[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 13, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2547]
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. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 49) authorizing the use of the 
Capitol grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 49

       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 
     12, 1997, 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 Capital 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 
California [Mr. Kim] and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim].
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 49 simply authorizes the use 
of the Capitol grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby races 
to be held on July 12, 1997. This free event is sponsored by the All 
American Soap Box Derby and its local affiliate, the Greater Washington 
Soap Box Derby Association. Its participants are young girls and boys 
from 9 to 16 who reside in the greater Washington metropolitan area. 
Winners in the various age groups will advance to the national 
championship in Akron, OH. Pursuant to this resolution the association 
will assume full responsibility for any expenses or any liability 
related to the event. This association also agrees to make any 
necessary arrangements for the races with the approval of the Architect 
of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board.
  Mr. Speaker, for over 50 years the soap box derby races have taken 
place in Washington, DC. It is truly an exciting event for the family, 
and I support the resolution and urge my colleagues to pass the 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. Speaker, I join the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim] in 
supporting H. Con. Res. 49. I would like to just compliment Rick 
Barnett and Susan Brita, the staff, for all of the work they do on many 
of these things that are more laborious than seem to be substantive, 
but they do serve a good purpose.
  The 1996 event produced three winners, who then went on to win the 
National Derby held in Akron, OH. Two of these winners were brother and 
sister. The Washington event has grown in size and now has become one 
of the best attended in the country.
  The derby organizers will work with the Architect of the Capitol and 
the Capitol Police to ensure that appropriate rules and regulations are 
in place. It is a good initiative. I join Mr. Kim in supporting it.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise enthusiastically today in support of 
House Concurrent Resolution 49, a resolution authorizing the use of the 
grounds of the U.S. Capitol for a truly wonderful and family-oriented 
event: the Greater Washington Soapbox Derby. For the past 6 years, I 
have sponsored this legislation, and I would like to offer my very 
sincere thanks to the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee 
on Public Buildings and Economic Development--Mr. Kim and Mr. 
Traficant--and to the chairman and ranking member of the full Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure--Mr. Schuster and Mr. Oberstar--
for their commendable work in bringing this legislation to the floor in 
so timely a manner.
  This resolution authorizes the use of Constitution Ave. between 
Delaware Ave. and Third St. for the 56th running of the Greater 
Washington Soap box Derby on July 12, 1997. The competition is part of 
the All-American Soap box Derby which will be held later this year.
  The resolution also authorizes the Architect of the Capitol and the 
Capitol Police to negotiate a licensing agreement with the Greater 
Washington Soap Box Derby Association ensuring full compliance with the 
rules and regulations governing use of the Capitol Grounds.
  I am happy once again to have the support of Members from the 
Washington metropolitan region as cosponsors. Ms. Norton, Mr. Moran, 
Mr. Wolf, Ms. Morella, and Mr. Wynn have been enthusiastic supporters 
in years past and they are again this year.
  This event provides young boys and girls, ages 9 to 16, with an 
invaluable opportunity to develop and practice both good sportsmanship 
and engineering skill. This year, there will once again be over 50 
participants from Washington, DC, and the surrounding communities of 
northern Virginia and Maryland participating in the derby events. I am 
especially pleased that boys and girls representing four of the five 
counties in my district will be competing in this year's derby.
  The Soap box Derby promotes a fun, positive and character-building 
activity for our young people to participate in. At a time when our 
newspapers are filled with stories about the transgressions and 
negative conduct of our youth, and at a time when Congress has been 
forced to confront juvenile crime as an issue of national scope and 
magnitude, it is certainly a pleasure to be involved in an event which 
provides a positive outlet for kids and teenagers from the region.
  I like to recall a statement made to me by Ken Tomasello, director of 
the Greater Soap Box Derby Association, when I introduced the first 
resolution authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for this event. 
Ken said, in short, ``The derby doesn't keep kids off the street; it 
gives them a drug-free activity on the street.''
  The young people involved in this event spend many months preparing 
for this race--building their derby cars from the ground up. The day 
they actually compete provides a genuine sense of accomplishment and 
camaraderie--for the participants, and their families and friends 
alike. This worthwhile event also provides visitors to the Capitol and 
local residents with a safe and enjoyable day of activities.
  I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere 
congratulations to all of this year's participants for their hard work 
and dedication and I wish them all well in this year's race.
  Again, I want to thank the Transportation Committee for its 
consistent support of the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby and I 
encourage all of my colleagues to attend this year's race.
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim] that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
49.
  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.

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