A joint resolution providing for the appointment of David M. Rubenstein as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of S.J. Res. 8, a bill to nominate David M. Rubenstein to the Smithsonian Board of Regents. As a Member of the Board of Regents' Governance and Nominating Committee which selected Mr. Rubenstein to join the Board, I wanted to express my support for moving his nomination.

Mr. Rubenstein is a native of Baltimore and graduated magna cum laude from Duke, and from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was editor of the law review.

Mr. Rubenstein is Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Carlyle Group, one of the world's largest private equity firms. David is widely respected for his business prowess.

The Smithsonian, like many institutions during these challenging economic times, faces serious funding issues . . . and it is more important than ever to have Members of the Board with financial expertise.

As part of our Governance efforts, we specifically adopted policy changes that turned the corner toward stronger oversight and accountability, including adopting regent description. These expectations of Regents include overseeing the Smithsonian's mission, as well as attending regular committee and full Board meetings.

As such; we searched to find someone like David Rubenstein. Someone who is committed to giving back to his community; he is,on the Board of Directors of Duke, the Kennedy Center and the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, among others.

And who has committed to moving the Smithsonian forward during these challenging economic times; he has helped the Carlyle Group grow to a firm with 33 offices around the world.

Today, Mr. Rubenstein is being nominated for the vacant seat that Anne d'Harnoncourt held. Anne was a great colleague on the Board and truly committed to the Smithsonian's mission. She was also chief executive officer of the Philadelphia Museum of Art from 1982 until her death in 2008.

An acclaimed author and internationally respected art historian and administrator, she has been a part of the Smithsonian Institution since 1974. Serving on the Board of Regent's from 1995 until 2007 and was awarded Regent Emerita status. Her early death was a tragic loss to the arts community and to the Smithsonian, and she is missed.

Her dedication to the Smithsonian's mission of the increase and diffusion of knowledge is something that David Rubenstein shares. And I look forward to serving with him on the Board of Regents to promote the Smithsonian's mission in the 21st century. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

As a member of the House Administration Committee, I am pleased to support the appointment of David Rubenstein to be a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution. Committee members recently had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle Group, and we discussed the heightened expectations and increased responsibilities of the board as it continues to tackle the challenges faced by the institution.

Currently, the Smithsonian Institution is comprised of 19 museums that hosted over 25 million visitors last year, roughly five times the number of visitors that came to the U.S. Capitol. In addition to current facilities, the institution is slated to break ground on the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2012, a project estimated to cost $500 million. And just last year, the President signed the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, which established a commission to study the creation of a national museum dedicated to the art, culture, and history of the Latino community in the United States.

The Smithsonian, like every other growing complex organization, faces unique operational challenges. Yet the institution's core mission, first articulated by James Smithson in 1826, to be ``an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge'' still stands the test of time.

Through his philanthropy, Mr. Rubenstein has already demonstrated a commitment to James Smithson's original vision. When the last privately owned copy of the Magna Carta became available for purchase, Mr. Rubenstein bought this priceless artifact and then permanently lent it back to the National Archives. Mr. Rubenstein's indisputable dedication to philanthropy coupled with his keen business sense will be a welcome addition at the institution, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting his appointment to the Smithsonian Board of Regents.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 8) providing for the appointment of David M. Rubenstein as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous matter on the joint resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, S.J. Res. 8 would appoint David Rubenstein as one of the public regents to serve on the Board of Regents for the Smithsonian Institution. The Board of Regents has nominated him to join their ranks, and legislation appointing him has been sponsored by all of the members who serve on the board.

Mr. Rubenstein is a co-founder and managing director of the Carlyle Group, one of the world's largest private equity firms. He holds an undergraduate degree from Duke University and a law degree from the University of Chicago. Before co-founding the Carlyle Group over 20 years ago, he had a distinguished career as an attorney in private practice, at the White House, and here on Capitol Hill.

Mr. Rubenstein also has a long history of giving back to the community. He serves on the boards of three of our Nation's most prestigious universities, as well as the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers for the Performing Arts and numerous other charities. He has demonstrated his service on the boards of the Museum of American History and the Museum of Natural History.

The members of the Committee on House Administration had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Rubenstein before bringing this nomination to the floor. We appreciated his thoughts regarding the future of the institution, and we are confident that he will be a positive addition to the board.

I urge the passage of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Rules Committee be discharged from further consideration of S.J. Res. 8 and the Senate then proceed to its consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the joint resolution be read three times, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.