[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 21241-21242]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1200
    APPOINTING FRANCE A. CORDOVA TO BOARD OF REGENTS OF SMITHSONIAN 
                              INSTITUTION

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 9) providing for the 
appointment of France A. Cordova as a citizen regent of the Board of 
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
  The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
  The text of the joint resolution is as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 9

       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 class other than Members of 
     Congress, occurring by reason of the resignation of Eli Broad 
     of California is filled by the appointment of France A. 
     Cordova of Indiana. The appointment is for a term of 6 years, 
     effective on the later of April 7, 2009, or the date of 
     enactment of this joint resolution.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members have 5 
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on this 
legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this joint resolution will appoint Dr. France Cordova as 
a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution for a 6-year term 
beginning on the day of its enactment into law. The appointment would 
fill a long-standing vacancy and would bring the Board of Regents back 
up to full strength again for the first time in several years.
  Dr. Cordova is the president of Purdue University in Indiana. She 
also served as chief scientist at NASA in the 1990s. The members of the 
Committee on House Administration met with her in July, and we found 
her to be very qualified to represent the American people on the 
Smithsonian's governing body.
  I urge approval of the joint resolution so that Dr. Cordova can 
assume her seat in time for the Regents' next meeting later this month.
  I now reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  As a member of the House Administration Committee, I am pleased to 
support the appointment of Dr. France Cordova to be a citizen regent of 
the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Cordova recently joined committee 
members to discuss her extensive educational background and ongoing 
work which will be of inestimable benefit to the ongoing mission of the 
Smithsonian. Because she is so distinguished and is involved in many 
activities, I did ask her whether she could give the time to this 
appointment that it deserves, and she assured us that she could. She 
recognized the importance of the Smithsonian Institution and felt that 
this was a more than worthy obligation on her part and felt that it was 
a contribution she would make to the American people.
  In addition to the many national boards of which she is a member, Dr. 
Cordova serves as the 11th president of Purdue University in Indiana. 
She was the first woman chancellor of a University of California 
campus, but perhaps also indicative of her leadership, in the area of 
discovery, she was, I'm informed, the youngest chief scientist at NASA.
  As a scientist, administrator, and ongoing researcher, the richness 
of her background in academic exploration would be difficult to 
overstate. As the Smithsonian Institution continues toward new 
achievements, I am confident that Dr. Cordova will be a critical piece 
in ensuring that James Smithson's original intent, that the institution 
would be ``an establishment for the increase and diffusion of 
knowledge,'' is preserved with excellence.
  I would urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Dr. Cordova's 
appointment to the Smithsonian's Board of Regents.
  Since I have no other speakers, I would yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I thank the ranking member on the House 
Administration Committee for his cooperation, as always.
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Dr. France A. Cordova 
on her nomination by the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents and 
appointment by joint resolution of Congress to serve as one of the 
Smithsonian's nine citizen regents. Her outstanding scientific 
contributions in the areas of observational and experimental 
astrophysics, multi-spectral research on x-ray and gamma ray sources, 
and space-borne instrumentation make her an ideal candidate for this 
prestigious position.
  Born in France, Dr. Cordova attended high school in California and 
went on to graduate cum laude from Stanford University in less than 
four years. She then earned a PhD in Physics from the California 
Institute of Technology, and in 1997, she was awarded an honorary 
doctorate by Loyola Marymount University. In 2007, Dr. Cordova moved to 
the Hoosier State and was appointed the eleventh president of Purdue 
University, as well as professor of physics and astronomy for the 
University.
  Again, I commend the excellent work of Dr. Cordova and her many 
scientific contributions. Hoosiers are blessed to have the talent and 
expertise of Dr. Cordova at Purdue University, and her appointment to 
the Smithsonian's Board of Regents is a true honor for Indiana. I am 
confident that she will prove a valuable asset in her new position at 
the Smithsonian Institution.
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my support for 
Senate Joint Resolution 9, and recognize Dr. France A. Cordova on her 
appointment as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution's Board 
of Regents.
  The Smithsonian's governing board is comprised of 17 members. These 
members include the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Vice 
President of the United States, six

[[Page 21242]]

Members of Congress, 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.
  Having already established herself as an internationally recognized 
astrophysicist, and a national leader in postsecondary education, 
France A. Cordova is currently the 11th President of Purdue University. 
Known as the first woman and youngest person to hold the position of 
NASA chief scientist from 1993 to 1996, Dr. Cordova still follows her 
love of science. Currently, Dr. Cordova and two colleagues have a 
collaborative experiment flying on the European Space Agency's X-Ray 
Multi-Mirror Mission.
  Prior to joining Purdue in 2007, she served in the University of 
California system for 11 years, first as the Professor of Physics and 
Vice Chancellor for Research at UC Santa Barbara and then as the 
Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Chancellor for UC 
Riverside. Cordova's scientific career contributions have been in the 
areas of observational and experimental astrophysics. She has published 
more than 150 scientific papers and continues to pursue scholarly 
research. Dr. Cordova was also the winner of NASA's highest honor, the 
Distinguished Service Medal. As an influential leader in science policy 
and education, she also serves on numerous state and national boards, 
most recently accepting an appointment to the Board of Trustees for the 
Mayo Clinic in May 2008 and a six-year presidential appointment to the 
National Science Board, effective November 2008.
  Dr. Cordova's honors and awards are almost as numerous as the stars 
in space that she studies. Her accomplishment in the field of 
astrophysics and her leadership as the head of a national research 
university provide her with tremendous experience that will benefit the 
Smithsonian's board and help improve its mission for the increase and 
diffusion of knowledge. Her impact on education and science has been 
remarkable.
  I will conclude in saying that Dr. France A. Cordova would be an out 
of this world addition to the Smithsonian Institution's governing 
board. It will be an honor and pleasure to have her serve on that 
board, and I ask my colleagues to support Senate Joint Resolution 9.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. 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 joint resolution, S.J. Res. 9.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the joint resolution was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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