[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3223-3224]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR APPOINTMENT OF JOHN W. McCARTER AS A CITIZEN REGENT OF 
          THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 25) providing for the 
appointment of John W. McCarter as a citizen regent of the Board of 
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate joint resolution.
  The text of the Senate joint resolution is as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 25

       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 (20 
     U.S.C. 43), the vacancy on the Board of Regents of the 
     Smithsonian Institution, in the

[[Page 3224]]

     class other than Members of Congress, occurring because of 
     the expiration of the term of Walter E. Massey of Georgia, is 
     filled by the appointment of John W. McCarter of Illinois, 
     for a term of 6 years, effective on the date of the enactment 
     of this resolution.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
on the Record on this Senate joint resolution being considered today.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Senate Joint Resolution 25 would appoint John W. 
McCarter, Jr. as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian for a 6-year term. 
Mr. McCarter is currently the president and CEO of the Field Museum in 
Chicago, which is one of our Nation's great cultural institutions.
  Mr. McCarter has had a diverse background in government and business 
in addition to his role in heading one of the Nation's great museums. A 
native Chicagoan, he previously was senior vice president of Booz Allen 
& Hamilton, president of DeKalb Corporation, and was budget director of 
the State of Illinois under Governor Richard B. Ogilvie. He was a White 
House Fellow during the administration of President Lyndon Johnson.
  Mr. McCarter brings a wealth of useful skills to the board. As an 
experienced museum director, he may prove especially valuable in 
helping to implement governance reforms at the institution.
  Passage of this joint resolution would fill a vacancy on the 
Smithsonian Board of Regents that has lasted for nearly 1 year. It 
continues the necessary process of bringing new blood into the 
Smithsonian Institution. Passage now would allow Mr. McCarter to join 
the board in time for a vote to appoint a new Secretary, which is 
expected later this month.
  There is still one vacancy remaining among the citizen regents of the 
Smithsonian. I urge the board to send Congress a recommendation soon, 
so we can bring it back up to full strength.
  I urge approval of the joint resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EHLERS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of S.J. Res. 25, the appointment 
of John W. McCarter as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian 
Institution's Board of Regents.
  The previous speaker, the Chair of the House Administration 
Committee, has pointed out the outstanding record of Mr. McCarter and 
what he has done. He is the ideal appointee to the board of the 
Smithsonian.

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. McCarter combines extensive experience as director of the Field 
Museum, which is a responsibility very similar to that of the 
Smithsonian Museum, although perhaps on a smaller scale. His experience 
in the day-to-day operations of the Field Museum will hold him in good 
stead on the Smithsonian Board. Furthermore, he has considerable 
experience in the private sector, and that experience will also be most 
helpful in the operation of the Smithsonian.
  Mr. Speaker, we have had some problems with the Smithsonian during 
the past few years, with both the previous secretary and with some of 
the enterprises the Smithsonian has engaged in. I would volunteer that 
Mr. McCarter is precisely the sort of person we need to straighten out 
the operations of the Smithsonian, to serve with his unique knowledge 
in the field of museums, and also his role in business. I believe he is 
going to make an outstanding addition to this board. I am very 
confident that we should appoint him, and that he will be a well-
qualified, highly capable addition to the board charged with protecting 
the Nation's Attic, as we fondly call the Smithsonian. I urge all of my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the 
appointment of John McCarter to serve on the Smithsonian Institution's 
Board of Regents.
  The Board of Regents is responsible for a variety of issues related 
to the Smithsonian Institution, including budgets, planning documents, 
proposed programs and construction, appointments to Smithsonian 
advisory boards, and legislative initiatives. Given the variety and 
importance of the Board's responsibilities in managing the public's 
most cherished cultural institutions, and given the recent 
controversies regarding Smithsonian leadership, we must support the 
appointment of members to the Board of Regents who will ensure that the 
Smithsonian Institution will fulfill its critical mission in 
perpetuity. That is why I am pleased to support John McCarter's 
appointment.
  John McCarter has an accomplished history of service in both the 
public and private sector. Currently, he serves as President and Chief 
Executive Officer of The Field Museum, a jewel in the crown of cultural 
attractions in Chicago, and one of the greatest natural history museums 
in the world. The Field Museum attracts over 1 million visitors each 
year; its collection includes over 23 million specimens, a number which 
continues to grow due to its ongoing expeditions and research in 94 
countries around the world; and its staff includes 72 Ph.D.s.
  Under John's leadership, the Field Museum has undertaken a series of 
projects to rebuild and restore the museum. During his tenure the 
Museum has created several new permanent and traveling exhibits, 
including the ``Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs'' 
exhibit in 2006, which has toured to Philadelphia, London, and soon 
Dallas, to sold out crowds. The museum has also expanded its 
educational role in the community, establishing partnerships with 
science teachers in the community and organizing activities for inner-
city schools.
  A native Chicagoan, John previously was Senior Vice President of Booz 
Allen & Hamilton, Inc. Earlier in his career, he served as President of 
DeKalb Corporation, and was Budget Director of the State of Illinois 
under Governor Richard B. Ogilvie. John was also a White House Fellow 
during the administration of Lyndon B. Johnson, and is currently a 
trustee of the University of Chicago and a board member and former 
Chairman of Chicago's Public Television Station Channel 11. McCarter is 
a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School, and 
also attended the London School of Economics.
  It is my honor to support the appointment of John McCarter to the 
Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents. John's service to the Field 
Museum, to the City of Chicago, to Illinois, and to the country, will 
make him an invaluable addition to the Board.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate joint resolution, S.J. Res. 25.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate joint resolution was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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