[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 24867-24868]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 PROVIDING FOR APPOINTMENT OF PATRICIA Q. STONESIFER AS CITIZEN REGENT 
             OF BOARD OF REGENTS OF SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass to the 
Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 26) providing for the appointment of 
Patricia Q. Stonesifer as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of 
the Smithsonian Institution.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 26

       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in 
     accordance with section 5581 of the Revised Statutes of the 
     United States (20 U.S.C. 43), the vacancy on the Board of 
     Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, in the class other 
     than Members of Congress, occurring by reason of the 
     expiration of the term of Dr. Homer Neal of Michigan on 
     December 7, 2001, is filled by the appointment of Patricia Q. 
     Stonesifer of Washington. The appointment is for a term of 6 
     years and shall take effect on December 8, 2001.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers).
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Senate Joint Resolution 26 provides for the appointment 
of Patricia Stonesifer to serve on the Smithsonian Institution's Board 
of Regents. This board governs the Smithsonian Institution and includes 
the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and the Vice 
President of the United States. It also is comprised of three Members 
each from the U.S. House and Senate and nine citizens who are nominated 
by the Board and approved jointly in a resolution of Congress.
  Patricia Stonesifer currently serves as cochair and President of the 
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She works to achieve that 
foundation's mission of improving access to advances in global health 
and education for all people as we move into the 21st century. Her 
other philanthropic work includes serving on the Board of the Vaccine 
Fund, which was started in 1999 to address the need for vaccines among 
the world's poorest countries.
  Prior to her being appointed President and Cochair of the Gates 
Foundation, she held a Senior Vice President position at Microsoft and 
ran her own management and consulting firm.
  I believe her diverse background and strong management experience 
make her an excellent candidate for appointment to the Smithsonian 
Institution's Board of Regents, and I urge my colleagues to support 
Senate Joint Resolution 26.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  At the risk of repeating some of the comments that the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) has stated, let me also join him to say I am 
delighted at this appointment.
  Ms. Patricia Stonesifer has distinguished herself in a variety of 
fields. She brings a combination of skills to the Smithsonian 
Institute. As has been previously alluded to her, in her capacity as 
Cochair and President of the Gates Foundation, she focused on improving 
global health throughout the world. She has also served on the Board of 
the Vaccine Fund, established in 1999, to address the dire need to 
combat preventible disease in the world's poorest countries.
  As the gentleman mentioned, she brings considerable expertise in the 
private sector, which, combined with her philanthropic work, will make 
her a very welcome addition to this board.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, Ms. Patricia Stonesifer will make a wonderful 
addition to the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents. Ms. 
Stonesifer has distinguished herself in numerous philanthropic, 
business, and public activities during her career, and I urge every 
Member to support her appointment.
  Ms. Stonesifer now serves as the co-chair and president of the Bill 
and Melinda Gates Foundation. At the Gates Foundation, she focuses on 
global health and education issues, reflecting her personal commitment 
to improving living conditions for peoples everywhere.
  Ms. Stonesifer also serves on the boards of the Vaccine Fund, 
established 2 years ago to combat preventable disease in the world's 
poorest countries, and that of the African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS 
Partnership, an organization working to fight the spread of AIDS in 
Botswana. She has served as a member of the American Delegation to the 
United Nations General Assembly's special session on AIDS.
  In her business career, Ms. Stonesifer has both served as a senior 
vice president at Microsoft, and operated her own consulting firm, so 
she knows business large and small. She serves on the boards of two 
publicly held corporations, the King County (Wash.) YWCA, and the 
Seattle Foundation.

[[Page 24868]]

  Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that Patricia Stonesifer will bring 
the right mix of philanthropic and business experience to the 
Smithsonian Institution. I urge the House to support her appointment.
  Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. 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 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate joint resolution, S.J. Res. 26.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate joint resolution was 
passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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