OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the White House Fellows Program

Floor Speech

Date: Oct. 25, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Higher Education


RECOGNIZING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WHITE HOUSE FELLOWS PROGRAM -- (House of Representatives - October 25, 2005)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleague from Ohio in consideration of this important legislation. Forty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson, through executive order 11183, established the President's Commission on White House Fellowships. The commission was given the task of creating the White House Fellows program. The program was designed to expose the best and the brightest of America's future leaders to policymaking at the highest levels. Between 11 and 20 young, gifted Americans serve as White House Fellows each year, and they truly represent the best of what America has to offer.

Being a White House Fellow provides each Fellow with the unique opportunity of interacting with officials at the highest levels of government. It is not uncommon for Fellows to learn about policymaking in all of its forms, at both the domestic and international levels, while gaining access to policymakers that is generally afforded to only a small group of advisers and senior staff. As a result, the White House Fellows program plays an integral role in cultivating the leaders of tomorrow.

The program is indeed bipartisan and is hailed as a great success by Republicans and Democrats alike. Over the last 4 decades, more than 600 people have served as White House Fellows. The program has attracted the most talented of America's young up-and-comers. Former Fellows have gone on to serve in Cabinet positions, as elected officials at all levels of government, as heads of industry, as distinguished members of the Armed Forces, as leaders in the legal field, and as distinguished academicians in some of the Nation's top colleges and universities.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 40th anniversary of the White House Fellows program and the Federal Government's continued commitment to producing the future generations of American leaders.

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

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward