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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1372 Engrossed in House (EH)]

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                    September 17, 2008.
Whereas the citizens of Bellevue and Omaha, Nebraska, worked together with vigor 
        and determination during the early years of the 20th century to create a 
        nonsectarian university where local high school graduates could receive 
        a college education;
Whereas due to the fortitude of the Board of Trustees and the generosity of 
        donors, the first student body consisting of 26 students gathered on 
        September 14, 1909, in what was formerly the old Redick mansion at 24th 
        and Pratt Streets to begin their college education at the University of 
        Omaha;
Whereas in spite of numerous financial challenges, the University of Omaha never 
        wavered from its commitment to its founders to produce well-rounded and 
        informed students by offering coursework in foreign languages, history, 
        ethics, sacred history, science, and other traditional subjects;
Whereas the University of Omaha's substantial and respected curriculum prompted 
        the University of Nebraska to announce in the spring of 1910 that it 
        would accept credits from the University of Omaha as equivalent to its 
        own;
Whereas the Board of Trustees, realizing the need for expanded facilities and 
        programs would not be met through voluntary donations, voted in 1929 to 
        turn over the University of Omaha to the City of Omaha to establish a 
        municipal university;
Whereas the World War II years were turbulent for the Nation and required many 
        sacrifices, and students and faculty at the Municipal University of 
        Omaha unselfishly united to support the war effort and their fellow 
        students on active duty with a variety of activities, including 
        replacing the traditional Homecoming bonfire with a scrap drive rally;
Whereas the Municipal University of Omaha, under the leadership of President 
        Milo Bail, responded to the need for expansion due to a postwar boom in 
        student enrollment that threatened to stress facilities and programs by 
        erecting a number of buildings to accommodate the quickly increasing 
        student population, including a field house, library, and student 
        center;
Whereas the Municipal University of Omaha further responded to the needs of 
        returning members of the military by participating in the Bootstrap 
        Program, initiated by the Air Force in 1951, to encourage military 
        personnel to finish degrees that had been started before the War;
Whereas the University Regents, with the goal of strengthening financial 
        solvency as well as offering affordable tuition, agreed to merge with 
        the University of Nebraska beginning July 1, 1968, a decision that has 
        since been lauded as the greatest educational gain in the City's 
        history;
Whereas the University continued to increase program offerings to students, 
        including the development of doctoral programs such as a cooperative 
        program in psychology and joint program in educational administration 
        with the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, independent programs in 
        public administration and criminal justice, and through the generous 
        support of individual donors, the Alumni Association, and the NU 
        Foundation, the creation of numerous named professorships;
Whereas when a need arose for off-campus classrooms and a conference site to 
        accommodate the business community, the University of Nebraska at Omaha 
        worked diligently in both the public and private sectors to secure 
        funding for the establishment of the Peter Kiewit Conference Center in 
        downtown Omaha in 1980;
Whereas the University of Nebraska at Omaha, in partnership with private donors, 
        demonstrated a continued commitment to providing outstanding facilities 
        with the opening of the Durham Science Center in 1987, the Weber Fine 
        Arts Building in 1992, and expansion of the Thompson Alumni Center in 
        2006;
Whereas the University of Nebraska at Omaha provides valuable resources and 
        expertise to the State of Nebraska through the Nebraska Business 
        Development Center, which produces an annual economic impact of 
        $350,000,000 and serves 200 communities;
Whereas the University of Nebraska at Omaha established a Teacher's College in 
        1908 that produces educators who teach in all 50 states, the District of 
        Columbia, and 73 other countries;
Whereas the University of Nebraska at Omaha worked with business leaders to 
        establish the Peter Kiewit Institute of Information Science, Technology 
        and Engineering to help meet the employment needs of the Nation's 
        technology and engineering firms, as well as offer students a premiere 
        educational opportunity;
Whereas the Peter Kiewit Institute of Information Science, Technology, and 
        Engineering has received accolades from many organizations, including 
        the National Science Foundation and Carnegie Mellon; and
Whereas 2008 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the University of 
        Nebraska at Omaha, with commemorations beginning October 8, 2008: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) requests that the President issue a proclamation recognizing the 
        100th anniversary of the founding of the University of Nebraska at Omaha 
        and calls upon citizens to observe such an anniversary with appropriate 
        ceremonies and activities; and
            (2) encourages State and local governments to recognize the 
        partnership among the City of Omaha, its citizens, and the University of 
        Nebraska at Omaha to build a vibrant and dynamic community.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.
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