
  In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a charter to allow the 
school to confer college degrees. Beginning with just 18 students, 
Gallaudet University is now the world leader in liberal education and 
career development for over 1,600 deaf and hard-of-hearing college 
students yearly. With nearly 40 undergraduate and 12 graduate programs, 
Gallaudet boasts a strong and diverse academic program. Approximately 
90 percent of its courses include an online component, making Gallaudet 
a leader in technology in the classrooms. Gallaudet is the only 
institution that focuses on educational programs for hearing-impaired 
students from preschool through the doctoral level.
  Gallaudet is also a world leader in the fields of education and 
research. It is home to the Gallaudet Research Institute, which is the 
preeminent source of demographics of deaf youth in the United States. 
It is also home to the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School and the 
Model Secondary School for the Deaf, both of which disseminate 
innovative curriculum, materials and teaching strategies to schools 
throughout the country on ways to serve children with hearing 
impairments.
  Gallaudet considers public service an integral part of its student 
life. Just last year, Gallaudet students and faculty served 56,000 
people by teaching sign language classes and by providing sign language 
interpretation at conferences throughout the world.
  Gallaudet graduates move on to distinguished careers, including as 
lawyers, investment bankers, scholars, and entrepreneurs. It is clear 
that Gallaudet University is providing hearing-impaired students with 
an unrivaled education, and I congratulate the university on its 145th 
anniversary.
  As a congressional member of its board of trustees, I am pleased to 
have worked with Senator Sherrod Brown, who also serves on the board, 
to introduce this concurrent resolution. I urge my colleagues to 
support H. Con. Res. 77.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 77, a resolution 
recognizing and honoring the 145th anniversary of the signing of the 
law that established collegiate programs at the excellent institution 
of higher learning, Gallaudet University.
  It was on April 8, 1864 that President Abraham Lincoln signed a 
Federal law authorizing Gallaudet University to confer collegiate 
degrees. The signing of this law finally gave deaf students an 
opportunity to pursue a higher education in an environment specifically 
designed to meet their communication needs. Gallaudet is still the only 
institution in the world that focuses on education programs for deaf 
and hard-of-hearing students from preschool through the doctoral level.
  As of the 2007-2008 academic year, Gallaudet enrolled over 1,600 
students. These students have the opportunity to choose from more than 
40 undergraduate majors and have the opportunity to take advantage of a 
state-of-the-art facility. Additionally, each of these students who 
graduates from Gallaudet will receive a diploma that has been signed by 
the sitting President of the United States.
  I extend my congratulations to Gallaudet University on the 145th 
anniversary of its creation, and wish all of Gallaudet's faculty, 
staff, students, and alumni continued success in their endeavors. I ask 
my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. I do not 
know if we have any other speakers on the other side of the aisle, Mr. 
Bishop.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. We do not.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Then are you prepared to close?
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, with my profound respect for this 
particular institution and for the job that they do in creating a 
service for a specific need that is out there, I urge the support of 
this resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Miller and 
the Committee on Education and Labor for their help in bringing 
Congressman Kennedy's resolution to the floor.
  I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 77, which congratulates 
Gallaudet University for the 145th anniversary of the signing of its 
charter by President Abraham Lincoln.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 77.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being 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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