Congressional Record, Volume 147 Issue 70 (Monday, May 21, 2001)

[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 70 (Monday, May 21, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H2344-H2345]
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. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 79) authorizing the use of
the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.
The Clerk read as follows:

H. Con. Res. 79

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 (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 June 23, 2001, 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,
advertisements, 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
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 79 authorizes the use of
the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby
qualifying races to be held on June 23, 2001, 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, the sponsor of the event, to negotiate the necessary
arrangements for carrying out the event in complete compliance with the
rules and regulations

[[Page H2345]]

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. Their 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 strongly support this
resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance my time.
Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I am delighted to join the sponsor, the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), in supporting H. Con. Res. 79 and acknowledge the
efforts of the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who has been such a
champion for his constituents for this event.
H. Con. Res. 79 authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the
Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. Youth ranging in age from 9 to 16
construct and operate their own soap box vehicles. On June 23, 2001,
children from the Greater Washington area will race down Constitution
Avenue to test the principles of aerodynamics. Hundreds of volunteers
donate considerable time supporting the event and providing families
with a fun-filled day. The event has grown in popularity, and
Washington now is known as one of the outstanding race cities.
Madam Speaker, I support H. Con. Res. 79 and urge my colleagues to
support it as well.
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, for the last 9 years, I have sponsored a
resolution for the Greater Washington, Soap Box Derby to hold its race
along Constitution Avenue.
This year, I am once again proud to have introduced H. Con. Res. 79
to permit the 64th running of the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby,
which is to take place on the Capitol Grounds on June 23, 2001.
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 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 full Transportation Committee. I ask my
colleagues to join with me, and the other cosponsors including
Representatives Albert Wynn, Connie Morella, Jim Moran, Frank Wolf, and
Eleanor Holmes-Norton in supporting this resolution.
From 1992 to 2000, the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby welcomed
over 52 contestants which 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 even will represent the Washington
Metropolitan Area in the national race, which will be held in Akron,
OH, on July 28, 2001.
The young people involved spend months preparing for this race, and
the day that they complete it makes it all the more worthwhile. 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.
I want to thank the Transportation full committee and subcommittee
chairmen and ranking members for their support and I urge all of the
Members to support this legislation.
Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to join the sponsor, Mr.
Hoyer, and the other cosponsors--Mr. Wolf, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Moran, and Ms.
Norton--in supporting House Concurrent Resolution 79 which allows for
participants in the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby to use the
Capitol Grounds and race along Constitution Avenue on June 23rd. For
the past nine years, I have cosponsored this resolution along with the
rest of the Greater Washington Metropolitan delegation in order to
promote this annual community event--which is now in its 60th year of
running.
The Greater Washington Soap Box Derby has been considered one of the
largest races in the nation--averaging over 40 contestants each year.
Participants in the Derby, ranging in age from 9 to 16, live in
communities in the great State of Maryland, the District of Columbia,
and Virginia. The winners of the local event in June will have the
honor of representing the Washington Metro area at the National Derby
Race in Akron, Ohio on July 28th.
The Derby truly is a community event with scores of children,
parents, and volunteers working tirelessly to construct and operate the
soap boxes. The region's youth have the opportunity to learn the
lessons of team work, competition, and sportsmanship--as well as the
physics and mechanics involved in building an aerodynamically shaped
soap box car.
I also would like to applaud one of my constituents, George
Weissgerber of Rockville, Maryland for his work again this year as the
Derby Director.
I invite the Members of the House to not only support this resolution
today, but also with your attendance at the Greater Washington Soap Box
Derby on June 23rd.
Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 79.
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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