[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 14, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H6640-H6642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING MIAMI DADE COLLEGE ON 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1571) acknowledging and congratulating Miami
Dade College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of service to the
students and residents of the State of Florida, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1571
Whereas Miami Dade College opened its doors in 1960 as an
institute of higher learning for the residents of Miami-Dade
County, Florida;
Whereas the College became the first integrated junior
college in the State of Florida, leading the way for other
institutions to adopt policies of offering a higher education
to persons of all races and ethnicities;
Whereas the College has the most diverse student
populations in the United States with students from 178
countries, speaking 86 languages;
Whereas the College has one of the largest enrollments of
all colleges and universities in the United States;
Whereas the College offers more than 300 major areas of
study, providing educational and workforce opportunities for
students seeking associate and bachelor's degrees, as well as
short-term certifications in critical areas of study;
Whereas the College provides an affordable, comprehensive
higher education to individuals of all incomes and
backgrounds;
Whereas 55 percent of students attending the College
receive Pell Grants;
Whereas 52 percent of students are the first in their
families to attend college;
Whereas the College ranks first in the United States in the
amount of Pell Grant funds awarded to public colleges and
universities;
Whereas the College is one of only 40 community colleges
nationwide to be named to the President's Higher Education
Community Service Honor Roll;
Whereas the College is a leader in cultural programming;
Whereas the College's Miami International Book Fair is the
largest literary event in the United States;
Whereas the College's Miami International Film Festival is
world renowned;
Whereas the College is the home of the National Historic
landmark Freedom Tower;
Whereas the College adheres to its guiding principle to
change lives through the opportunity of education; and
Whereas 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of the
establishment of Miami Dade College: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives acknowledges
and congratulates Miami Dade College on the occasion of its
50th anniversary of academic excellence and service to the
residents of the State of Florida.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Watson) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which
Members may revise and extend their remarks, and insert extraneous
material on House Resolution 1571 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1571,
which celebrates Miami Dade College on the occasion of their 50 years
of service in higher education to the residents of the State of
Florida.
In 1960, Miami Dade first opened its doors under the name Dade County
Junior College. By 1967, the college was the largest institution of
higher education in the State of Florida. Today, Miami Dade College
boasts eight campuses and the largest public institution of higher
education in the Nation, welcoming nearly 170,000 students annually.
The college offers more than 300 major areas of study to its students,
and as of 2003, began offering bachelor's degrees in addition to
associate's degrees. Miami Dade College has awarded more associate's
degrees than any college in the United States.
Miami Dade College also has a rich history of diversity. The college
became the first integrated junior college in the State of Florida, and
now has students from 178 countries speaking 86 languages. The college
ranks first in the United States among public colleges and universities
for the number of Pell Grant recipients in attendance. At Miami Dade
College, 61 percent of students are from low-income families, and 52
percent are the first in their families to attend college. The college
also contributes to the region's cultural landscape via the nationally
acclaimed Cultura del Lobo Performance Series and the Miami
International Film Festival, both of which provide student artists with
unique learning opportunities.
Additionally, the annual Miami Dade International Book Fair is the
largest literary event in the United States. Does this have something
to do with the college? Not clear from the name.
Furthermore, Miami Dade College has consistently worked to produce
students with skills in high demand by local and regional employers.
The Emerging Technologies Center of the
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Americas at Miami Dade College works to prepare students for careers in
information technology and telecommunications. This center's state-of-
the-art 40,000-square-foot facility at the Wolfson campus houses 19
multimedia classrooms and labs equipped with high-end computers,
specialized equipment, and simulation workstations.
The students, faculty, and staff at Miami Dade College have much to
be proud of as they remember and celebrate the rich cultural and
academic history of their institution over the past half-century. I
once again express my support for House Resolution 1571 and
congratulate Miami Dade College on its 50th anniversary. I thank
Representative Ros-Lehtinen for bringing this resolution forward.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speaker, before I give my comments on this
particular resolution, I wish to yield such time as she may consume to
the sponsor of this resolution, as well as probably the most famous
alumnus from Miami Dade College, the gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen).
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank the gentleman for the time, and I also want
to thank Ambassador Watson for her comments on this wonderful
institution.
{time} 1510
Madam Speaker, as a former Florida certified teacher, as a former
educator and as an alum of Miami Dade College, I am so proud to be here
on the floor, congratulating Miami Dade College on its 50th
anniversary. I am proud to say that my father and my brother are also
graduates of this fine institution. I am infinitely grateful for the
education that I received from the excellent professors at Miami Dade
College, and I am sure that I would not be in the same position here
tonight were it not for this excellent education.
Miami Dade College has been an essential part of South Florida for so
many years--for 50 years since it was first established in 1960. By
1967, Madam Speaker, the college had become the largest institution of
higher education in the State of Florida. It built upon this
foundation, and it is now the largest institution of higher education
in the United States, serving nearly 170,000 students every year. That
is just phenomenal. It has enrolled more than 2 million students to
date, and it employs more than 6,000 faculty and staff. Half of the
students have been the first in their families to attend college.
Madam Speaker, you can imagine how proud those family members are at
every graduation that they can say that someone from their family has
graduated college.
Not surprisingly, it is home to one of the most diverse student
populations, with students from 178 countries, speaking 86 different
languages. Miami Dade College has managed to do all of this while
maintaining an affordable and accessible course of study for students
of all incomes, and it has been instrumental in the development and
success of so many in our community and throughout the United States.
Equally impressive, Madam Speaker, is the fact that more than a third
of its students are nontraditional. That is, they are older. They are
working adults who are looking to further their education or to,
perhaps, retrain for the jobs that are in demand now and in the future.
The college is an icon. It is central to the educational, economic,
social, and cultural fabric that is exciting South Florida, including
hosting the Nation's largest literary gathering, the Miami Book Fair
International. It also hosts the Miami International Film Festival, and
is home to the national historic landmark, the Miami Freedom Tower, and
to many programs that serve as the region's arts anchor.
A large part of Miami Dade College's success is due to its dynamic
president, Dr. Eduardo J. Padron, who is also a graduate of Miami Dade
College. Dr. Padron is widely recognized as one of the top educational
leaders in the world. His time with Miami Dade College has been defined
by growth, trailblazing academic and cultural programs, greater access,
and student success. He has produced impressive results in student
access, retention, graduation, and overall achievement. President
Padron has truly made a positive difference in the lives of so many
individuals, and we must commend him for all that he continues to do in
support of his college, our college, as this college is a part of our
community and our Nation.
So, Madam Speaker, with that, I urge all Members to please vote in
favor of this legislation, congratulating one of America's finest
academic institutions, Miami Dade College, for its 50th year of
providing quality education for all.
Thank you for the time, the gentleman from Utah, and thank you as
well, Madam Ambassador, for sponsoring this bill.
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise to support House Resolution 1571, acknowledging
and congratulating Miami Dade College on the occasion of its 50th
anniversary of service to the students and residents of Florida.
Miami Dade College was founded in 1960, 50 years ago. Only half a
decade later, the college had increased its enrollment by 300 percent.
As has been mentioned, as the first racially integrated junior college
in Florida, Miami Dade College provided an education to all area
residents who wanted to better their lives and further their education.
Today, almost 100,000 students are enrolled on the eight campuses year
round, and if you count part-time students, it increases that number
significantly. MDC is now the largest institution in the Florida
college system, and it works to educate a diverse student population by
offering 300 majors and by providing an affordable education to
students from all backgrounds.
The college holds several annual events that benefit both students
and members of the community. The Miami Dade College's Miami
International Book Fair and the Miami International Film Festival are
two such events that are nationally and internationally renowned.
I congratulate Miami Dade College for 50 years of excellence in
higher education, and I wish all of its faculty, staff, students, and
alumni continued success.
I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to
honor and congratulate Miami-Dade College on the occasion of its 50th
anniversary. Since opening its doors in 1960, it has served as an
exemplary institution of higher learning for the residents of Miami-
Dade County. A leader among Florida's institutions, it became the first
integrated junior college giving students of all races and ethnicities
the opportunity to seek a higher education. Since implementing these
policies, it has maintained its commitment to diversity, boasting a
student population hailing from 178 countries.
Miami-Dade College's diversity extends to its broad areas of studies
offering more than 300 major areas of study and a variety of degrees.
Offering students associate, bachelor's degrees, and short term
certificates, the Miami-Dade College has the largest enrollment of any
college or university in the United States, and has awarded more
associate degrees than any other college.
Miami-Dade College also stands out by offering an affordable,
comprehensive, education to individuals of all incomes as well as
backgrounds. Thirty-nine percent of its student body, lives below the
Federal poverty level and 61 are defined as low income. Speaking to
Miami-Dade College's commitment to students in low-income families, it
currently receives the highest number of Pell Grant awards. South
Florida, which, I am honored to represent, owes a debt to Miami-Dade
College for providing quality affordable education to our community. It
is an honor to represent Miami-Dade College and again I congratulate it
on its 50th anniversary.
Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I wanted to join others in extending my
congratulations to Miami Dade College on its 50th anniversary.
For half a century, Miami Dade has been providing outstanding
opportunities in education to the students of the State of Florida. As
a 1965 graduate of Miami Dade College, I am proud to recognize the
service and accomplishments of this great institution of higher
learning.
Since opening its doors in 1960, Miami Dade College has helped make
affordable quality education to the residents of Florida. We salute the
past successful 50 years and the faculty and staff that make this a
great educational institution.
At the Federal, State and local levels, we must remain committed in
our support of higher education, especially at our colleges and
universities in Florida.
[[Page H6642]]
Miami Dade College has made dreams come true for its graduates, many
whom are the first in their families to attend college. Miami Dade has
helped thousands achieve success in all walks of life. Having the
largest enrollment of any college or university in the United States,
the college has granted more associate degrees than any other college
in the United States. Miami Dade College is also the premier college in
providing education underserved minorities and low income families.
As a proud alumnus, I look forward to a bright future for my alma
mater, Miami Dade College. I know it will be a leader in education for
many future generations.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I urge the House to support House
Resolution 1571. It is a fine piece of legislation. Again, I would like
to congratulate Miami Dade College on its 50th anniversary.
With that, Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 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. Watson) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1571, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. WATSON. 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 and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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