[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 59 (Tuesday, May 12, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H3063-H3064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  AUTHORIZING USE OF 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. 255) authorizing the use of the 
Capitol grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 255

       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 
     11, 1998, or on such other date as the Speaker of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration 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

[[Page H3064]]

     additional arrangements that may be required to carry out the 
     event under this resolution.

     SEC. 5. APPLICABILITY OF PROHIBITIONS.

       Nothing in this resolution may be construed to waive the 
     applicability of the prohibitions established by section 4 of 
     the Act of July 31, 1946 (40 U.S.C. 193d; 60 Stat. 718), 
     concerning sales, displays, and solicitations on the Capitol 
     Grounds.

  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 255 authorizes the use of 
the Capitol grounds for the 57th Annual Greater Washington Soap Box 
Derby qualifying races to be held on July 11, 1998, or such date as the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on 
Rules and Administration jointly designate.
  The resolution authorizes the activities of the Architect of the 
Capitol, the Capitol Police Board and the Greater Washington Soap Box 
Derby Association, the sponsor of the event, to negotiate the necessary 
arrangements for carrying out the event in complete compliance with the 
rules and regulations governing the use of the Capitol grounds.

                              {time}  1745

  The event is open to the public and free of charge. The sponsor will 
assume all the responsibility for all the expenses and liabilities 
related to the event. In addition, sales, advertisements, and 
solicitations are explicitly prohibited on the Capitol grounds for this 
event.
  The races are to take place on Constitution Avenue between Delaware 
Avenue and Third Street, Northwest. The participants come from 
Washington, DC and the surrounding communities in Virginia and 
Maryland, and range in ages from 9 to 16. This event is currently one 
of the largest races in the country, and the winners of these races 
will represent the Washington metropolitan area in the National race to 
be held on August 8, 1998 in Akron, OH.
  I support the resolution and urge my colleagues to join in support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the best friends of young people 9 through 16 is 
the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Hoyer). Not the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), but the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer). The people just love him and he always takes 
the time to not forget them, and this event is one of the most 
highlighted events down in our area.
  This is a very good resolution and I want to commend the gentleman 
for what he has done in this regard.
  So I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland 
(Mr. Hoyer), a friend of young people, a friend of all people, and if 
all the people liked the Democrats as much as they like the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), we would be in the majority for sure.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Traficant), my friend, for those very kind remarks. I want to thank the 
Committee for reporting this resolution out in a timely fashion.
  For the last 7 years, Mr. Speaker, I have sponsored a resolution for 
the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby to hold its race along 
Constitution Avenue, as the gentleman from California (Mr. Kim) has 
said.
  I proudly introduced H. Con. Res. 255 to permit the 57th running of 
the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby, which is to take place on the 
Capitol grounds on July 11 of this year.
  This resolution authorizes the Architect of the Capitol, the Capitol 
Police, 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 the Capitol grounds.
  In the past, the full House has supported this resolution, once 
reported favorably by the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure. I ask my colleagues to join again with me along with 
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis); the gentlewoman from the 
District of Columbia (Ms. Norton); the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Wynn); the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf); the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Mrs. Morella); and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) in 
supporting this resolution.
  From 1992 to 1997, the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby welcomed 
over 40 contestants which made the Washington DC race one of the 
largest in the country. This event has been one of the largest steps in 
turning the local area into a grand event for kids. Participants, as it 
has been said, range from 9 to 16, and hail 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 on August 8, 1998.
  The Derby provides our young people with an opportunity to gain 
valuable skills, such as engineering and aerodynamics. Furthermore, the 
Derby promotes teamwork, a strong sense of accomplishment, 
sportsmanship, leadership and responsibility.
  These are positive attributes that we should encourage children to 
carry into adulthood. The young people involved spend months, Mr. 
Speaker, preparing themselves for this race, and the day that they 
complete the race makes it all the more worthwhile. In addition, this 
event provides parents, local residents, and tourists with a safe and 
enjoyable day of activities.
  I hope my colleagues will support this resolution on behalf of the 
children and families of the Washington metropolitan area.
  Mr. Speaker, this is somewhat like motherhood and apple pie, the Soap 
Box Derby. Young people using their talent, with an objective and goal 
in mind, teaching them lessons that will be good for them throughout 
their lives. It is young people like these contestants in the Soap Box 
Derby who, I might say, Mr. Speaker, are all winners, all winners for 
having participated, set for themselves a goal, exercised their talent 
and enterprise to achieve that goal, and then participate in the 
competition that is so much a part of life.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank the committee for reporting out 
this resolution in a timely fashion.
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, as they say on the streets, I resemble 
those remarks of our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), and I support the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hefley). 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. 
255, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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