[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 132 (Monday, October 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H9288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



     CONGRATULATIONS TO HOUSTON ASTROS AS THEY BID FAREWELL TO THE 
               ASTRODOME, THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we have very serious matters 
to attend to in the United States Congress, but I thought with all the 
joy that we experienced in Texas in the Eighth Wonder of the World 
yesterday, the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, that I wanted to share the 
excitement, the history with my colleagues.
  I want to pay special tribute to the Astros team that overcame all 
kinds of injuries and trials and tribulations to win their division. 
Then I would like to pay tribute to Larry Dierker who suffered a 
debilitating illness early on in the season, yet he came back to lead 
his team to victory and I might say, this might be the year that the 
Astros go straight on into the World Series.
  This is the final sunset on the Astrodome. Born in 1965, noted as the 
Eighth Wonder of the World, the largest indoor stadium. We call it the 
``mosquito-ridden-free'' stadium in Houston, Texas. No sun, no heat, no 
rain, but good baseball and good fun. We have enjoyed the 35 years that 
we have had the pleasure to utilize the Astrodome and all of the hard 
workers who have made the pleasure of the fans their first priority.
  We appreciate Drayton McLane who came in and bought the Astros and 
made sure that they stayed in Houston. I want to say to all the old-
timers, though I will not call them that, those who had season tickets 
for 35 years, we thank you, too, for you were committed, you were 
loyal, and you were strong. Through the ups and downs of our Astros, 
you stood fast. All the joy that was given to the young people, the 
children who would come to the baseball game and enjoy the time with 
their parents.
  Baseball tickets traditionally have been the most reasonable tickets 
of all sports in America. It is America's pastime, yes, along with so 
many other sports like basketball and soccer now and football, but one 
thing about baseball, you could always see family members coming 
together with their young children. I am reminded of the time that I 
would go with my aunt and uncle. It was a very special time to go to a 
baseball game.
  So my hat is off to the Astros and the Astro family, to Houston and 
all of those, including Judge Roy Hofheinz, the mayor of the City of 
Houston who had the vision in 1965 to build this enormous entity that 
most people thought, how in the world could you build something with a 
price tag of $31 million? I think most of us would like to build 
stadiums today for $31 million.
  Mr. Speaker, this is just a simple tribute to all those hardworking 
souls that made the Astros games so much fun and made the Astrodome the 
Eighth Wonder of the World where so many people enjoyed the opportunity 
to be there, not only for baseball but so many other activities and 
conventions and meetings. We are just grateful for the facility, and I 
guess what you would say is, it is off into the sunset.
  But do not worry, the Astrodome will be there for others to enjoy for 
many years to go as we move downtown to the new Astros stadium called 
Enron Field located in my district, the 18th Congressional District. 
Hats off to the Astros, congratulations, and I will see you in the 
World Series.

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