[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 37 (Monday, March 15, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1401-H1402]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

  Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1145) recognizing the University of Arizona's 
125 years of dedication to excellence in higher education, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1145

       Whereas the University of Arizona was authorized by 
     Arizona's 13th Territorial Assembly on March 12, 1885;
       Whereas the University of Arizona is the flagship 
     university of the State of Arizona and, true to its land-
     grant heritage, is dedicated to building a better Arizona 
     through access, quality, and discovery;
       Whereas classes at the University of Arizona first met in 
     1891 with 32 students in Old Main, the first building 
     constructed on campus;
       Whereas the University of Arizona is Arizona's only member 
     of the prestigious 62-member Association of American 
     Universities;
       Whereas the University of Arizona is committed to an 
     accessible, quality education for all, maintaining the third 
     lowest tuition rate of any public university among the 
     Association of American Universities;
       Whereas the University of Arizona is ranked No. 15 among 
     public universities by the National Science Foundation for 
     research and development;
       Whereas the University of Arizona offers 122 undergraduate 
     degrees, 217 graduate programs, and 3 professional schools 
     including pharmacy, medicine, and law;
       Whereas the University of Arizona has over 225,000 alumni 
     in all 50 States and across the world, including a former 
     U.S. Secretary of the Interior and a former U.S. Surgeon 
     General;
       Whereas the University of Arizona is recognized as an 
     international leader in research and innovation in many 
     fields including optics, water research, and astronomy;
       Whereas the University of Arizona has achieved remarkable 
     success in athletics, winning 20 national championships, 
     including 8 softball titles and the 1997 men's basketball 
     title;
       Whereas University of Arizona students have consistently 
     answered the call to service as memorialized by the clock 
     tower of the Student Union Memorial Center, home to a bell 
     rescued from the USS Arizona after the attack on Pearl Harbor 
     on December 7, 1941;
       Whereas the University of Arizona played a leading role in 
     NASA's Phoenix Mars Mission, leading to the discovery of 
     water on Mars and furthering the understanding of the Martian 
     condition using advanced robotics; and
       Whereas the University of Arizona is dedicated to a more 
     sustainable energy future as reflected in its selection to 
     and achievement in the U.S. Department of Energy's 
     distinguished Solar Decathlon; Now, therefore, be it--
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives
       (1) recognizes the University of Arizona for 125 years of 
     dedication to excellence in higher education;
       (2) congratulates the University of Arizona on the occasion 
     of its 125th anniversary, and
       (3) expresses thanks to the University of Arizona for its 
     contribution to the betterment of the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 1145 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H1402]]

  I rise today in support of H. Res. 1145, which recognizes the 125th 
anniversary of the University of Arizona.
  The University of Arizona attained its charter on March 12, 1891, 
with the authorization of Arizona's 13th Territorial Assembly. The 
mission of this new university focused on building a better Arizona 
through access, quality, and self-discovery. The university's first day 
of classes commenced on October 1, 1891, with a small group of 32 
students from the surrounding region. The school instantly became a 
symbol of pride for Tucson, Arizona.
  From these humble beginnings, the University of Arizona has grown 
into one of the most prominent universities in the country. The student 
body contains over 36,000 students, including almost 7,000 graduate 
students. Students are enrolled in 122 undergraduate degree programs, 
217 graduate programs, and three professional schools.
  The University of Arizona has gained national accolades for its 
breakthroughs in science and technology. The university's scientific 
research and development program, ranked 15th in the Nation by the 
National Science Foundation, played a leading role in NASA's Phoenix 
Mars Mission, which led to greater understanding of the red planet.
  For all these accomplishments, the University of Arizona is also 
known for its athletic dominance. The 500 student athletes of the 
University of Arizona compete in over 19 Division I sports, winning 20 
national championships, 37 Pacific Ten titles, including a men's 
national basketball championship in 1997, and eight softball national 
titles.
  This year, the University of Arizona will celebrate 125 years of 
providing excellence in education and athletics, cultivating young men 
and women to become stewards of their community and leaders of the 
Nation.
  Madam Speaker, once again I express my support of the University of 
Arizona, and wish it and its students future success in all their 
endeavors. And I thank Representative Giffords for bringing this bill 
forward. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 1145, recognizing the 
University of Arizona's 125 years of dedication to excellence in higher 
education.
  The University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, was founded in 
1885, and first opened its doors to students in 1891. Thirty-two 
students applied for the first semester, but only six were admitted to 
the freshman class. The remaining 26 students were enrolled in a 
specially established prep school, since there were no high schools in 
the area.
  Today, the University of Arizona has 29,719 undergraduate students, 
6,962 graduate students, and 1,376 professional and medical students. 
The university is ranked number 16 among all public universities by the 
National Science Foundation. The university has a three-fold commitment 
to education, research, and community service, and offers more than 300 
undergraduate degrees through 20 colleges and 11 schools.
  The university boasts excellent academic programs, but its students 
also excel in athletics. The university houses 18 NCAA athletic teams. 
The University of Arizona Wildcats basketball team has reached the NCAA 
tournament for the last 25 consecutive years.
  The women's softball team is among the top programs in the country, 
and has won eight Women's College World Series.
  The University of Arizona is designated as both a land-grant and 
space-grant institution, and research conducted at the university has 
led to advances such as the development of Pima cotton and new 
artificial hearts, and has helped in the building of the largest 
telescopes in the world. The mission of the university is ``to 
discover, educate, serve, and inspire,'' and the accomplishments of its 
students reflect this.
  I extend my congratulations to the University of Arizona for 125 
years of excellence in higher education, and wish all of its faculty, 
staff, students, and alumni continued success. I would ask my 
colleagues to support this resolution, and I thank the gentlelady from 
Hawaii for being the manager of this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. I join in urging all my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1145, as amended.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Ms. HIRONO. Madam 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, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

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