[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15693]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 22--RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                    THE WHITE HOUSE FELLOWS PROGRAM

  Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself and Mr. Reed) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                            S. Con. Res. 22

       Whereas, in 1964, John W. Gardner presented the idea of 
     selecting a handful of outstanding men and women to come to 
     Washington, DC to participate as White House Fellows and 
     learn the workings of the highest levels of the Government, 
     learn about leadership as they observed the officials of the 
     United States in action, and meet with these officials and 
     other leaders of society;
       Whereas John W. Gardner believed that serving as Fellows 
     would strengthen the abilities and desires of the Fellows to 
     contribute to their communities, their professions, and their 
     country;
       Whereas President Lyndon B. Johnson established the 
     President's Commission on White House Fellowships through 
     Executive Order 11183 (October 3, 1964) to create a program 
     that would select between 11 and 19 outstanding young people 
     of the United States every year and bring them to Washington, 
     DC for ``first hand, high-level experience in the workings of 
     the Federal Government, to establish an era when the young 
     men and women of America and their government belonged to 
     each other--belonged to each other in fact and in spirit'';
       Whereas the White House Fellows program has steadfastly 
     remained a nonpartisan program that has served and been 
     supported by 9 Presidents exceptionally well;
       Whereas the 725 White House Fellows who have served have 
     established a legacy of leadership in every aspect of our 
     society, including--
       (1) appointments as Cabinet officers, ambassadors, special 
     envoys, United States Attorneys, deputy and assistant 
     secretaries of departments, and senior White House staff;
       (2) election to the House of Representatives, the Senate, 
     and State and local government;
       (3) appointments to the Federal, State, and local 
     judiciary;
       (4) leadership in many of the largest corporations and law 
     firms in the United States; and
       (5) service as presidents of colleges and universities, 
     deans of the most distinguished graduate schools in the 
     United States, officials in nonprofit organizations, leaders 
     in national journalism and the working press, senior leaders 
     in every branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, and 
     distinguished scholars and historians;
       Whereas the legacy of leadership of the White House Fellows 
     program is a national resource that has served the United 
     States in major challenges, including--
       (1) organizing resettlement operations following the 
     Vietnam War;
       (2) assisting with the national response to terrorist 
     attacks;
       (3) managing the aftermath of natural disasters, such as 
     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita;
       (4) providing support to earthquake victims in Haiti and 
     Nepal;
       (5) serving in the Armed Forces of the United States in 
     Iraq and Afghanistan; and
       (6) reforming and innovating in national and international 
     securities and capital markets;
       Whereas the post-Fellowship years of the 725 White House 
     Fellows are characterized by a demonstrable lifetime 
     commitment to public service through continuing personal and 
     professional renewal and association, creating a White House 
     Fellows Community of Mutual Support for leadership at every 
     level of government and in every element of life in the 
     United States; and
       Whereas September 1, 2015, marked the 50th anniversary of 
     the first class of White House Fellows to serve the United 
     States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the 50th anniversary of the White House 
     Fellows program and commends the White House Fellows for 
     their continuing lifetime commitment to public service;
       (2) acknowledges the legacy of leadership provided by White 
     House Fellows over the years in their local communities, the 
     United States, and the world; and
       (3) expresses appreciation and support for the continuing 
     leadership of White House Fellows in all aspects of the 
     national life of the United States in the years ahead.

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