Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 20) providing for the appointment of Robert P. Kogod as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

   The Clerk read as follows:

   H.J. Res. 20

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in accordance with section 5581 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (20 U.S.C. 43), the vacancy on the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, in the class other than Members of Congress, occurring by reason of the expiration of the term of Wesley S. Williams, Jr. of the District of Columbia, on April 13, 2005, is filled by the appointment of Robert P. Kogod of the District of Columbia. The appointment is for a term of 6 years, beginning on the later of April 14, 2005, or the date of the enactment of this joint resolution.

   The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty) each will control 20 minutes.

   The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney).

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

   Again, Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be here with my friend and colleague

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from New York, and we appreciate his support of these resolutions.

   I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 20, which provides for the appointment of Robert P. Kogod as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents.

   Robert Kogod is the second nomination we are considering today. He is expected to fill the vacancy created by the departure of Wesley Williams.

   Mr. Kogod is the former co-chairman and co-chief executive officer of the Charles E. Smith Realty Companies. The Smith Companies he headed pioneered mixed-use development in the Washington, DC area, which puts residential, office, and retail buildings in close proximity.

   Mr. Kogod and his wife, Arlene, are renowned philanthropists. In 1979 the Robert and Arlene Kogod School of Business at American University was named in honor of a major gift from the Kogods. They also helped establish the Institute for Advanced Jewish Research, within the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. The Kogods are also world-recognized collectors of American crafts, art deco, and American art. They are longstanding members of the Smithsonian's American Art Forum and Archives for American Art.

   Mr. Kogod has also served as a member of the Smithsonian Washington Council, and he is currently serving as a special adviser to Secretary Small on the Patent Office Building renovation project.

   He serves as a trustee and adviser to the President of American University, which is where he also earned his bachelor of science degree in 1962. He possesses an extensive background in business, philanthropy and art. His diverse experience will make him an excellent candidate to serve on the Smithsonian Institution's governing board.

   I support House Joint Resolution 20 and ask for its adoption.

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

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

   Before we proceed with this next nomination, I also want to congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra), the newest congressional regent at the Smithsonian Institution, who replaces our late friend and colleague, Bob Matsui.

   Mr. Speaker, I join the chairman in urging the adoption of House Joint Resolution 20 to elect Robert P. Kogod, a renowned philanthropist and real estate developer, to a 6-year term as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution.

   Mr. Kogod has a long record of service with the Smithsonian Institution, having served as a member of the Smithsonian Washington Council; as a special adviser, as the chairman said, to Secretary Small; and as a member of the American Art Museum's American Art Forum.

   Mr. and Mrs. Kogod, as the chairman pointed out, are noted collectors of American crafts, art deco, and American art and have provided major gifts to the American University School of Business, which is named for them; and to the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, which promotes Jewish thought and education; and to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, among many others.

   Mr. Kogod also serves on the American University Board of Trustees. And for many years Mr. Kogod was co-chairman and chief executive officer of Charles E. Smith Realty Companies, which pioneered mixed-use real estate development in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

   Mr. Speaker, I join the chairman in strongly urging my colleagues to support House Joint Resolution 20.

   Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

   I just want to reiterate that Mr. Kogod is a person who is going to enhance and add so much to the board, and we are so pleased today to be making this resolution to put him on the board.

    * [Begin Insert]

   Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the appointment of Robert P. Kogod as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution.

   Bob received a B.S. in 1962 from American University located in Washington, DC. He joined the Smith Companies in 1959 where he served as president, chief executive officer and director until 2001. Rob is a member of the boards of directors of Vornado Realty Trust and Archstone-Smith Trust. Bob also serves as President of the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem which is home to the Kogod Institute for Advanced Jewish Research.

   In 1979, the Kogod School of Business at American University was named in honor of a major gift from the Kogods.

   Bob and his wife Arlene have demonstrated their deep commitment to James Smithson's vision of the Smithsonian Institution as an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The Kogods are renowned philanthropists as well as world-recognized collectors of American crafts, Art Deco and American Art. They are longstanding members of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's American Art Forum and the Archives for American Art. Bob previously has served as a member of the Smithsonian Washington Council and is currently serving as special advisor to Secretary Small on the Patent Office Building renovation project.

   Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to express my support for the appointment of Bob Kogod as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution.

    * [End Insert]

   Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

   The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) that the House suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 20.

   The question was taken.

   The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of those present have voted in the affirmative.

   Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

   The yeas and nays were ordered.

   The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.