[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 84 (Monday, June 10, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H6045-H6047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING USE OF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR GREATER WASHINGTON SOAP BOX
DERBY
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 153) authorizing the use of the
Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 153
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring),
SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF SOAP BOX DERBY RACES ON CAPITOL
GROUNDS.
The Greater Washington Soap Box Derby Association
(hereinafter in this resolution referred to as the
``Association'') shall be permitted to sponsor a public
event, soap box derby races, on the Capitol grounds on July
13, 1996, or on such other date as the Speaker of the House
of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the
Senate may jointly designate.
SEC. 2. CONDITIONS.
The event to be carried out under this resolution shall be
free of admission charge to the public and arranged not to
interfere with the needs of Congress, under conditions to be
prescribed by the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol
Police Board; except that the Association shall assume full
responsibility for all expenses and liabilities incident to
all activities associated with the event.
SEC. 3. STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT.
For the purposes of this resolution, the Association is
authorized to erect upon the Capitol grounds, subject to the
approval of the Architect of the Capitol, such stage, sound
amplification devices, and other related structures and
equipment as may be required for the event to be carried out
under this resolution.
SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.
The Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board
are authorized to make any such additional arrangements that
may be required to carry out the event under this resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr.
Mascara] will each be recognized for 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest].
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 153 would authorize the use
of the Capitol Grounds for the annual running of the Greater Washington
Soap Box Derby. This event is scheduled for July 13, and again will be
held on Constitution Avenue. This resolution provides for the Architect
of the Capitol, the Capitol Police Board, and the Greater Washington
Soap Box Derby Association to negotiate the necessary arrangements in
compliance with rules and regulations governing the use of the Capitol
Grounds. The event will be open to the public and be free of charge.
This year marks the 55th year of the running of the Greater
Washington Soap Box Derby. Participants range in age from 9 to 16.
Winners from this event will compete in the national event to be held
in Akron, OH, later this summer.
Participants must design and build their race cars, providing young
people with an opportunity to gain valuable skills in aerodynamics and
engineering. The event promotes teamwork, a sense of accomplishment,
sportsmanship, and provides an opportunity for parents and children to
work together for a special challenge.
I am pleased that our colleagues from Virginia Mr. Wolf, Mr. Davis,
and Mr. Moran, cosponsored this resolution, along with Members from
Maryland, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Wynn, and Mrs. Morella, and the gentlelady
from the District, Ms. Norton. I note that my colleague, Mr. Hoyer, has
been a long time supporter of this annual event.
I support this resolution and urge my colleagues to support the
measure.
{time} 1430
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, on July 13, 1996 the 55th running of the Greater
Washington Soap Box Derby is scheduled to take place in Washington, DC,
along Constitution Avenue. This year's event is expected to draw over
50 participants from the surrounding communities of
[[Page H6046]]
northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland, making the
Washington race one of the largest in the country. Mr. Hoyer deserves
credit and our support for his continued efforts in behalf of this all
volunteer event.
The race is funded through private donations, is staffed completely
with community volunteers and is open to the public and all families to
enjoy. Use of our beautiful Capitol Grounds has made this event a very
popular local event and, in fact, in 1992 Washington, DC, was named one
of the outstanding race cities.
Youngsters ages 9 through 16 build and race their own cars. They
learn the principles of aerodynamics through construction, practice,
and competition. In previous years, resolutions regarding this event
have always enjoyed broad bipartisan support. I thank Mr. Hoyer again
for his continued interest and efforts in this event, and urge support
for House Concurrent Resolution 153.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Maryland [Mr. Hoyer].
Mr. HOYER. I thank my friend from Pennsylvania for yielding time.
Mr. Speaker, I want to first say to my very close friend and
colleague from Maryland, Mr. Gilchrest, who chairs the subcommittee
that is reporting these bills to the floor, I want to thank him for his
efforts not only this year but in the past to shepherd this bill to the
floor so that it could be passed in a timely way, so that the
negotiations necessary to effect a successful running of the Soap Box
Derby could be accomplished. I also want to thank my friend from
Minnesota to whom I refer as the chairman in exile, the ranking member
of the full committee, Mr. Oberstar.
Mr. Speaker, my comments would have echoed that which the gentleman
from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr.
Mascara] have already said. This is to be the 55th running of the Soap
Box Derby.
For those of us who have lived in the Washington metropolitan area
for a long period of time, we know that for a period of time this was
run on the hill on Pennsylvania Avenue just after you get to Branch
Avenue if you are going out of town, before it if you are coming into
town. It came a time when that was no longer feasible and appropriate,
and in fact where they were not getting the attendance that was
necessary to make this a successful event.
It is, I think, very appropriate that we authorize the use of
Constitution Avenue under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Capitol for this
purpose. Is there anything more American than the Soap Box Derby? Young
people being asked to use their own talents, their own initiative,
their own inventiveness in coming to grips with a problem. That is, how
to get a vehicle that is not powered by a motor down a hill faster than
another vehicle.
As has been stated, these young people learn a lot about
aerodynamics, about engineering, and about things that will prove very
valuable to them in the future. But more importantly, they learn the
traits of self-reliance and competition as well as teamwork, as the
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Mascara] and the gentleman from
Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] I think both referred to, because they work
with others in constructing these cars and in racing these cars.
It is also a celebration, I suggest to my colleagues, in most
instances of family, because although these cars are built by the
youngsters themselves, I would be surprised if they did not ask dad or
even mom for some advice and counsel in the construction of these cars.
The bottom line is, I think it is very appropriate that we have this
race on Capitol Hill, this race that, as the gentleman from
Pennsylvania [Mr. Mascara] has pointed out, is now one of the most
successful in the United States. We will have some 55 cars in this
region participating, which is a lot more people, of course, than that
participating. And so I am very pleased to rise in support of this
resolution.
I want to also thank in particular, and there are a number of them
and I hesitate to cite one, but I will do so because it was Barry
Scher. Barry Scher does governmental relations for Giant Food. Giant
Food is one of the great corporations in America and one of the great
corporations in the Washington metropolitan area. Giant Food
unfortunately and tragically just lost its leader, Izzy Cohen. Izzy
Cohen was a close and dear friend of mine, a man of unusual sensitivity
to the community. Giant was not only a successful business enterprise,
it was and is a successful community citizen, a full participant in the
welfare and life of the Washington metropolitan community.
And it was Barry Scher, Wayne, who many years ago said, ``You know,
we're sponsoring this and we've all talked and we think the best place
in Washington to run this race would be on Capitol Hill. Do you think
we can get approval to do that?'' I said, ``I can't see why we would
not.''
I then went to the Speaker, who at that point in time was Tom Foley,
and said, ``Mr. Speaker, what do you think about this?'' And he said,
``I think this is an excellent idea.'' I think it may have been Jim
Howard, but am I correct, Jim? In 1989? I am not? Glenn Anderson. I
went to Glenn Anderson from California and talked to him about it. He
said, ``Sure, this sounds like a good idea.'' Of course it is sort of
like saying do you like apple pie. Who is going to say no?
But the fact of the matter is, ever since we have been passing this
resolution, which I think first started in 1990 or 1991, in effecting
this race here, it is one of the most successful because this is a
terrific setting. It excites the participants, and it is what America
ought to be all about.
The tragedy is, very frankly, that on the evening news the day after
the race there will not be, perhaps on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, C-SPAN,
whatever, the victors of that race. It will be some other young people
who have not performed and not done the things that we would want, some
perhaps more dysfunctional behavior.
It is unfortunate that we focus, Mr. Speaker, on the dysfunctional,
our television does that to a fault, rather than the positive
contributions that millions of young people are making in America. Many
of us have been to college or high school graduations. As a matter of
fact, my colleague Al Wynn spoke at an elementary school graduation
this morning.
The fact of the matter is, this Soap Box Derby is participated in by
young people who are a credit to themselves, to their families, their
communities, and to our country.
Again, I thank the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest], the
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Mascara], and the members of the
committee for bringing this resolution to the floor and seeking its
earliest possible passage.
I want to thank Chairman Gilchrest, the ranking member Mr. Traficant,
the Transportation Committee, and Mr. Mascara for their continued
support of this bill which authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds
for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.
For the last 5 years, I have sponsored this resolution along with
regional Members and sports fans.
The resolution authorizes the Architect of the Capitol, the Capitol
Police Board, and the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby Association to
negotiate the necessary arrangements for carrying out the running of
the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby in complete compliance with rules
and regulations governing the use of Capitol Grounds.
This year marks the 55th running of the Greater Washington Soap Box
Derby, and the race is slated for July 13, 1996. Participants ranging
from ages 9 to 16 are expected to compete in the early summer race.
They come from communities in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and
Virginia.
The winners of this local event will represent the Washington
metropolitan area in the national race which will be held in Akron, OH,
later this year.
The soap box derby provides our young people with an opportunity to
gain valuable skills such as engineering and aerodynamics. Furthermore,
the derby promotes team work, a strong sense of accomplishment,
sportsmanship, leadership, and responsibility. These are positive
attributes which participants carry into adulthood.
The young people involved spend many months preparing for this race.
The day they actually compete provides them with a sense of achievement
and comradery, not only for themselves but also for their families and
friends. In addition, this worthwhile event provides the participants,
tourists, and local residents with a safe and enjoyable day of
activities.
I again want to thank the committee for bringing the bill to the
floor and I urge my colleagues to support it.
[[Page H6047]]
Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], the ranking member of the
full committee.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to again compliment the
chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Gilchrest, for his leadership in
bringing forth this legislation and for his sensitivity to its
significance for young people of the greater Washington area and for
young people everywhere. I think this clearly is a worthwhile family
event and someday we will probably call this the Steny Hoyer Soap Box
Derby Race for Mr. Hoyer's leadership and advocacy of this legislation
time and again.
I noted with great interest the gentleman's reference to the soap box
derby being a family event. As a parent one time of a young aspiring
scout when they made these matchbox cars and raced them, I sure hope
that the children are doing more of the work in the soap box than the
parents are.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. OBERSTAR. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I have three daughters, they are now all
adults, but the gentleman brings to mind all of the science projects
that they did that unfortunately their mother and I spent so much time
at assisting them with. But we had a lot of fun and we learned a lot.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Think of all the energy wasted on the learning curve by
the parents. But the children certainly learned a great deal.
At a time when our full committee is at a point of bringing to the
House floor a bill in a week or so that will restrict the ability of
young people to fly an airplane to avoid another tragedy as occurred in
the case of the young girl whose airplane crashed, and she was not at
the controls, the instructor was the pilot in control and in command of
the aircraft, but we are going to be dealing with legislation to
prevent that kind of tragedy, I note that this legislation makes it
possible for young people of that age group to pilot something that
they could appropriately handle and that they should handle and to open
wider the doors of opportunity for youngsters 9 through 14 to race
their homemade soap box cars.
I may be the only one in this room that can still remember what a
soap box really is. Where I grew up in northern Minnesota, boxes of
wood were shipped around the country that contained soap and we did in
fact make cars out of these old soap boxes. They were quite sturdy
pieces of wood to put a set of wheels on them and set one of the
younger kids on it and push them along the street. Nothing quite so
fancy, I am sure, as is going to be entered in the races here but it
does bring back for me some nostalgia.
Mr. HOYER. If the gentleman will yield further, we are, however,
going to strain the credibility of the public if they are to believe
that we think soap boxes are for racing as opposed to giving speeches.
Mr. OBERSTAR. On that point, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania
for yielding me the time, I compliment the gentleman from Maryland, and
our dear colleague, Mr. Hoyer, and urge the enactment of House
Concurrent Resolution 153.
Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I think the statements by the gentleman from Minnesota
[Mr. Oberstar], the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Mascara], and the
gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Hoyer] certainly have hit the mark about
this particular tradition. We want it to continue. I want to thank the
gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Hoyer] for his sense of urgency to make
sure that this resolution passed the House today. This is really a
family-community affair where people can work together, and I think it
will set a pretty good example as we do this every year to not only
help build soap-box-derby-type vehicles with your children but also
help to hang out the clothes and do the dishes and paint the barn or
sweep the sidewalk, all those things that people can do collectively
together, to make families stronger.
Mr. Speaker, I urge that we pass this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Coble). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House
Concurrent Resolution 153.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________