[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H4602-H4603]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR APPOINTMENT OF DAVID RUBENSTEIN TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS 
                     OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 8) providing for the 
appointment of David M. Rubenstein as a citizen regent of the Board of 
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate joint resolution.
  The text of the Senate joint resolution is as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 8

       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in 
     accordance with section 5581 of the Revised Statutes (20 
     U.S.C. 43), the vacancy on the Board of Regents of the 
     Smithsonian Institution, in the class other than Members of 
     Congress, occurring because of the expiration of the term of 
     Anne d'Harnoncourt of Pennsylvania is filled by the 
     appointment of David M. Rubenstein of Maryland. The 
     appointment is for a term of 6 years, effective on the date 
     of enactment of this joint resolution.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. 
Harper) each will control 20 minutes.

[[Page H4603]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous matter on the joint resolution 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S.J. Res. 8 would appoint David Rubenstein as one of the 
public regents to serve on the Board of Regents for the Smithsonian 
Institution. The Board of Regents has nominated him to join their 
ranks, and legislation appointing him has been sponsored by all of the 
members who serve on the board.
  Mr. Rubenstein is a co-founder and managing director of the Carlyle 
Group, one of the world's largest private equity firms. He holds an 
undergraduate degree from Duke University and a law degree from the 
University of Chicago. Before co-founding the Carlyle Group over 20 
years ago, he had a distinguished career as an attorney in private 
practice, at the White House, and here on Capitol Hill.
  Mr. Rubenstein also has a long history of giving back to the 
community. He serves on the boards of three of our Nation's most 
prestigious universities, as well as the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers 
for the Performing Arts and numerous other charities. He has 
demonstrated his service on the boards of the Museum of American 
History and the Museum of Natural History.
  The members of the Committee on House Administration had an 
opportunity to meet with Mr. Rubenstein before bringing this nomination 
to the floor. We appreciated his thoughts regarding the future of the 
institution, and we are confident that he will be a positive addition 
to the board.
  I urge the passage of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As a member of the House Administration Committee, I am pleased to 
support the appointment of David Rubenstein to be a citizen regent of 
the Smithsonian Institution. Committee members recently had the 
opportunity to meet with Mr. Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle 
Group, and we discussed the heightened expectations and increased 
responsibilities of the board as it continues to tackle the challenges 
faced by the institution.
  Currently, the Smithsonian Institution is comprised of 19 museums 
that hosted over 25 million visitors last year, roughly five times the 
number of visitors that came to the U.S. Capitol. In addition to 
current facilities, the institution is slated to break ground on the 
National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2012, a 
project estimated to cost $500 million. And just last year, the 
President signed the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, which 
established a commission to study the creation of a national museum 
dedicated to the art, culture, and history of the Latino community in 
the United States.
  The Smithsonian, like every other growing complex organization, faces 
unique operational challenges. Yet the institution's core mission, 
first articulated by James Smithson in 1826, to be ``an establishment 
for the increase and diffusion of knowledge'' still stands the test of 
time.
  Through his philanthropy, Mr. Rubenstein has already demonstrated a 
commitment to James Smithson's original vision. When the last privately 
owned copy of the Magna Carta became available for purchase, Mr. 
Rubenstein bought this priceless artifact and then permanently lent it 
back to the National Archives. Mr. Rubenstein's indisputable dedication 
to philanthropy coupled with his keen business sense will be a welcome 
addition at the institution, and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting his appointment to the Smithsonian Board of Regents.
  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of S.J. Res. 8, a 
bill to nominate David M. Rubenstein to the Smithsonian Board of 
Regents. As a Member of the Board of Regents' Governance and Nominating 
Committee which selected Mr. Rubenstein to join the Board, I wanted to 
express my support for moving his nomination.
  Mr. Rubenstein is a native of Baltimore and graduated magna cum laude 
from Duke, and from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was 
editor of the law review.
  Mr. Rubenstein is Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Carlyle 
Group, one of the world's largest private equity firms. David is widely 
respected for his business prowess.
  The Smithsonian, like many institutions during these challenging 
economic times, faces serious funding issues . . . and it is more 
important than ever to have Members of the Board with financial 
expertise.
  As part of our Governance efforts, we specifically adopted policy 
changes that turned the corner toward stronger oversight and 
accountability, including adopting regent description. These 
expectations of Regents include overseeing the Smithsonian's mission, 
as well as attending regular committee and full Board meetings.
  As such; we searched to find someone like David Rubenstein. Someone 
who is committed to giving back to his community; he is,on the Board of 
Directors of Duke, the Kennedy Center and the Lincoln Center for 
Performing Arts, among others.
  And who has committed to moving the Smithsonian forward during these 
challenging economic times; he has helped the Carlyle Group grow to a 
firm with 33 offices around the world.
  Today, Mr. Rubenstein is being nominated for the vacant seat that 
Anne d'Harnoncourt held. Anne was a great colleague on the Board and 
truly committed to the Smithsonian's mission. She was also chief 
executive officer of the Philadelphia Museum of Art from 1982 until her 
death in 2008.
  An acclaimed author and internationally respected art historian and 
administrator, she has been a part of the Smithsonian Institution since 
1974. Serving on the Board of Regent's from 1995 until 2007 and was 
awarded Regent Emerita status. Her early death was a tragic loss to the 
arts community and to the Smithsonian, and she is missed.
  Her dedication to the Smithsonian's mission of the increase and 
diffusion of knowledge is something that David Rubenstein shares. And I 
look forward to serving with him on the Board of Regents to promote the 
Smithsonian's mission in the 21st century. I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate joint resolution, S.J. Res. 8.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate joint resolution was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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