{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://pallone.house.gov/press-release/pallone-and-menendez-urge-president-obama-deliver-keynote-rutgers-university%E2%80%99s", "Pallone and Menendez Urge President Obama to Deliver Keynote at Rutgers University\u2019s Commencement in 2016", "2013-12-23", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) led members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to accept Rutgers University\u2019s invitation to deliver the keynote address for its 250th Anniversary Commencement in 2016.\u00a0 Rutgers University, which is located in Congressman Pallone\u2019s district, is one of the largest and most prestigious research universities in the nation.\n\u00a0\nBelow is the full text of the letter:\n\u00a0\nDecember 23, 2013\n\u00a0\nPresident Barack Obama\nThe White House\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\nWashington, D.C. 20006\n\u00a0\nDear President Obama:\n\u00a0\nWe write to encourage you to accept Rutgers University\u2019s invitation to deliver the keynote address for its 250th Anniversary Commencement in 2016.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nRutgers is one of the largest and most prestigious research universities in the nation.\u00a0 Started as Queens College under the royal charter of George III on November 10, 1766, Rutgers is today a proud land-grant university and member of the Association of American Universities.\u00a0\u00a0 Founded ten years before the United States was even a country, Rutgers is one of the original nine colonial colleges and the only one to become a flagship state land-grant university.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\nRutgers has since grown to employ more than 25,000 faculty and staff in educating more than 65,000 full-time students on three campuses across the State of New Jersey.\u00a0 Rutgers students hail from all 50 states and more than 115 countries, and the university boasts 450,000 living alumni across the globe.\n\u00a0\nThroughout the university\u2019s long and distinguished history, Rutgers students and scholars have attained significant achievements in a variety of areas.\u00a0 In 1869, New Brunswick served as the location for the first intercollegiate football game, in which Rutgers bested Princeton 6-4.\u00a0 In 1952, Rutgers Professor Selman Waksman won the Nobel Prize for Medicine for research that led to the discovery of streptomycin, the first antibiotic effective against tuberculosis.\u00a0 Additionally, Rutgers students have been named Rhodes Scholars, Fulbright Fellows, Gates Cambridge Scholars, Churchill Scholars, Truman Scholars, Woodrow Wilson Scholars, and Udall Scholars.\u00a0 The faculty includes MacArthur \u201cGenius Award\u201d winners, National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology recipients, Pulitzer Prize winners, and dozens of National Academies members.\n\u00a0\nRutgers prides itself on its commitment to diversity and has been recognized as one of the most diverse universities in the nation.\u00a0 Additionally, Rutgers is committed to introducing first-generation, low-income, and academically motivated students to the promises and opportunities of a college education through its Rutgers Future Scholars Program.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nWe are pleased to come together to support Rutgers University\u2019s invitation for you to address the graduates of the 250th anniversary commencement.\u00a0 Your attendance and participation will make this important milestone in Rutgers\u2019 history all the more memorable and auspicious.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nSincerely,\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nFRANK PALLONE, JR. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ROBERT MENENDEZ\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 CORY BOOKER\nMember of Congress\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 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