[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 110 (Friday, July 30, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H6741-H6743]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING LANCE ARMSTRONG, AMERICA'S PREMIER CYCLIST

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Government Reform be discharged from further consideration of the 
resolution (H. Res. 264) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives honoring Lance Armstrong, America's premier cyclist, 
and his winning performance in the 1999 Tour de France, and ask for its 
immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  Mr. DOGGETT. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, under my 
reservation, and I do not intend to object since this is a resolution 
that I have authored, I do want, in working with the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Sessions), to have a brief discussion of this resolution.
  Some 21 Members, Democrats and Republicans, some of whom are here on 
the floor this afternoon have joined in this resolution in a bipartisan 
acknowledgment of the great success of Lance Armstrong in France this 
past week. I particularly want to acknowledge and will recognize 
momentarily the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) and an avid 
cyclist on her staff, Blake Selzer, who had been particularly 
interested in this subject.
  Mr. Speaker, last Sunday, as Lance Armstrong, my fellow Texan and 
fellow Austinite, rode to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, I was overcome 
not just with the importance of that moment, but with the importance of 
all that Lance has accomplished in getting to this point. I was also 
struck with the meaning that this victory would have for thousands of 
people around the world.
  After an early budding career this young Austinite was stricken with 
life threatening advanced testicular cancer that actually metastasized 
and affected his lungs and brains. While his own recuperation was still 
incomplete, he began to worry not only about his own condition with 
this disease but with the impact that this disease was having on so 
many other people around the world. The drive and determination that 
the world got to see this past 23 days of the race in France was very 
evident to Austinites long before he ever rode up the streets of Paris, 
France.
  But to get to Paris, Lance had to cover some 2300 miles 
circumnavigating France on a bicycle in some 23 days. That is more than 
a hundred miles a day in all types of terrain, even in the French Alps 
and against 200 of the best cyclists in the world. Unfortunately, the 
French terrain never lets one coast and the saying that it is all 
downhill from here was something that never seemed to apply.
  As he rode into Paris wearing that coveted Yellow Jersey, the cheers 
from the good French people let the world know that indeed there was a 
new American in Paris.
  This drive to be the best that you can be and to make the things 
better for others manifested itself in his own physical healing long 
before this race in the founding of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, a 
project of which my office provided some assistance. Lance undertook 
the foundation in December of 1996 just 3 months after his diagnosis.
  The foundation has as its mission, and I see a colleague from Ohio 
who has worked in this area as well, awareness, education, and research 
on cancer. It sponsors the annual Ride for the Roses where people come 
from all over the United States to bicycle in our Texas hill country 
each spring and, in the process, raise money for the foundation. It is 
a fun event that raises thousands of dollars, and that foundation also 
sponsors the Lance Armstrong Oncology Conference that gathers 
physicians from around the world to discuss and learn about 
advancements and treatments of cancer.
  Just last year, the Tour de France had fallen under the specter of 
performance-enhancing drugs. This once very prestigious bicycle race 
has lost glamor and credibility; but thanks to Lance, the credibility 
of the race has been restored. And in Texas we are suggesting to 
cycling friends in France that they respectfully consider re-naming 
this the ``Tour de Lance.''
  His recovery and victory in the tour has surprised the world, but it 
has not surprised us in Austin where we watched Lance as he promised to 
defeat cancer, where we watched him create this Lance Armstrong 
Foundation, and where we finally watched him wear this coveted Yellow 
Jersey.
  I stand here today very proud to sponsor this resolution though I 
have been a recreational bicyclist who has had a little difficulty 
staying on my own bicycle at times. As an Austinite, as a Texan, as an 
American, we are very proud of his accomplishments. It was very 
exciting to see it this past week and to know that he was also not only 
representing Texas but there as a member of the United States Postal 
Service team and that this was a team effort of all of the members of 
the postal service and of the team that they sponsored.
  So Lance pulled off the unexpected in Paris, and now we have good 
bipartisan support for this resolution honoring him.
  We are not given many second chances in life, but Lance was given a 
second chance, and just look what he did with it. As he said himself, 
if you ever get a second chance in life, you have got to go all the 
way. The personal path that he has led certainly demonstrates that. We 
know here in the House that heroes are not just the giant statues 
against a red sky, they are the people that say: This is my community, 
my world, and it is my responsibility to make it better, and I know 
that my colleagues share in expressing our pride and gratitude to this 
young man from Texas, Lance Armstrong.
  Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I yield to the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) who has been an inspiration on 
this legislation.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank our Texas colleagues, and, Mr. 
Speaker, I rise today to join all our colleagues in the House in 
honoring Lance Armstrong for his incredible victory in this year's Tour 
de France. Like millions of other Americans and fans around the globe, 
I followed Lance's journey to Paris with great enthusiasm. Lance 
Armstrong is only the second American to win the prestigious Tour de 
France since its inception in 1903. This is a race covering over 2,000

[[Page H6742]]

miles of French countryside over a 3-week period. He is the first 
American to win the Tour on an American team, the United States Postal 
Service team, and as we have heard, this win is a tribute to another 
victory as well for Lance and for us all, a victory over cancer.
  Lance did not do this alone. It was the incredible hard work of his 
teammates that insured Lance would arrive in Paris wearing the Yellow 
Jersey, and it is going to take the same teamwork to find a cure for 
the devastating disease we call cancer. We in Congress must do all we 
can to help in this effort for just as Lance's victory on his bike took 
teamwork, the fight against cancer will take the same hard effort.
  Lance Armstrong's comeback from cancer is from truly a remarkable 
story. Less than 3 years ago, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer 
and given less than a 50 percent chance of survival much less ever 
riding a bicycle again. Yet he came back to make what is one of the 
most incredible comebacks in the history of sport. The grueling Tour de 
France is one of the most physically demanding endurance sporting 
events in the world. Lance's sheer determination and athletic ability 
was inspiring to watch. He is a role model for cancer patients and 
survivors around the world.
  Lance also matches his athleticism with altruism. Just 2 months after 
he was diagnosed with cancer, he formed the Lance Armstrong Foundation, 
a nonprofit organization devoted to fighting cancer through awareness, 
education, and research. In the truest sense of the word, Lance 
Armstrong is a hero. And in the words of Lance himself on his 
accomplishment, this is what he said:
  I hope this sends a fantastic message to all the cancer patients 
around the world. We can return to what we were before and even better.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, and while 
reserving my reservation of objection, I yield to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the ranking member on the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure who played such a significant role in 
the interests of bicycling and cyclists in the new transportation 
legislation.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Doggett) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions) for 
bringing up this resolution this afternoon, and I thank the gentleman 
for yielding this time.
  The Tour de France, Mr. Speaker, is the oldest, most important and 
most challenging bicycling race in the world. The 2,300 miles covered 
by the cyclists in only 3 weeks, from the time trials in the flatlands 
to the sprints on rolling terrain, the exhausting climbs in the Alps 
and the Pyrenees encompass the most demanding skills of both individual 
and team effort. The Tour, in my judgment, is the greatest test of 
fitness and endurance in all of athletics. This year, for only the 
second time in its 86-year history, the Tour was won by an American, 
Lance Armstrong. The only other American winner was three time Yellow 
Jersey holder, the now legendary Greg Lemond.
  Lance Armstrong's victory is especially remarkable for several 
reasons. At 26 miles per hour, it was the highest average speed in tour 
history.

                              {time}  1445

  It was the first tour won by a predominantly American team. Greg 
Lemond won with largely European teams. And it was the first time a 
cancer survivor won the tour.
  Two years ago, Lance Armstrong was clinging to a 20 percent hope of 
survival from a virulent attack of testicular cancer that had spread to 
his lungs and brain tissue. He conquered surgery, chemotherapy, the 
blistering heat of central France, the cold and rain of the mountain 
stages, and attacks from the world's best professional cyclists, to 
stand atop the winner's podium on the Champs-Elysees in Paris and don 
the winner's Yellow Jersey, the most coveted prize in all of 
competitive cycling.
  In just 3 weeks, Lance Armstrong restored integrity and excitement to 
European cycling following last year's doping scandals; and he restored 
new hope and inspiration to cancer victims everywhere.
  As an avid cyclist myself, who takes a year to pedal the 2,300 miles 
Lance Armstrong did in 3 weeks, I salute Lance Armstrong as a true 
American hero, a role model for American youth, and a future cycling 
legend.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. 
Pryce), who has been such a leader in the efforts here to deal with the 
issue of cancer.
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I am very pleased to join with my colleague from Texas in support of 
this resolution and congratulating Lance Armstrong, America's premier 
cyclist, in his recent victory.
  During this year's tour, Lance won the four most important stages of 
the race, the 3-time trials and the first mountain stage, and he staked 
his place alongside some of the greatest winners of the past.
  Regarded as one of the world's most demanding sporting events, the 
23-day long, 2,306 mile race has challenged some of the world's fittest 
athletes since 1906. However, this year's victory by Lance Armstrong 
marks one of the greatest comebacks in the history of sports.
  It was just a little over 2 years ago when Lance was diagnosed with 
testicular cancer, a form of cancer which strikes 7,400 men in the 
United States each year. And while it represents just 1 percent of all 
male cancers for men in their 20s and 30s, it is the leading form of 
cancer. Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer so advanced it had 
spread to his lungs and his brain. He was given just a 50 percent 
chance of survival. His doctors' main concerns were no longer his 
return to racing, but simply to keep him living.
  However, Lance Armstrong had a different agenda. After undergoing 
surgery and during sessions of chemotherapy and tolerating nauseating 
drugs, Lance Armstrong began to ride and train between treatments. And 
then finally, there was good news. His blood protein levels had 
returned to normal and his chest x-ray was clear. Lance Armstrong was 
cancer-free just 1 year after beginning his treatment.
  Lance Armstrong's incredible achievement to battle back from cancer 
and to claim victory in the world's premier cycling race not only 
illustrates his strong will and determination, but it also serves to 
send a strong message to all cancer patients and survivors, both young 
and old.
  As Lance Armstrong simply put it after stepping down off the podium, 
``We can return to what we were before and be even better.''
  Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kasich), 
my good friend and colleague, referred to Lance Armstrong as the ``real 
McCoy,'' a true American hero. This resolution congratulates him on his 
spectacular performance and recognizes his contributions to inspire 
those fighting cancer, and it deserves our support.
  When Lance was diagnosed with cancer, he had a choice and he chose to 
fight. However, he is not just fighting for himself, but for all cancer 
patients worldwide. By establishing the Lance Armstrong Foundation, he 
is raising awareness, increasing research and providing services for 
people with cancer. To the cycling community, his victory may seek to 
inspire our next generation of cyclists, just as American Greg Lemond's 
second win inspired him. But to cancer patients and survivors around 
the world, his victory means much more, and his fight and determination 
send such a strong message to never give up.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Lance Armstrong not just for his victory 
in France, but more importantly, on his victory in life. He is a true 
American hero, and I urge strong support for this resolution.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Harris 
County, Texas (Mr. Bentsen), to end finally on a Lone Star note, quite 
appropriately.
  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Austin for 
yielding and also my colleague from the Dallas area as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor our fellow Texan, Lance Armstrong, and 
his remarkable comeback from testicular cancer to win the 1999 Tour de 
France.
  Lance Armstrong has stopped at many checkpoints along the road to 
recovery from cancer. One of these checkpoints was at M.D. Anderson 
Hospital in Houston where he received

[[Page H6743]]

chemotherapy treatment as part of his miraculous recovery. As Lance has 
mentioned, his chemotherapy treatment at M.D. Anderson was one of the 
most difficult parts of his trying ordeal, because it resulted in the 
loss of hair, strength, weight, and all the other ills that accompany 
chemotherapy; yet his inner strength and personal will allowed him to 
defeat his cancer and regain his strength and prove to himself and the 
world that he could not only compete in the Tour de France, but win it.
  Many in the sports world, even in the cycling team, wrote off Lance 
Armstrong, but Lance Armstrong never gave up hope. He showed great 
courage and determination, and once the cancer was removed, he slowly 
and steadily climbed back on his bicycle and started to train. Then he 
started to race. Then he started to surprise the cycling world by 
making a stunning comeback.
  Mr. Speaker, Lance Armstrong's victory inspires all of those who have 
had cancer, all of those who are fighting cancer, and all of those who 
have had loved ones die from cancer. He has proved to the world that 
there is life after cancer and that cancer no longer carries an 
automatic death sentence.
  Lance Armstrong is now helping others prevent and survive testicular 
cancer not only through example, but by dedicating himself and his 
resources to the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which helps fund research 
to cure cancer.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Lance Armstrong both on his victory in 
Paris and his victory over cancer.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I 
yield to the gentleman from the Dallas area in Texas (Mr. Sessions) so 
that he might offer further explanation of the bill.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Austin for his 
indulgence in acceptance of this resolution on behalf all of the people 
of the United States.
  As a lifelong Texan, I take great pride today to honor a brave young 
Texan who represents the very best of honor and dignity for Texas and 
America. Mr. Speaker, we take special pride today in this resolution 
recognizing the place that Lance Armstrong has earned among the truly 
inspirational athletes of this century. His tremendous achievement in 
winning the Tour de France of 1999 would stand as the greatest 
accomplishment of many athletes' lives.
  This race, which occurs over a 2-week period through some of the 
hilliest terrain in Europe, requires exceptional fitness on the part of 
each and every competitor. It is a feat of endurance that is rarely 
matched in any field of athletic competition. Few Americans have ever 
won this event, and as was noted today, Lance Armstrong was only the 
second, and none have overcome the obstacles that Lance Armstrong did 
as he prepared for this monumental achievement.
  Just 3 years ago, Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular 
cancer. This disease is one of the most common forms of cancers among 
men between the ages of 15 and 35. When he was diagnosed, doctors gave 
him less than a 50 percent chance of surviving. He faced a future of 
surgery, followed by radiation and chemotherapy and his training for 
bicycle racing took a back seat to overcoming the immediate threat to 
his life.
  Lance Armstrong has done far more than just survive. He has 
successfully completed his own treatment; and then, as he resumed his 
training for competition, he established the Lance Armstrong foundation 
to promote, through awareness, education and research, the fight 
against testicular cancer. In organizing this valuable community 
service, he has initiated the measures that will help many other young 
men receive information and to early dying knows that which is 
effective, early treatment.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution expresses for the entire United States 
of America our House's acclaim for Lance Armstrong as an athlete and 
dedicated contributor to his community and as an outstanding American 
citizen. We applaud his accomplishments and wish him continued success 
in every aspect of his activity.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House agree to the adoption of H. Res. 
264.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the timely consideration of 
this resolution so that this body could go on record immediately in 
honoring Lance and all that his effort represents in a strong, 
bipartisan way. I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 264

       Whereas Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with advanced 
     testicular cancer in 1996 and given a less than 50 percent 
     chance of survival by doctors;
       Whereas testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer 
     in men between 15 and 35 years old;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong has established the Lance Armstrong 
     Foundation, devoted to fighting cancer through awareness, 
     education, and research;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong has made one of the most memorable 
     comebacks in sports history;
       Whereas the Tour de France is one of the most physically 
     demanding endurance sporting events in the world; and
       Whereas Lance Armstrong has honored the Nation with his 
     courageous performance by winning the Tour de France: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates Lance Armstrong on his spectacular 
     performance, winning the 1999 Tour de France; and
       (2) recognizes the contribution Lance Armstrong's 
     perseverance has made to inspire those fighting cancer and 
     survivors of cancer around the world.

  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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