[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 2393-2394]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   APPOINTMENT OF WALTER E. MASSEY AS CITIZEN REGENT OF THE BOARD OF 
                 REGENTS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the 
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 19) providing for the appointment of Walter 
E. Massey as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the 
Smithsonian Institution, and ask for its immediate consideration in the 
House.
  The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I shall 
not object, I yield to the gentleman from

[[Page 2394]]

Florida (Mr. Mica) for purposes of explaining the joint resolution.
  Mr. MICA. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding to me, 
Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. Speaker, this request today in consideration of House Joint 
Resolution 19 provides for the appointment of Dr. Walter Massey to 
serve on the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
  This governing board of the Smithsonian is composed of 17 members, 
which includes the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Vice 
President of the United States, three members of each of the U.S. House 
of Representatives and the other body, the Senate, and nine citizens 
who are nominated by the board and approved jointly in a resolution of 
Congress.
  The nine citizen members serve for a term of 6 years each, and are 
eligible for reappointment to one additional term.
  Currently, Dr. Walter Massey is the President of Morehouse College, 
which is the Nation's only historically black all-male 4-year liberal 
arts institution. I am pleased also to report to the House that Dr. 
Massey has broad academic and administrative experience, serving as a 
provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the 
University of California.
  His career encompasses service as a former director of the National 
Science Foundation, to which he was appointed by former President 
George Bush.
  The Foundation is the government's lead agency for support of 
research and education in mathematics, science, and engineering, and 
furthermore, Dr. Massey's teaching experience includes work as the dean 
of the college, and also a professor of physics at Brown University, 
and as assistant professor at the University of Illinois. He has an 
extensive science background, and is involved in numerous research 
studies.
  Dr. Walter Massey's qualification as an educator, coupled with his 
extensive science background, makes him a very strong candidate for 
serving on this the Smithsonian Board of Regents for that Institution.
  So I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 19 and urge its 
adoption.
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, continuing to reserve the right to object, I 
yield to the gentleman from the great State of Georgia (Mr. Lewis).
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague 
for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 19, which 
will provide for the appointment of Dr. Walter Massey as a member of 
the Board of Regents for the Smithsonian Institution.
  Dr. Massey is the ninth president of Morehouse College, which is 
located in Atlanta, Georgia, my congressional district. Through his 
work, innovative thinking, and firm leadership, Dr. Massey has made a 
remarkable contribution, not just to Morehouse College, but to other 
colleges and universities, and to our Nation.
  I have no doubt that Dr. Massey will have an unwavering commitment to 
the Smithsonian Institution, with his deep understanding and 
appreciation of American history, art, and our diverse culture.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, continuing to reserve the right to object, I 
would like to say that Dr. Massey is a fine appointment to the Board of 
Regents. He holds a Ph.D. in physics. He has been the President of 
Morehouse College. He has served as the head of a national laboratory 
in Chicago. He has provided a tremendous amount of service, and is a 
great educator.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida and the gentleman 
from Georgia.
  Mr. SPEAKER, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the joint resolution, as follows:

                             H. J. Res. 19

       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 Frank A. Shrontz of Washington on 
     May 4, 2000, is filled by the appointment of Walter E. Massey 
     of Georgia. The appointment is for a term of 6 years and 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this joint 
     resolution.

  The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third 
time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider 
was laid on the table.

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