[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10661]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO DR. JAMES BILLINGTON

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, at the end of this year, Congress will say 
farewell to Dr. James Billington, a dear friend who, for the last 28 
years, has dedicated his life to ensuring that the Nation's most 
prominent library is an unparalleled resource for all who visit, either 
in person or online. Since his nomination by President Reagan in 1987 
and subsequent confirmation by the United States Senate, Dr. Billington 
has led the Library of Congress into the digital era, and expanded its 
relationships internationally and with the private sector.
  For almost three decades, Dr. Billington championed the National 
Digital Library program, which made millions of rare and one-of-a-kind 
historical and cultural documents readily available to the public. The 
National Digital Library was a colossal undertaking and one that 
students and scholars alike will utilize for many years to come.
  In 1990, Dr. Billington created the James Madison Council, an 
advisory panel that serves as a liaison between the Library and the 
business community. The Council was the Library's first national 
private-sector advisory and support group, and has since helped to fund 
more than 360 projects. Dr. Billington's devotion to the growth and 
development of the Library of Congress has helped bring a national 
treasure into the 21st Century and improve access for people all over 
the country and the world.
  Dr. Billington has also worked to expand the Library of Congress' 
online resources by collaborating with Russian libraries to establish a 
major bilingual website. He later completed similar joint projects with 
the national libraries of Brazil, Spain, France, the Netherlands, and 
Egypt. Dr. Billington spearheaded efforts to create the World Digital 
Library, which was successfully launched in April 2009. Today, the site 
contains cultural materials from all 193 countries in the United 
Nation's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, 
with commentary in seven languages. As the Librarian of Congress, Dr. 
Billington led a delegation to Tehran, Iran, in October 2004, making 
him the most senior U.S. government official to visit Iran in 25 years 
and furthering his international leadership.
  Throughout his 42 years in public service in Washington, Dr. 
Billington has collaborated on numerous programs such as the Veterans 
History Project, highlighting the great accomplishments of countless 
Americans through oral histories, the National Book Festival, and the 
Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Dr. Billington's brilliance, devotion, 
and vision throughout his career is unparalleled and incredibly 
appreciated.
  Marcelle and I were happy to welcome Dr. Billington to Vermont in 
2012, to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the historic Land Grant 
College Act, authored by Vermont Senator Justin Morrill in the 1800s. 
Like Justin Morrill, Dr. Billington and I share a profound regard for 
the importance of Federal investment in access to education. I have 
deeply appreciated Dr. Billington's commitment to preserving and 
advancing the incredible resource that is the Library of Congress. 
Marcelle and I both thank him for his service and wish he and his wife 
Marjorie well as he begins this new chapter.

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