Recognizing North Carolina Central University on its 100th anniversary.

I thank my colleague for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1361, which commemorates the centennial anniversary of North Carolina Central University and honors its founder, Dr. James E. Shepard. I've introduced this resolution as the Member of this body privileged to represent North Carolina Central, but I'm proud to say it has the support of the entire North Carolina delegation, as well as a number of other Members who recognize the university's significance.

People frequently talk about the Big Three universities in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, referring to Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. But I like to remind them that it actually is the Big Four. North Carolina Central is as fully integral to the historical fabric of our State as its three peer institutions. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the Nation. And it has rapidly assumed an important role as a research institution.

Established by Dr. James E. Shepard in 1909 in Durham, North Carolina, the university first opened its doors to students a year later as the National Religious Training School and Chautauqua. Dr. Shepard was a visionary leader guided by the conviction that individual self-improvement and collective self-advancement were inextricably intertwined. ``There is no economy in ignorance,'' he declared. ``Education is a vastly expensive resource, but ignorance is incomparably more so. Ignorance and poverty are cures for nothing.''

Dr. Shepard led the university until his death in 1947, guiding the institution through several name changes, watching the university grow in size and mission, and helping the school gain the support of the North Carolina State Legislature. In 1925, thanks to Dr. Shepard's leadership, the school became the Nation's first State-supported liberal arts college for African American students.

Now an integral part of the University of North Carolina system, NC Central offers bachelor's degrees in more than 100 fields of study and graduate degrees in about 40 disciplines to a student body of around 8,500. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked NC Central as the top public HBCU in the Nation and one of the top 10 HBCUs overall. The NC Central School of Law has been named the ``Best Value Law School'' in the Nation by National Jurist magazine for 2 consecutive years.

NC Central is also renowned for its contributions to the cultural and performing arts. The university is home to the Marching Sound Machine, an award-winning marching band that will be performing on New Year's Day, 2011, in the Rose Bowl Parade, and the North Carolina Central Jazz Ensemble, which recently performed in the Newport Jazz Festival.

NC Central also has a strong history of athletic prowess. It's sports teams have won 41 conference championships, 3 NCAA regional titles, and 2 national championships. More than 50 of its student athletes have won individual NCAA and NAIA national championships, and student athletes representing NCCU competed at every Olympic games from 1956 to 1976 in track and field, capturing eight Olympic medals, including five gold medals, during that period.

As a co-chair of the congressional National Service Caucus, I must also note that NC Central was the first State university in North Carolina to establish community service as a requirement for graduation and has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a ``community- engaged university.'' It should therefore come as no surprise that the university has enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with its home city of Durham throughout its 100-year history.

Thousands of NC Central graduates have served Durham as community leaders, educators, professionals, entrepreneurs, and volunteers. However, the reach of the university extends far beyond the Triangle region of North Carolina. In the century since its founding, the university has graduated approximately 40,000 students and proudly boasts many distinguished alumni, including civil rights lawyer and educator Julius L. Chambers; basketball Hall-of-Famer Sam Jones; two- time Olympic track gold medalist Lee Calhoun; North Carolina Superior Court Judge Toby Fitch; State Senator and former House Speaker Dan Blue; and State Representative Mickey Michaux; not to mention my friend and the lead cosponsor of this legislation, our own colleague, G.K. Butterfield.

In the words of NC Central's current chancellor, Dr. Charlie Nelms, ``It's no small accomplishment that an institution of higher education--and in this case founded by African Americans at a time when African Americans were barred from most colleges--survived and thrived for 100 years.'' I could not agree more. Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Shepard, Dr. Nelms and all who served the institution in between, the university has flourished and has touched countless lives in North Carolina and throughout the country and the world.

With that, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.

Let me thank the gentlewoman for yielding the time and thank her for her work on the committee and her work here in the Congress. She is certainly representing her district very well, and I thank her for that. Let me also thank the ranking member, the gentleman from Wisconsin, who is managing the bill on the floor today for his friendship and thank him for the kind words he said about my alma mater, North Carolina Central University. I particularly want to thank my good friend, Congressman David Price, who proudly and effectively represents Durham County and the surrounding counties, which is the home of North Carolina Central University. I thank him for what he means to that community. Congressman Price has been so involved in the life of the university for so long, and I want to thank him publicly for that effective leadership.

Madam Speaker, I first arrived on the NCCU campus way back in August of 1965. It was a great year. I remember it so well. At the time, the university was named North Carolina College at Durham. It was while I was there at Central that the name was actually changed to North Carolina Central University. Not only did I receive a very effective and appropriate undergraduate education at the university, but I also received my law degree there at North Carolina Central University School of Law. So I have a lot to be proud of, and I have a lot to be thankful for. That's why I have come to the floor today to pay tribute to this great institution for its service over the past 100 years.

As Congressman Price said a moment ago, North Carolina Central University was established in 1910. It has grown into one of our Nation's oldest and most prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and all of us who attended North Carolina Central know the history of Dr. James E. Shepard. He was an extraordinary leader whose vision for the university has come to fruition. We call ourselves the Eagles. Congressman Price referred to that a few moments ago, and so we are certainly Eagles.

NCCU offers degrees in more than 100 fields of study. It awards graduate degrees in approximately 40 disciplines to a student body of 8,500. I believe when I started at the university in 1965, there were some 3,500 students at the school, and so the census and the population of the student body has actually doubled.

North Carolina Central University boasts a state-of-the-art biotechnology research institute that allows students to collaborate with pharmacy and biotechnology companies in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park. North Carolina Central University holds the top spot among public schools in the U.S. News & World Report's latest ranking of the Nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Finally, Madam Speaker, as I take my seat, I cannot help but mention the fact that we have nine NCCU law students on the Hill serving as interns this summer. They have been placed in various offices throughout the House of Representatives, and they represent the best of North Carolina Central University. They are our future leaders, indeed. And so we honor this great institution today. I ask my colleagues to join with us in voting ``aye'' on H. Res. 1361.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1361) recognizing North Carolina Central University on its 100th anniversary, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1361 into the Record.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1361, which celebrates North Carolina Central University for 100 years of leadership and service in higher education. North Carolina Central was originally opened to students in 1910, through the work of the school's founder, Dr. James Shepard. NCCU became a State university in 1923, when it was renamed the Durham

State Normal School. In 1969, the institution came to be known as it is today--North Carolina Central University.

The 135-acre campus of North Carolina Central University is situated on the sloping, green hills of Durham, North Carolina. The university is home to over 8,500 students this year--a record enrollment level. In fact, this year, NCCU has the largest freshman class in its history. The university currently offers bachelor's degrees in more than 100 fields of study and awards graduate degrees in about 40 disciplines. NCCU has also achieved athletic distinction. The NCCU Eagles have won 41 conference championships, 3 NCAA regional titles, and 2 national championships. More than 50 student athletes have won individual NCAA and NAIA national championships.

Finally, North Carolina Central University is also known for giving back to the Raleigh-Durham area, thanks to their community service program, which requires each student to contribute 15 hours of community service per semester. NCCU students serve as tutors in local schools, help build Habitat for Humanity housing, assist with a variety of youth programs, and promote the causes of nonprofit service agencies around the campus and neighboring community. This commitment is indicative of NCCU's tradition of cultivating graduates, who will become meaningful contributors to society.

The students, faculty, and staff of North Carolina Central University have much to be proud of as they remember and celebrate the rich cultural and academic history of their university over the past century. Once again, I congratulate North Carolina Central University on its 100-year anniversary, and thank Representative Price for bringing this bill forward.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield).

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I would urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1361, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of House Resolution 1361, recognizing North Carolina Central University on its 100th anniversary. Since 1910, the mission of North Carolina Central University has been to prepare students academically and professionally to become leaders. NCCU was founded by Dr. James E. Shepard as the National Religious Training School and Chautauqua for the Colored Race, with the purpose of developing African American men and women into citizens of fine character and sound academic training. After several name changes in the early 1900s, the college saw a significant expansion between 1927 and 1929 through additional funding from the General Assembly, a generous gift from B.N. Duke, and contributions from the citizens of Durham.

NCCU is a comprehensive institution which offers bachelor's degrees in more than 100 fields of study and awards graduate degrees in an estimated 40 disciplines. The university has a state-of-the-art biotechnology research institute, which collaborates with pharmacy and biotech companies in the much-touted Research Triangle Park area, where NCCU is found.

With nearly 9,000 students enrolled, this Historically Black University is diverse. International studies and exchange programs attract exchange students from more than 12 countries, including Liberia, India, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Nepal, China, the Czech Republic, Nigeria, South Korea, Russia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and South Africa. Through the scholarship and teaching of its faculty and the many contributions to society of its alumni, NCCU seeks to fulfill its motto of ``Truth and Service.''

I'd like to congratulate NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms, the faculty, staff, and students, as they celebrate their 100th anniversary. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I missed the following recorded votes on the House floor the legislative week of Tuesday, May 18, 2010.

For Tuesday, May 18, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``No'' on rollcall vote No. 273 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 2288), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 274 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 4614), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 275 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1327).

For Wednesday, May 19, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 276 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 1514), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 277 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 5325), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 278 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1325), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 279 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1362), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 280 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 5099), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 281 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 403), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 282 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1292), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 283 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1364).

For Thursday, May 20, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 284 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 5327), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 285 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1256), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 286 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1336), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 287 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1361), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 288 (on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 1363), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 289 (on agreeing to H. Res. 1363), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 290 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 5128).