[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 286 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 286

    Congratulating Oracle Team USA for winning the 34<SUP>th</SUP> 
                             America's Cup.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 5, 2013

Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mrs. Boxer) submitted 
      the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Congratulating Oracle Team USA for winning the 34<SUP>th</SUP> 
                             America's Cup.

Whereas the America's Cup is known as the oldest trophy in sports;
Whereas the United States has long maintained one of the most successful sailing 
        traditions in the world, with its teams having won more America's Cup 
        competitions than those of any other nation;
Whereas the America's Cup was hosted 13 times in New York City between 1870 and 
        1920, 12 times in Newport, Rhode Island, between 1930 to 1987, and 3 
        times in San Diego, California, between 1988 and 1995;
Whereas Newport, Rhode Island hosted the inaugural America's Cup World Series 
        Season Championship, the final race in the new AC45 professional circuit 
        in the lead-up to the 2013 finals, and is proud of its America's Cup 
        heritage;
Whereas America's Cup World Series races were also held in San Diego and San 
        Francisco, California;
Whereas on September 25, 2013, in San Francisco, California, Oracle Team USA won 
        the 34<SUP>th</SUP> America's Cup, defeating Emirates Team New Zealand 9 
        races to 8;
Whereas this is the second consecutive America's Cup victory for Oracle Team 
        USA, which previously won the 33<SUP>rd</SUP> America's Cup on February 
        14, 2010 in Valencia, Spain;
Whereas on September 18, 2013, Oracle Team USA had lost 8 of the first 11 races 
        in the America's Cup finals to Emirates Team New Zealand, but refused to 
        give up;
Whereas despite this deficit, skipper James Spithill declared: ``We will keep 
        fighting all the way to the end. There is still a lot of racing and I am 
        still convinced that we can win races. We will go out in every single 
        race thinking we can win; we have to.'';
Whereas beginning on September 19, 2013, Oracle Team USA was able to win 7 
        consecutive races to set up a winner-take-all race on the San Francisco 
        Bay course;
Whereas Oracle Team USA was able to accomplish one of the greatest comebacks in 
        sporting history by winning the final race in decisive fashion and 
        securing their second consecutive America's Cup;
Whereas Ben Ainslie, Darren Bundock, Simon Daubney, Dirk de Ridder, Shannon 
        Falcone, Kinley Fowler, Murray Jones, Rome Kirby, John Kostecki, Kyle 
        Langford, Jonathan Macbeth, Brian MacInnes, Matthew Mason, Will 
        McCarthy, Matt Mitchell, Joe Newton, Sam Newton, Gilberto Nobili, 
        Philippe Persti, Tom Slingsby, Joe Spooner, Simeon Tienpont, and Brad 
        Webb came together to form one of the most exciting and skilled crews to 
        have ever raced in the America's Cup; and
Whereas the partnership between the City and County of San Francisco and Oracle 
        Team USA owner Larry Ellison produced the most visually stunning and 
        publicly accessible series of races in the history of the America's Cup: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates Oracle Team USA for winning the 
        34<SUP>th</SUP> America's Cup;
            (2) recognizes the achievements of all the crew, coaches, 
        and staff who contributed to the victory; and
            (3) offers best wishes and support for the team as it 
        prepares to defend its title once again in American waters.
                                 <all>