[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3235]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 9--HONORING THE LIFE AND MEMORY OF 
   REVEREND THEODORE M. HESBURGH, C.S.C., PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF THE 
                        UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME

  Mr. REID of Nevada (for Mr. Donnelly (for himself and Mr. Coats)) 
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                             S. Con. Res. 9

       Whereas Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., was born on 
     May 25, 1917, in Syracuse, New York, ordained a priest of the 
     Congregation of Holy Cross on June 24, 1943, in South Bend, 
     Indiana, and served as president of the University of Notre 
     Dame from 1952 to 1987;
       Whereas during his tenure, the University of Notre Dame 
     welcomed female students for the first time and embraced the 
     spirit of open intellectual inquiry and moral engagement that 
     defines the University today;
       Whereas Father Hesburgh held a variety of appointed 
     positions under 4 popes and 9 presidential administrations;
       Whereas throughout decades of public service, Father 
     Hesburgh proudly championed the civil rights of African 
     Americans, the duty of society to the poor, and the 
     fundamental human dignity of all persons;
       Whereas in pursuit of those ideals, Father Hesburgh held a 
     variety of influential public roles, including terms as a 
     founding member and chairman of the United States Commission 
     on Civil Rights, chair of the Overseas Development Council, 
     chair of the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee 
     Policy, and permanent representative of the Holy See to the 
     International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna from 1956 to 
     1970;
       Whereas in pursuit of global social justice, Father 
     Hesburgh reaffirmed the commitment of the University of Notre 
     Dame to human rights by helping to found the Kellogg 
     Institute for International Studies and the Kroc Institute 
     for International Peace Studies at the University as well as 
     the Center for Civil and Human Rights at the University of 
     Notre Dame Law School;
       Whereas Father Hesburgh was a longtime advocate for the 
     responsible stewardship of atomic energy and gracefully 
     brought together scientists, scholars, and spiritual leaders 
     to work toward an end to nuclear conflict;
       Whereas Father Hesburgh served as ambassador to the 1979 
     United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for 
     Development, the first Catholic priest to formally hold a 
     diplomatic position for the United States Government;
       Whereas Father Hesburgh received both the Congressional 
     Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest 
     civilian awards of the United States, as well as more than 
     150 honorary degrees, the most ever awarded to a single 
     individual; and
       Whereas Father Hesburgh passed away on Thursday, February 
     26, 2015, but remains very much alive in the hearts of all 
     who knew him and in the University that he loved: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) commemorates the life and achievements of Reverend 
     Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., who throughout his life 
     displayed extraordinary commitment to social justice and the 
     improvement of higher education; and
       (2) honors Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., for a 
     lifetime of selfless dedication to God, Country, and Notre 
     Dame.

                          ____________________