[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 211 (Tuesday, December 7, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE ARCHER CENTER'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. VAN TAYLOR

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 7, 2021

  Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, I rise along with my colleague, Rep. Colin 
Allred, to recognize the Archer Center at The University of Texas 
System and The University of Texas at Dallas on the occasion of its 
20th anniversary.
  In 2001, Bill Archer of Houston, Texas, retired from the United 
States House of Representatives (TX-07) where he had served for 30 
years, including a six-year tenure as Chairman of the U.S. House Ways 
and Means Committee. Immediately upon his retirement, Congressman 
Archer and his long-time chief of staff, Don Carlson, established the 
Archer Center and the Bill Archer Fellowship Program. The University of 
Texas at Dallas, which is in our congressional districts, is the 
academic home for the Archer Center.
  As the Washington, D.C., campus of The University of Texas System, 
the Archer Center provides talented undergraduate, graduate, and 
medical students from across the U.T. System's thirteen academic and 
health institutions with the opportunity to live, learn, and intern in 
the nation's capital.
  The Archer Fellowship Program is a unique academic and experiential 
learning program that introduces highly accomplished students from the 
State of Texas to the federal policymaking process. Archer Fellows 
spend a transformative semester interning for a variety of public and 
private organizations including the White House, Congress, and the U.S. 
Supreme Court. More than 1,500 students have participated in the Archer 
Center's semester-long and summer programs in the past two decades. 
Over the years and at present, we have each hosted Archer Fellows in 
our offices. We have even hired Archer Fellow alumni to join our 
official staffs.
  The Archer Fellowship continues to elevate the reputation of the U.T. 
System and its students. It has served as a springboard for graduate 
and professional careers at prestigious universities and medical 
centers such as Harvard University, Yale University, and the University 
of Oxford, as well as virtually every U.T. institution. The program has 
also enabled students to enter high-impact careers in the public and 
private sector. Archer Fellows have been awarded many distinguished 
scholarships, including the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, the Marshall 
Scholarship, the Rhodes Scholarship, the Schwarzman Scholarship, and 
the Fulbright Scholarship.
  Today, Archer Fellow alumni continue Congressman Archer's legacy of 
public service by working in all branches of state, federal, and local 
government, and by serving in the military. These young people 
represent the very best of North Texas and there is no doubt some 
future members of Congress among them.
  As the Archer Center celebrates its twentieth anniversary, we wish to 
express our gratitude to Congressman Archer and Don Carlson for their 
vision and enduring support for Texas students. The Center's growth and 
continued success is fueled by the dedication of the U.T. System 
leadership, including Chancellor J.B. Milliken, the Board of Regents, 
and U.T. Dallas President Richard Benson, and steadfast supporters and 
alumni of the Archer Center.
  We send our best wishes to the Arther Center on this important 
milestone.