[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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