A joint resolution providing for the appointment of France A. Cordova as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my support for Senate Joint Resolution 9, and recognize Dr. France A. Cordova on her appointment as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents.

The Smithsonian's governing board is comprised of 17 members. These members include the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Vice President of the United States, six Members of Congress, and nine citizens who are nominated by the board and approved jointly in a resolution of Congress. The nine citizen members serve for a term of 6 years each and are eligible for reappointment to one additional term.

Having already established herself as an internationally recognized astrophysicist, and a national leader in postsecondary education, France A. Cordova is currently the 11th President of Purdue University. Known as the first woman and youngest person to hold the position of NASA chief scientist from 1993 to 1996, Dr. Cordova still follows her love of science. Currently, Dr. Cordova and two colleagues have a collaborative experiment flying on the European Space Agency's X-Ray Multi-Mirror Mission.

Prior to joining Purdue in 2007, she served in the University of California system for 11 years, first as the Professor of Physics and Vice Chancellor for Research at UC Santa Barbara and then as the Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Chancellor for UC Riverside. Cordova's scientific career contributions have been in the areas of observational and experimental astrophysics.

She has published more than 150 scientific papers and continues to pursue scholarly research. Dr. Cordova was also the winner of NASA's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Medal. As an influential leader in science policy and education, she also serves on numerous state and national boards, most recently accepting an appointment to the Board of Trustees for the Mayo Clinic in May 2008 and a six-year presidential appointment to the National Science Board, effective November 2008.

Dr. Cordova's honors and awards are almost as numerous as the stars in space that she studies. Her accomplishment in the field of astrophysics and her leadership as the head of a national research university provide her with tremendous experience that will benefit the Smithsonian's board and help improve its mission for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. Her impact on education and science has been remarkable.

I will conclude in saying that Dr. France A. Cordova would be an out of this world addition to the Smithsonian Institution's governing board. It will be an honor and pleasure to have her serve on that board, and I ask my colleagues to support Senate Joint Resolution 9.

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 Dr. France Cordova to be a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Cordova recently joined committee members to discuss her extensive educational background and ongoing work which will be of inestimable benefit to the ongoing mission of the Smithsonian. Because she is so distinguished and is involved in many activities, I did ask her whether she could give the time to this appointment that it deserves, and she assured us that she could. She recognized the importance of the Smithsonian Institution and felt that this was a more than worthy obligation on her part and felt that it was a contribution she would make to the American people.

In addition to the many national boards of which she is a member, Dr. Cordova serves as the 11th president of Purdue University in Indiana. She was the first woman chancellor of a University of California campus, but perhaps also indicative of her leadership, in the area of discovery, she was, I'm informed, the youngest chief scientist at NASA.

As a scientist, administrator, and ongoing researcher, the richness of her background in academic exploration would be difficult to overstate. As the Smithsonian Institution continues toward new achievements, I am confident that Dr. Cordova will be a critical piece in ensuring that James Smithson's original intent, that the institution would be ``an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge,'' is preserved with excellence.

I would urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Dr. Cordova's appointment to the Smithsonian's Board of Regents.

Since I have no other speakers, I would yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Dr. France A. Cordova on her nomination by the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents and appointment by joint resolution of Congress to serve as one of the Smithsonian's nine citizen regents. Her outstanding scientific contributions in the areas of observational and experimental astrophysics, multi-spectral research on x-ray and gamma ray sources, and space-borne instrumentation make her an ideal candidate for this prestigious position.

Born in France, Dr. Cordova attended high school in California and went on to graduate cum laude from Stanford University in less than four years. She then earned a PhD in Physics from the California Institute of Technology, and in 1997, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Loyola Marymount University. In 2007, Dr. Cordova moved to the Hoosier State and was appointed the eleventh president of Purdue University, as well as professor of physics and astronomy for the University.

Again, I commend the excellent work of Dr. Cordova and her many scientific contributions. Hoosiers are blessed to have the talent and expertise of Dr. Cordova at Purdue University, and her appointment to the Smithsonian's Board of Regents is a true honor for Indiana. I am confident that she will prove a valuable asset in her new position at the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 9) providing for the appointment of France A. Cordova as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, this joint resolution will appoint Dr. France Cordova as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution for a 6-year term beginning on the day of its enactment into law. The appointment would fill a long-standing vacancy and would bring the Board of Regents back up to full strength again for the first time in several years.

Dr. Cordova is the president of Purdue University in Indiana. She also served as chief scientist at NASA in the 1990s. The members of the Committee on House Administration met with her in July, and we found her to be very qualified to represent the

American people on the Smithsonian's governing body.

I urge approval of the joint resolution so that Dr. Cordova can assume her seat in time for the Regents' next meeting later this month.

I now reserve the balance of my time.

I thank the ranking member on the House Administration Committee for his cooperation, as always.

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. 9 and that 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.