Honoring the graduating Class of 2009 at the University of California, Merced.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Colorado, for yielding me the time.

Madam Speaker, it is with the greatest pleasure and absolute tremendous pride that I rise today to recognize the first full senior class to graduate from the University of California at Merced.

Throughout my career in the legislature in California, and today as a Member of Congress, UC Merced has remained a top priority of mine. In fact, the entire community embraced this project and worked tirelessly for its creation.

Unemployment and poverty rates in the San Joaquin Valley continue to substantially exceed California averages, and high school graduates from the Valley have historically enrolled in the University of California system at about half the rate of graduates from other parts of California. Building the first UC campus in the San Joaquin Valley in Merced increases educational access and opportunity for the Valley's students and enhances job opportunities, new business development, and economic growth throughout Central California and, in fact, our State.

When my dear friend and founding chancellor, Carol Tomlinson-Keasey, was given the daunting task of building UC Merced, she rose to the occasion and she began to plan for a campus that would be infused with her personal strengths of unwavering commitment, innovation, and academic leadership. I believe Carol is watching today, and I wish her my best.

Carol worked collaboratively with government officials, the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and the UC Board of Regents to develop support for the campus and to secure needed funding and authority to develop the campus. Carol often said UC Merced would transform the lives of students in the San Joaquin Valley. Today is a testament to her vision and evidence to this transformation.

UC Merced has built its reputation as the most ethnically diverse institution in the UC system, as well as being the Nation's first major public research university built in the 21st century.

The class of 2009 has played an integral role in UC Merced's success. Whether they were building a student government from scratch or creating numerous clubs or assisting in groundbreaking research, every one of these students has demonstrated a commitment to excellence in academics and a passion to lead the community in the 21st century. At UC Merced, we call them the pioneers.

The best example of the spirit of these students is in their recent campaign to have First Lady Michelle Obama deliver their commencement speech.

Through their own determined efforts and with steadfast perseverance, the student body flooded the First Lady's office with valentines and letters asking her to come to Merced. And their hard work paid off when the First Lady recently announced that she

would attend the May 16 graduation to give that commencement speech. These passionate students have helped put Merced on the road to opportunity and promise to inspire the educational dreams of young people throughout the Central Valley for generations to come.

I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating and honoring the historic achievement of UC Merced's first full graduating class, the Class of 2009.

I would also like to take a moment to thank the chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, Mr. Miller, as well as his staff, for their hard work, which has made the dream of college a reality for so many students across the country.

I ask my colleagues to join me in support.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 396) honoring the graduating Class of 2009 at the University of California, Merced, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 396 into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 396, which commends the students of the very first graduating class of the University of California, Merced. UC Merced represents the newest school in the flagship California university school system.

University of California, Merced was authorized by the California legislature in 1988 to address the higher education needs of the State's fastest growing region, the San Joaquin Valley, a population of over 3.5 million people. It provides adequate capacity for the UC system as a whole and ensures the students from the San Joaquin Valley have expanded options for higher education. High school graduates from the Valley have historically enrolled in the UC system at about half the rate of graduates from other major parts of the State.

The University of California, Merced opened September 5, 2005, as the 10th campus in the UC system. There are three schools, nearly 20 undergraduate majors, nine graduate programs, over 100 full-time faculty members, and dozens of lecturers now teaching hundreds of courses on campus. UC Merced is a thriving campus community of over 2,700 who actively participate in close to 100 clubs and assist the faculty in groundbreaking research opportunities.

In addition to its education mission, UC Merced is an important strategic investment in California's future. The new campus serves as an engine of economic growth throughout the San Joaquin Valley where unemployment and poverty rates exceed California averages.

The University also is helping first-generation college students receive a college education. Accessing a college education has never been more important in light of the current weak economy and job loss.

The Class of 2009 is a class of true pioneers, creating a student government to shape campus policy, campus clubs to enhance social interaction, and cultivating a culture of social responsibility and civic engagement. These students demonstrated their passion and spirit in a letter-writing campaign to First Lady Michelle Obama. The First Lady acknowledged their zeal by agreeing to deliver the commencement speech this May to the Class of 2009.

Madam Speaker, once again I express my support for the UC Merced resolution, and I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Cardoza, for bringing this resolution forward, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza) for 5 minutes.

(Mr. CARDOZA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, once again, I call upon my colleagues to support this resolution honoring UC Merced in supporting its students, faculty and the families served, and with that I would like to yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 396, the resolution honoring the first graduating class of the University of California, Merced.

Opening on September 5, 2005, the University of California, Merced became the 10th campus in the University of California system and was founded with a mission to increase college-going rates among students in the San Joaquin Valley. San Joaquin Valley was California's largest and most populous region without a UC campus before the founding of UCM. With a total of just over 2,500 students currently, UCM is expected to grow to about 25,000 students within the next 30 years.

UCM charges just over $8,000 in tuition and fees; 75 percent of UCM's students receive financial aid; 42 percent of the student population are eligible for Pell Grants. UCM offers 18 undergraduate majors and nine areas of emphasis for graduate students through their three schools, the School of Engineering, the School of Natural Sciences, and the School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts. It also has plans to open a School of Medicine and a School of Management in upcoming years.

I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the 518 students who have persisted over the past 4 years and will walk across the stage to receive their degree, in acknowledgement of all their hard work, next week.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the young individuals who are graduating with their degrees from all of our country's institutions of higher learning. For all these reasons, I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers at this time. I encouraging everybody to support the resolution, and I yield back the balance of our time.