Acknowledging and congratulating Miami Dade College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of service to the students and residents of the State of Florida.

I thank the gentleman for the time, and I also want to thank Ambassador Watson for her comments on this wonderful institution.

Madam Speaker, as a former Florida certified teacher, as a former educator and as an alum of Miami Dade College, I am so proud to be here on the floor, congratulating Miami Dade College on its 50th anniversary. I am proud to say that my father and my brother are also graduates of this fine institution. I am infinitely grateful for the education that I received from the excellent professors at Miami Dade College, and I am sure that I would not be in the same position here tonight were it not for this excellent education.

Miami Dade College has been an essential part of South Florida for so many years--for 50 years since it was first established in 1960. By 1967, Madam Speaker, the college had become the largest institution of higher education in the State of Florida. It built upon this foundation, and it is now the largest institution of higher education in the United States, serving nearly 170,000 students every year. That is just phenomenal. It has enrolled more than 2 million students to date, and it employs more than 6,000 faculty and staff. Half of the students have been the first in their families to attend college.

Madam Speaker, you can imagine how proud those family members are at every graduation that they can say that someone from their family has graduated college.

Not surprisingly, it is home to one of the most diverse student populations, with students from 178 countries, speaking 86 different languages. Miami Dade College has managed to do all of this while maintaining an affordable and accessible course of study for students of all incomes, and it has been instrumental in the development and success of so many in our community and throughout the United States.

Equally impressive, Madam Speaker, is the fact that more than a third of its students are nontraditional. That is, they are older. They are working adults who are looking to further their education or to, perhaps, retrain for the jobs that are in demand now and in the future.

The college is an icon. It is central to the educational, economic, social, and cultural fabric that is exciting South Florida, including hosting the Nation's largest literary gathering, the Miami Book Fair International. It also hosts the Miami International Film Festival, and is home to the national historic landmark, the Miami Freedom Tower, and to many programs that serve as the region's arts anchor.

A large part of Miami Dade College's success is due to its dynamic president, Dr. Eduardo J. Padron, who is also a graduate of Miami Dade College. Dr. Padron is widely recognized as one of the top educational leaders in the world. His time with Miami Dade College has been defined by growth, trailblazing academic and cultural programs, greater access, and student success. He has produced impressive results in student access, retention, graduation, and overall achievement. President Padron has truly made a positive difference in the lives of so many individuals, and we must commend him for all that he continues to do in support of his college, our college, as this college is a part of our community and our Nation.

So, Madam Speaker, with that, I urge all Members to please vote in favor of this legislation, congratulating one of America's finest academic institutions, Miami Dade College, for its 50th year of providing quality education for all.

Thank you for the time, the gentleman from Utah, and thank you as well, Madam Ambassador, for sponsoring this bill.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1571) acknowledging and congratulating Miami Dade College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of service to the students and residents of the State of Florida, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks, and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1571 into the Record.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1571, which celebrates Miami Dade College on the occasion of their 50 years of service in higher education to the residents of the State of Florida.

In 1960, Miami Dade first opened its doors under the name Dade County Junior College. By 1967, the college was the largest institution of higher education in the State of Florida. Today, Miami Dade College boasts eight campuses and the largest public institution of higher education in the Nation, welcoming nearly 170,000 students annually. The college offers more than 300 major areas of study to its students, and as of 2003, began offering bachelor's degrees in addition to associate's degrees. Miami Dade College has awarded more associate's degrees than any college in the United States.

Miami Dade College also has a rich history of diversity. The college became the first integrated junior college in the State of Florida, and now has students from 178 countries speaking 86 languages. The college ranks first in the United States among public colleges and universities for the number of Pell Grant recipients in attendance. At Miami Dade College, 61 percent of students are from low-income families, and 52 percent are the first in their families to attend college. The college also contributes to the region's cultural landscape via the nationally acclaimed Cultura del Lobo Performance Series and the Miami International Film Festival, both of which provide student artists with unique learning opportunities.

Additionally, the annual Miami Dade International Book Fair is the largest literary event in the United States. Does this have something to do with the college? Not clear from the name.

Furthermore, Miami Dade College has consistently worked to produce students with skills in high demand by local and regional employers. The Emerging Technologies Center of the

Americas at Miami Dade College works to prepare students for careers in information technology and telecommunications. This center's state-of- the-art 40,000-square-foot facility at the Wolfson campus houses 19 multimedia classrooms and labs equipped with high-end computers, specialized equipment, and simulation workstations.

The students, faculty, and staff at Miami Dade College have much to be proud of as they remember and celebrate the rich cultural and academic history of their institution over the past half-century. I once again express my support for House Resolution 1571 and congratulate Miami Dade College on its 50th anniversary. I thank Representative Ros-Lehtinen for bringing this resolution forward.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge the House to support House Resolution 1571. It is a fine piece of legislation. Again, I would like to congratulate Miami Dade College on its 50th anniversary.

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

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1571, which acknowledges and congratulates Miami Dade College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Miami Dade College has a rich history in educating a diverse student population and continues to be a leader in expanding access to college for all those in South Florida, and the nation who wish to attend. I commend my colleague, Rep. Ros- Lehtinen for introducing and bringing this legislation to the floor.

Miami Dade College has always been a leader in opening doors to students. When it started in 1960, Miami Dade College was the first integrated college in the State of Florida. It led the way for other colleges to adopt more inclusive recruitment and acceptance policies and to help expand education opportunities to minorities and the under- served. Now, Miami Dade College educates more than 160,000 students from across the world every year, and is the largest and most diverse institute of higher learning in the United States.

At a time when we need to expand college opportunities and compete on a global level, Miami Dade College continues to lead the way, bringing access to non-traditional and non-legacy students. Fifty two percent of its students are the very first in their families to attend college, creating a new generation of college graduates. The school ranks first in the nation in the number of Pell grants awarded, with 39 percent of its students living below the poverty line, yet its students continue to not only excel, but to give back to the community in impressive numbers. Miami Dade College is one of only 40 community colleges to be named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, recognizing the school's commitment to, and achievement in community service.

I applaud Miami Dade College's commitment to access, quality and service and the efforts of its leaders, like President Padron. I would like to wish Miami Dade College a happy 50th, and all the success for years to come. I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in recognizing the hard work of the school and congratulating it on 50 years.

Madam Speaker, before I give my comments on this particular resolution, I wish to yield such time as she may consume to the sponsor of this resolution, as well as probably the most famous alumnus from Miami Dade College, the gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Ros- Lehtinen).

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise to support House Resolution 1571, acknowledging and congratulating Miami Dade College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary of service to the students and residents of Florida.

Miami Dade College was founded in 1960, 50 years ago. Only half a decade later, the college had increased its enrollment by 300 percent. As has been mentioned, as the first racially integrated junior college in Florida, Miami Dade College provided an education to all area residents who wanted to better their lives and further their education. Today, almost 100,000 students are enrolled on the eight campuses year round, and if you count part-time students, it increases that number significantly. MDC is now the largest institution in the Florida college system, and it works to educate a diverse student population by offering 300 majors and by providing an affordable education to students from all backgrounds.

The college holds several annual events that benefit both students and members of the community. The Miami Dade College's Miami International Book Fair and the Miami International Film Festival are two such events that are nationally and internationally renowned.

I congratulate Miami Dade College for 50 years of excellence in higher education, and I wish all of its faculty, staff, students, and alumni continued success.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Miami-Dade College on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Since opening its doors in 1960, it has served as an exemplary institution of higher learning for the residents of Miami- Dade County. A leader among Florida's institutions, it became the first integrated junior college giving students of all races and ethnicities the opportunity to seek a higher education. Since implementing these policies, it has maintained its commitment to diversity, boasting a student population hailing from 178 countries.

Miami-Dade College's diversity extends to its broad areas of studies offering more than 300 major areas of study and a variety of degrees. Offering students associate, bachelor's degrees, and short term certificates, the Miami-Dade College has the largest enrollment of any college or university in the United States, and has awarded more associate degrees than any other college.

Miami-Dade College also stands out by offering an affordable, comprehensive, education to individuals of all incomes as well as backgrounds. Thirty-nine percent of its student body, lives below the Federal poverty level and 61 are defined as low income. Speaking to Miami-Dade College's commitment to students in low-income families, it currently receives the highest number of Pell Grant awards. South Florida, which, I am honored to represent, owes a debt to Miami-Dade College for providing quality affordable education to our community. It is an honor to represent Miami-Dade College and again I congratulate it on its 50th anniversary.