[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 13, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H2548-H2549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZING 1997 SPECIAL OLYMPICS TORCH RELAY TO BE RUN THROUGH CAPITOL 
                                GROUNDS

  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res 67) authorizing the 1997 Special 
Olympics Torch Relay to be run through the Capitol Grounds.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 67

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF RUNNING OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS TORCH 
                   RELAY THROUGH CAPITOL GROUNDS.

       On June 13, 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, the 1997 Special Olympics 
     Torch Relay may be run through the Capitol Grounds, as part 
     of the journey of the Special Olympics torch to the District 
     of Columbia Special Olympics summer games at Gallaudet 
     University in the District of Columbia.

     SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITY OF CAPITOL POLICE BOARD.

       The Capitol Police Board shall take such actions as may be 
     necessary to carry out section 1.

     SEC. 3. CONDITIONS RELATING TO PHYSICAL PREPARATIONS.

       The Architect of the Capitol may prescribe conditions for 
     physical preparations for the event authorized by section 1.

  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 67 authorizes the 1997 
Special Olympics Torch Relay to be run through the Capitol Grounds. 
This relay is part of the journey of the Special Olympics torch to the 
District of

[[Page H2549]]

Columbia Special Olympics Summer Games to be held at Gallaudet 
University on June 13, 1997. The U.S. Capitol Police will host opening 
ceremonies for the torch run on Capitol Hill, and the event will be 
free of charge and open to the public.
  Each year, over 1,000 law enforcement representatives from 60 local 
and Federal law enforcement agencies in Washington, D.C participate in 
this annual event to show their support of the Special Olympics. This 
is a very worthy endeavor which I am proud to support, and I urge my 
colleagues to pass this resolution, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Hoyer], the distinguished sponsor of 
the Soap Box Derby legislation.
  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Ohio, [Mr. Traficant] 
for yielding, and I thank the gentleman from California, [Mr. Kim], as 
well.
  Obviously, Mr. Speaker, I am in very strong support of the pending 
resolution on the Special Olympics. It is an extraordinarily worthwhile 
endeavor, giving hope and opportunity to so many folks, and it is 
worthwhile that the Capitol Grounds be allocated for that particular 
purpose.
  In addition, Mr. Speaker, I was a little late getting here and it 
passed with such efficiency and effectiveness that I failed to timely 
reach the floor. But I appreciate the gentleman from Ohio yielding and 
his suggestions as well and rise in strong support of H.Con.Res. 49, 
which authorizes the use of the grounds of the U.S. Capitol for a truly 
wonderful and family-oriented event, the Greater Washington Soap Box 
Derby.
  Mr. Speaker, I have sponsored this resolution for the past 6 years, 
and I want to thank the committee and its staff for assuring the timely 
passage of this resolution in each one of those years. This Soap Box 
Derby is an American tradition. The Hill, Capitol Hill, is an excellent 
hill from which to do that, and it is certainly appropriate that on 
July 12, just a week after the birthday of our Nation, that this very 
American of traditions is carried out in the site of the U.S. Capitol.
  It is a tradition which teaches to young people self-reliance, the 
worth of competition, and the worth of adding their hands and their 
talent to constructing something of worth.
  So I again express my strong support not only of the resolution 
already passed on the Soap Box Derby, but on this one as well.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Soap Box Derby is an institution, as is the 
gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Hoyer], and we appreciate his work with 
our subcommittee each year, and we thank him for his support and 
leadership.
  I would like to speak out for this resolution. The D.C. Special 
Olympics has participants from over 100 public schools, group homes, 
agencies and associations serving citizens with developmental 
disabilities. The D.C. chapter reaches over 25 percent of all eligible 
citizens. No other city or State does it any better.
  So I want to join with the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim], the 
gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar] and the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Shuster] and with the staff, Mr. Barnett and Ms. 
Brita, in support of this resolution and urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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. 67.
  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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