[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 23, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H1499-H1500]
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. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution (H.Con.Res. 47) authorizing the 
use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 47

       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 
     10, 1999, 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 additional arrangements that 
     may be required to carry out the event under this resolution.

     SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.

       The Capitol Police Board shall provide for enforcement of 
     the restrictions contained in 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, as well 
     as other restrictions applicable to the Capitol Grounds, with 
     respect to the event to be carried out under this resolution.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Franks) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks).
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 47, as amended, authorizes 
the use of the Capitol grounds for the 58th annual Greater Washington 
Soap Box Derby qualifying races to be held on July 10, 1999, or on such 
date as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate 
Committee on Rules and Administration jointly designate.
  The resolution also authorizes the Architect of the Capitol, the 
Capitol Police Board, and the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby 
Association, 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.
  The event is open to the public and free of charge; and the sponsor 
will assume responsibility for all 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 are residents of 
the Washington Metropolitan Area 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 
at the National finals to be held in Akron, Ohio.
  I support the resolution and urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to join the sponsor, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), in supporting House Concurrent Resolution 47, and 
acknowledge the efforts of the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who 
has been such a champion for his constituents for this event.
  House Concurrent Resolution 47 authorizes the use of the Capitol 
grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. Youngsters ages 9 
through 16 construct and operate their own soap box vehicles. On July 
10, 1999, these youngsters from the Greater Washington Area will race 
down Constitution Avenue to test the principles of aerodynamics.
  Mr. Speaker, many volunteers donate considerable time supporting the 
event and providing this family-oriented, fun-filled day. The event has 
grown in popularity, and Washington is known as one of the outstanding 
race cities.
  Mr. Speaker, I support House Concurrent Resolution 47, and I thank 
the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for bringing forward the 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows) for 
yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Mississippi and Susan 
Brita in particular, not because the gentleman from Mississippi is not 
the most important as the ranking member but Susan Brita has been at 
this forever. We have worked closely with her and she knows much more 
about the soap box derby, I think, than anyone else on our side of the 
aisle. I know on the other side of the aisle there is great knowledge 
about it. I want to thank the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure committee for bringing this bill forward.
  Mr. Speaker, the soap box derby is a tradition in America. It has 
become a tradition on Capitol Hill. Because it is Capitol Hill, we need 
to give authorization. Allowing this to occur on Capitol Hill is an 
appropriate action that we take every year, because this is the kind of 
event that makes Americans proud, it gives young people a sense of 
responsibility and enterprise and it gives them also a sense of 
competition, all of which will redound to their benefit and redound to 
the benefit of the Nation.
  Again, I thank the committee for reporting this bill out in such a 
timely fashion, and I thank in particular Susan Brita who does such an 
extraordinary job for all of us.
  Mr. Speaker, for the last eight years, I have sponsored a resolution 
for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby to hold its race here on the 
Capitol grounds along Constitution Avenue.
  Two weeks ago, I proudly introduced H. Con. Res. 47 to permit the 
58th running of the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby, which is to take 
place on July 10, 1999. This 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 the past, the full House has supported this resolution once 
reported favorably by the full Transportation Committee. I ask for my 
colleagues to join with me, and Representatives Albert Wynn, Connie 
Morella, Jim Moran, and Frank Wolf in supporting this resolution.
  Each year since 1992, the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby has 
welcomed over 40 contestants which has made the Washington, DC race one 
of the largest in the country. Participants range from ages 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, 
Ohio on July 31, 1999.
  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 that we should encourage children to 
carry into adulthood. The young people involved spend months preparing 
for this race, and the day that they complete it makes it all the more 
worthwhile.
  I would like to thank Bob Franks, the chairman of the Public 
Buildings Subcommittee, and Bob Wise the ranking member for moving this 
legislation.
  Much credit also goes to Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Oberstar 
for being so

[[Page H1500]]

supportive over the years. Finally, I would like to recognize Susan 
Brita who is such an asset to us all at the Public Buildings 
Subcommittee.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, the Soap Box Derby represents the best in 
``voluntarism'', as volunteers from across the Greater Washington area, 
many of them parents of participating children, donate hours of time to 
provide an opportunity to learn, compete, and share in this family 
event.
  Since 1992, this local event has tripled in size. Approximately 50 
youngsters will join in the 58th running of the Soap Box Derby, here in 
Washington D.C., making this event one of the biggest in the country.
  The 1997 super-stock DC winner came in second place at the national 
race.
  Our thanks to the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Hoyer, for his 
attention to this event, and for his annual sponsorship of this 
resolution.
  I support this resolution.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 47, 
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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