Vernon Ehlers: “Senate Joint Resolution 26 provides for the appointment of Patricia Stonesifer to serve on the Smithsonian Institution's…”

“Senate Joint Resolution 26 provides for the appointment of Patricia Stonesifer to serve on the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents. This board governs the Smithsonian Institution and includes the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court and the Vice President of the United States. It also is comprised of three Members each from the U.S. House and Senate and nine citizens who are nominated by the Board and approved jointly in a resolution of Congress. Patricia Stonesifer currently serves as cochair and President of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She works to achieve that foundation's mission of improving access to advances in global health and education for all people as we move into the 21st century. Her other philanthropic work includes serving on the Board of the Vaccine Fund, which was started in 1999 to address the need for vaccines among the world's poorest countries. I believe her diverse background and strong management experience make her an excellent candidate for appointment to the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents, and I urge my colleagues to support Senate Joint Resolution 26.”