[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19993]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  SENATE RESOLUTION 178--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 19, 
1999, AS ``NATIONAL HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WEEK''

  Mr. THURMOND (for himself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. 
Torricelli, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Robb, Mr. Frist, Mrs. 
Lincoln, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Mack, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Abraham, Mr. Lott, 
Mr. Specter, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Schumer, Mr. 
Grassley, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. 
Craig, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Sessions): submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 178

       Whereas there are 105 historically black colleges and 
     universities in the United States;
       Whereas black colleges and universities provide the quality 
     education so essential to full participation in a complex, 
     highly technological society;
       Whereas black colleges and universities have a rich 
     heritage and have played a prominent role in American 
     history;
       Whereas black colleges and universities have allowed many 
     underprivileged students to attain their full potential 
     through higher education; and
       Whereas the achievements and goals of historically black 
     colleges and universities are deserving of national 
     recognition: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF ``NATIONAL HISTORICALLY BLACK 
                   COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WEEK''.

       The Senate--
       (1) designates the week beginning September 19, 1999, as 
     ``National Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
     Week''; and
       (2) requests that the President of the United States issue 
     a proclamation calling on the people of the United States and 
     interested groups to observe the week with appropriate 
     ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate support 
     for historically black colleges and universities in the 
     United States.

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I am pleased to rise today to submit a 
Senate resolution which authorizes and requests the President to 
designate the week beginning September 19, 1999, as ``National 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.''
  It is my privilege to sponsor this legislation for the fourteenth 
time honoring the Historically Black Colleges of our country.
  Eight of the 105 Historically Black Colleges, namely Allen 
University, Benedict College, Claflin College, South Carolina State 
University, Morris College, Voorhees College, Denmark Technical College 
and Clinton Junior College, are located in my home State. These 
colleges are vital to the higher education system of South Carolina. 
They have provided thousands of young people with the opportunity to 
obtain a college education.
  Mr. President, these institutions have a long and distinguished 
history of providing the training necessary for participation in a 
rapidly changing society. Historically Black Colleges offer our 
citizens a variety of curricula and programs through which young people 
develop skills and talents, thereby expanding opportunities for a 
lifetime of achievement.
  Mr. President, through passage of this Senate Resolution, Congress 
can reaffirm its support for Historically Black Colleges, and 
appropriately recognize their important contributions to our Nation. I 
look forward to the speedy passage of this Resolution.

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