[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 156 (Monday, October 26, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H11747-H11748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY

  Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 854) recognizing Weber State University for the 
120th anniversary of its founding as an institution of higher 
education.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 854

       Whereas Weber State University (WSU) was founded in 1889 as 
     Weber State Academy;
       Whereas WSU celebrates its 120th anniversary this year;
       Whereas WSU is a public university that offers associate's, 
     bachelor's, and master's degrees, as well as professional, 
     liberal arts, and technical certificates;
       Whereas WSU is located in Ogden, Utah, and has an 
     additional campus in Layton, Utah;
       Whereas WSU serves more than 23,000 full-time and part-time 
     students;
       Whereas the WSU Wildcats have 14 intercollegiate programs 
     that participate in the National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association Division I athletics;
       Whereas Weber State University promotes community 
     involvement and community-based learning experiences for its 
     students; and
       Whereas Weber State University prides itself in its 
     excellent teaching, commitment to meeting the needs of 
     students, and ongoing service to the community: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates Weber State University on the 120th 
     anniversary of its founding as an institution of higher 
     education; and
       (2) recognizes the contributions of Weber State University 
     to its students and community.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Puerto Rico (Mr. Pierluisi) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Puerto Rico.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, I ask for 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous 
material on House Resolution 854 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Puerto Rico?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PIERLUISI. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 854, which 
celebrates the 120th anniversary of Weber State University.
  Founded in 1889, Weber State Academy eventually became what is now 
known as Weber State University. From its humble beginnings, Weber 
State has grown into a 400-acre campus in Ogden, Utah and a 105-acre 
campus in Layton, Utah.
  The university takes great pride in serving the needs of its students 
while preparing them for life-long service to their community. Offering 
more than 200 undergraduate majors, WSU is home to the largest and most 
comprehensive undergraduate program in the State of Utah.

                              {time}  1430

  U.S. News & World Report cites WSU as one of the top 10 public 
master's institutions in the West. The campus features more than 100 
student clubs and organizations, in addition to 14 athletic programs 
which compete in the NCAA Division I. While most of its students are 
drawn from Utah, the campus is enriched by students hailing from the 50 
States and 35 foreign countries.
  The student body of WSU is an accomplished one, with a variety of 
campus programs achieving national recognition. For example, Wildcat 
athletes have qualified for the Olympic

[[Page H11748]]

trials in track and captured the Big Sky Conference championship. The 
WSU Wind Ensemble was invited to the Los Angeles International Band and 
Orchestra Festival, and WSU theater students were selected to perform 
at the renowned Kennedy Center right here in Washington, D.C.
  In addition to its esteemed academic and cultural reputation, Weber 
State University is known for its commitment to civic engagement and 
community service. The campus' Community Involvement Center seeks to 
engage students by providing opportunities of academic learning and 
community service. The center coordinates with community agencies and 
runs the AmeriCorps Education Award Program.
  I congratulate Weber State University on 120 years of service and 
leadership and look forward to what the coming years have for this 
accomplished institution.
  I thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) for bringing forth this 
resolution to this floor and ask my colleagues to join Mr. Bishop and 
me in supporting this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I also thank the gentleman from Puerto Rico for the kind words he 
said about one of the premier institutions in the top of Utah, which is 
Weber State University.
  Today I rise in support of House Resolution 854, recognizing Weber 
State University on the 120th anniversary of the founding of that 
institution. It started, obviously, as a religious stake academy, the 
Weber Academy, in 1889. Then it has had several changes, going into, 
first of all, a 2-year college as Weber College, then a 4-year 
institution, Weber State College, and then eventually as Weber State 
University.
  The first president or principal of that Weber Academy was Louis 
Moench, who was a German immigrant, a great educator as well as 
administrator and truly a Renaissance man, because he is also the 
author of one of my favorite religious hymns.
  The second principal was David O. McKay, who went on to become the 
president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and one of 
the most revered religious figures in the Nation in his time.
  The present president, President Milner, is the first female 
president of a 4-year college or university in the State of Utah, and 
she does a magnificent job in leading the 23,000 students that comprise 
the campus in Ogden, as well as 3,500 students in the satellite campus 
in Davis County, as well as outreach programs that take place in Box 
Elder, Morgan, Davis and other counties throughout the State of Utah.
  This is an institution which has set its goal on education 
excellence--does this well--as well as competitive excellence. It is a 
member of the Big Sky Conference, where last year it won the titles in 
the conference in both football, basketball and, I believe, women's 
soccer. At the same time, it is still ranked number 14 in its division 
in football this particular year.
  It also has one of the State's largest nursing programs, the State's 
only dental hygiene program, the State's only police academy. Its 
proximity to Hill Air Force Base makes it a premier educational 
institution, not only for those continuing its education, for those who 
are working at Hill Air Force Base, but also for the servicemen who 
attend there and participate in part of their program.
  Indeed, the theatrical production that the gentleman from Puerto Rico 
mentioned that was held here at the Kennedy Center was a student 
production of Macbeth, which I had the opportunity of watching--one of 
those light-hearted musical comedies coming at the end of a long day--
but it was a spectacular production of which those students at Weber 
State University should be proud.
  Like every institution that takes place, it is a community asset. It 
provides educational excellence for the people in that area, provides 
economic incentives for the people of that particular area, it is a 
source of community enlightenment and activities through its academic 
and art programs. With all of us, there is always some kind of 
interface that goes along with it.
  One time, the president of Weber State University--at that time it 
was Weber State College--was Joseph Bishop, who I wish I could claim 
was a relative because he was intelligent, but I can't. During its 
great growth spurt, right after World War II, Weber State was led by 
Dr. Miller, an excellent president who I feel very close to because I 
was able to mow his mother's lawn because she was a neighbor of mine in 
Kaysville.
  At the same time, my father-in-law played football at Weber State. My 
wife graduated from Weber State. Perhaps one of our greatest 
acknowledged alumna from Weber State is a Member of the House of 
Representatives today. Representative Lynn Jenkins from Kansas is a 
graduate of Weber State, which I didn't know until today. Now I know 
who to hit up for in the future.

  I have a daughter that wants to attend the dental program at Weber 
State, a daughter-in-law that wants to go to the nursing program at 
Weber State. We have very close ties to this particular institution. 
It's an institution that has received many honors. It is the recipient 
of the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for 
the third consecutive year, was listed in Forbes magazine, ranked 43rd 
among public colleges, selected to host the Council on Undergraduate 
Research in 2010 and the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research 
in 2012, numerous faculty teaching excellence awards.
  In the Big Sky Conference in 2009 it won the Presidents' Cup, which 
recognizes not only accomplishments on the field of athletic endeavor 
but also in the field of classroom work. This was the fourth time in 7 
years it received that particular honor.
  I am very proud of Weber State University, in the top of Utah. I am 
proud what it does for students that I used to teach, what it does for 
the community, the standards that it sets as a standard of excellence 
in education, as well as what it does to add to community life for all 
of us who actually live in northern Utah.
  I am appreciative of having this resolution here. I am appreciative 
of the recognition that the gentleman from Puerto Rico has given to 
this particular institution.
  Mr. Speaker, if I could inquire if the gentleman from Puerto Rico has 
any other speakers.
  Mr. PIERLUISI. I don't, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I don't have any other speakers.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PIERLUISI. I ask that my colleagues support the resolution 
celebrating the 120th anniversary of Weber State University.
  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 Puerto Rico (Mr. Pierluisi) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 854.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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