[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 68 (Tuesday, May 5, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H5123-H5125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT MERCED GRADUATING CLASS

  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 396) honoring the graduating Class of 2009 at 
the University of California, Merced, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 396

       Whereas the University of California system has become one 
     of the largest and most highly acclaimed institutions of 
     higher learning in the world;
       Whereas Founding Chancellor Carol Tomlinson-Keasey, 
     countless individuals, numerous elected officials, and an 
     exceptional team of talented academic and administrative 
     professionals shared a vision and drive to carry forward the 
     University of California's historic mission of excellence in 
     teaching, research, and public service by assembling to build 
     the Nation's first major public research university of the 
     21st century in Merced, California;
       Whereas half of UC Merced's students are the first in their 
     families to attend college;
       Whereas UC Merced celebrates having one of the most 
     ethnically diverse research campuses in the Nation;
       Whereas UC Merced increases educational access and 
     opportunities for San Joaquin Valley students and will 
     contribute to enhanced job opportunities, new business 
     development, and economic growth throughout Central 
     California;
       Whereas 518 students will comprise the first-ever 
     graduating class from UC Merced on May 16, 2009;
       Whereas First Lady Michelle Obama will honor UC Merced's 
     first graduating class by delivering the commencement speech; 
     and
       Whereas the class of 2009 helped establish a thriving 
     campus and leave UC Merced highly qualified and ready to make 
     deep and lasting marks in their communities as leaders of the 
     21st century: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives commends the 
     students comprising the first graduating class at the 
     University of California, Merced, the class of 2009, for 
     their

[[Page H5124]]

     pioneering spirit, dedication, efforts, and desire to help 
     establish an institution that puts Merced on the road to 
     opportunity and promises to inspire the educational dreams of 
     young people in this underserved region for generations to 
     come.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Polis) and the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.


                             General Leave

  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 396 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. POLIS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 396, which 
commends the students of the very first graduating class of the 
University of California, Merced. UC Merced represents the newest 
school in the flagship California university school system.
  University of California, Merced was authorized by the California 
legislature in 1988 to address the higher education needs of the 
State's fastest growing region, the San Joaquin Valley, a population of 
over 3.5 million people. It provides adequate capacity for the UC 
system as a whole and ensures the students from the San Joaquin Valley 
have expanded options for higher education. High school graduates from 
the Valley have historically enrolled in the UC system at about half 
the rate of graduates from other major parts of the State.
  The University of California, Merced opened September 5, 2005, as the 
10th campus in the UC system. There are three schools, nearly 20 
undergraduate majors, nine graduate programs, over 100 full-time 
faculty members, and dozens of lecturers now teaching hundreds of 
courses on campus. UC Merced is a thriving campus community of over 
2,700 who actively participate in close to 100 clubs and assist the 
faculty in groundbreaking research opportunities.
  In addition to its education mission, UC Merced is an important 
strategic investment in California's future. The new campus serves as 
an engine of economic growth throughout the San Joaquin Valley where 
unemployment and poverty rates exceed California averages.
  The University also is helping first-generation college students 
receive a college education. Accessing a college education has never 
been more important in light of the current weak economy and job loss.
  The Class of 2009 is a class of true pioneers, creating a student 
government to shape campus policy, campus clubs to enhance social 
interaction, and cultivating a culture of social responsibility and 
civic engagement. These students demonstrated their passion and spirit 
in a letter-writing campaign to First Lady Michelle Obama. The First 
Lady acknowledged their zeal by agreeing to deliver the commencement 
speech this May to the Class of 2009.
  Madam Speaker, once again I express my support for the UC Merced 
resolution, and I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Cardoza, for 
bringing this resolution forward, and I urge my colleagues to support 
this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 396, the 
resolution honoring the first graduating class of the University of 
California, Merced.
  Opening on September 5, 2005, the University of California, Merced 
became the 10th campus in the University of California system and was 
founded with a mission to increase college-going rates among students 
in the San Joaquin Valley. San Joaquin Valley was California's largest 
and most populous region without a UC campus before the founding of 
UCM. With a total of just over 2,500 students currently, UCM is 
expected to grow to about 25,000 students within the next 30 years.
  UCM charges just over $8,000 in tuition and fees; 75 percent of UCM's 
students receive financial aid; 42 percent of the student population 
are eligible for Pell Grants. UCM offers 18 undergraduate majors and 
nine areas of emphasis for graduate students through their three 
schools, the School of Engineering, the School of Natural Sciences, and 
the School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts. It also has plans 
to open a School of Medicine and a School of Management in upcoming 
years.
  I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the 518 students who have 
persisted over the past 4 years and will walk across the stage to 
receive their degree, in acknowledgement of all their hard work, next 
week.
  I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the 
young individuals who are graduating with their degrees from all of our 
country's institutions of higher learning. For all these reasons, I 
encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Cardoza) for 5 minutes.
  (Mr. CARDOZA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. CARDOZA. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my good friend, the 
gentleman from Colorado, for yielding me the time.
  Madam Speaker, it is with the greatest pleasure and absolute 
tremendous pride that I rise today to recognize the first full senior 
class to graduate from the University of California at Merced.
  Throughout my career in the legislature in California, and today as a 
Member of Congress, UC Merced has remained a top priority of mine. In 
fact, the entire community embraced this project and worked tirelessly 
for its creation.
  Unemployment and poverty rates in the San Joaquin Valley continue to 
substantially exceed California averages, and high school graduates 
from the Valley have historically enrolled in the University of 
California system at about half the rate of graduates from other parts 
of California. Building the first UC campus in the San Joaquin Valley 
in Merced increases educational access and opportunity for the Valley's 
students and enhances job opportunities, new business development, and 
economic growth throughout Central California and, in fact, our State.
  When my dear friend and founding chancellor, Carol Tomlinson-Keasey, 
was given the daunting task of building UC Merced, she rose to the 
occasion and she began to plan for a campus that would be infused with 
her personal strengths of unwavering commitment, innovation, and 
academic leadership. I believe Carol is watching today, and I wish her 
my best.
  Carol worked collaboratively with government officials, the private 
sector, nonprofit organizations, and the UC Board of Regents to develop 
support for the campus and to secure needed funding and authority to 
develop the campus. Carol often said UC Merced would transform the 
lives of students in the San Joaquin Valley. Today is a testament to 
her vision and evidence to this transformation.
  UC Merced has built its reputation as the most ethnically diverse 
institution in the UC system, as well as being the Nation's first major 
public research university built in the 21st century.
  The class of 2009 has played an integral role in UC Merced's success. 
Whether they were building a student government from scratch or 
creating numerous clubs or assisting in groundbreaking research, every 
one of these students has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in 
academics and a passion to lead the community in the 21st century. At 
UC Merced, we call them the pioneers.
  The best example of the spirit of these students is in their recent 
campaign to have First Lady Michelle Obama deliver their commencement 
speech.

                              {time}  1430

  Through their own determined efforts and with steadfast perseverance, 
the student body flooded the First Lady's office with valentines and 
letters asking her to come to Merced. And their hard work paid off when 
the First Lady recently announced that she

[[Page H5125]]

would attend the May 16 graduation to give that commencement speech. 
These passionate students have helped put Merced on the road to 
opportunity and promise to inspire the educational dreams of young 
people throughout the Central Valley for generations to come.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating and honoring the 
historic achievement of UC Merced's first full graduating class, the 
Class of 2009.
  I would also like to take a moment to thank the chairman of the 
Education and Labor Committee, Mr. Miller, as well as his staff, for 
their hard work, which has made the dream of college a reality for so 
many students across the country.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in support.
  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers at this time. 
I encouraging everybody to support the resolution, and I yield back the 
balance of our time.
  Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, once again, I call upon my colleagues to 
support this resolution honoring UC Merced in supporting its students, 
faculty and the families served, and with that I would like to yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 396, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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