[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3555-3556]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF AUGUSTANA COLLEGE

  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 1089) recognizing the 150th anniversary of 
Augustana College, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1089

       Whereas Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, was 
     founded as Augustana Seminary under the auspices of the 
     Augustana Synod on September 1, 1860;
       Whereas the name Augustana comes from Confessio Augustana, 
     the Latin rendering of the seminal statement of the 
     Reformation, the Augsburg Confession;
       Whereas Augustana College was initially founded to train 
     Lutheran pastors, teachers, and musicians for the growing 
     settlements of Swedish immigrants in the United States;
       Whereas Augustana College began classes in Chicago, moved 
     to Paxton in 1863, and then finally moved to its present 
     location in Rock Island in 1875;
       Whereas Augustana College has grown from serving 90 
     students in 1875 to serving over 2,500 students today;
       Whereas Augustana College's mission is to offer a 
     challenging education that develops qualities of mind, 
     spirit, and body necessary for a rewarding life of leadership 
     and service in a diverse and changing world;
       Whereas Augustana College offers undergraduate students an 
     education rooted in the liberal arts and sciences through 75 
     fields of study;
       Whereas Augustana College has produced 131 Academic All-
     America athletes, the sixth highest number of honorees among 
     all schools in the Nation, regardless of size;
       Whereas alumni of Augustana College have gone on to achieve 
     success in diverse fields, including business, education, 
     government and public service, religion, arts and 
     entertainment, and science, and include a Nobel Prize winner, 
     CEOs, and Members of Congress; and
       Whereas 2010 marks the 150th anniversary of the 
     establishment of Augustana College: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) acknowledges and congratulates Augustana College in 
     Rock Island, Illinois, on the momentous occasion of its 150th 
     anniversary and expresses its best wishes for continued 
     success;
       (2) commends Augustana College for its excellence in 
     academics, athletics, and quality of life for students; and
       (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     provide Augustana College with enrolled copies of this 
     resolution for appropriate display.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New Hampshire (Ms. Shea-Porter) and the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. 
Guthrie) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Hampshire.


                             General Leave

  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during 
which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on 
H. Res. 1089 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New Hampshire?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare).
  Mr. HARE. I thank my colleague from New Hampshire (Ms. Shea-Porter) 
for yielding me time to speak.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1089, 
recognizing the 150th anniversary of Augustana College. Mr. Speaker, 
this year marks the 150th year of Augustana College, and I proudly 
introduce this resolution to highlight Augustana's long tradition of 
academic excellence and distinction.
  Founded in 1860, Augustana College, in Rock Island, Illinois, has 
grown from a small school educating Swedish immigrants into one of our 
Nation's premier colleges of the liberal arts and sciences. Today, with 
over 75 fields of discipline, Augustana, popularly known as Augie, 
provides a rich liberal arts environment for a diverse student body of 
over 2,500 students.
  Mr. Speaker, at Augustana, students enter to learn and leave to 
serve. Throughout its 150 years, Augustana College has remained 
committed to educating its students for a rewarding life of leadership 
and service in a diverse and changing world. Augie alumni have gone on 
to achieve success in diverse fields, and graduates include a Nobel 
Peace Prize winner, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, and Members of 
Congress, most notably my predecessor and my good friend, 
Representative Lane Evans.
  Beyond the classroom, Augustana has established itself as a top 
athletic program with 37 NCAA Division III national titles in six 
sports and has produced 131 academic All-American athletes, the sixth 
highest number of honorees among all schools in our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, in addition, Augie has partnered with the community to 
promote economic development in the Quad Cities region, and Augustana 
has an estimated impact of $75 million on our local economy.
  Mr. Speaker, the ongoing success of Augustana can be directly 
attributed to the quality of the leadership of the college. Under the 
direction of President Steve Bahls, Augustana has positioned itself to 
be a flagship college in

[[Page 3556]]

my district and in the State of Illinois. Also, President Bahls has led 
efforts to respond to students' immediate needs during the economic 
downturn. He has made a commitment to help any student at risk of 
dropping out because of financial difficulties through the creation of 
the Immediate Scholarship Support Fund, substantial investments in 
financial aid, and tuition cost control.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I congratulate Augustana College on the 
historic occasion of its 150th anniversary, and I wish the college, its 
students, and the faculty continued success.
  I would like to thank the entire Illinois delegation for joining me 
to celebrate Augustana College's 150th year, and I urge my colleagues 
to support House Resolution 1089.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I appreciate my friend from Illinois bringing this resolution 
forward, and I rise today in support of this House Resolution 1089, 
recognizing the 150th anniversary of Augustana College.
  Augustana College was founded by Swedish Lutheran settlers in 
Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Rock Island, Illinois, in 1875. 
Augustana College has grown from a small school educating Swedish 
immigrants to a highly selective college of liberal arts and sciences. 
Today, Augustana College serves 2,500 students from various geographic, 
social, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.
  Students at Augustana receive a personalized liberal arts and science 
education with a 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Most of Augustana's 
students are actively involved in a large variety of groups and 
activities, including performing arts, debate, publications, social and 
service organizations.
  Augustana has been recognized nationwide for its excellent academics. 
The Carnegie Foundation has classified the college as an Arts and 
Science plus Professions institution. Students accepted to Augustana 
are typically from the top quarter of their high school class and have 
notable academic histories.
  The Augustana Vikings compete in the NCAA Division III athletics in 
20 intercollegiate sports and also participate in numerous club and 
intramural sports. The Vikings have won four team NCAA national 
championships and 21 individual NCAA national championships.
  Augustana College students have excelled in academics, athletics, and 
all areas of collegiate life. I congratulate Augustana College and the 
students, faculty, staff, and alumni for 150 years of excellence in 
education.
  I congratulate my colleague on this resolution, and I urge my 
colleagues to support House Resolution 1089.

                              {time}  1745

  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Shea-Porter) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1089, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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