[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 119 (Wednesday, September 3, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H7800-H7803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CONGRATULATING LANCE ARMSTRONG

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 350) congratulating Lance 
Armstrong for winning the 2003 Tour de France.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 350

       Whereas Lance Armstrong won the 2003 Tour de France, the 
     100th anniversary of the race, by completing the 2,125-mile, 
     23-day course in 83 hours, 41 minutes, and 12 seconds, 
     finishing 1 minute and 1 second ahead of his nearest 
     competitor;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong's win on July 27, 2003, marks his 
     fifth Tour de France victory;
       Whereas with this victory, Lance Armstrong joined Miguel 
     Indurain as the only riders in history to win cycling's most 
     prestigious race in 5 consecutive years;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong displayed incredible perseverance, 
     determination, and

[[Page H7801]]

     leadership in prevailing over the mountainous terrain of the 
     Alps and Pyrenees and in overcoming crashes, illness, hard-
     charging rivals, and driving rain on the way to winning the 
     premier cycling event in the world;
       Whereas in 1997, Lance Armstrong defeated choriocarcinoma, 
     an aggressive form of testicular cancer that had spread 
     throughout his abdomen, lungs, and brain, and after treatment 
     has remained cancer-free for the past 6 years;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong is the first cancer survivor to win 
     the Tour de France;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong's courage and resolution to 
     overcome cancer has made him a role model to cancer patients 
     and their loved ones, and his efforts through the Lance 
     Armstrong Foundation have helped to advance cancer research, 
     diagnosis, and treatment, and after-treatment services;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong continues to be the face of cycling 
     as a sport, a healthy fitness activity, and a pollution-free 
     transportation alternative; and
       Whereas Lance Armstrong's accomplishments as an athlete, 
     teammate, cancer survivor, and advocate have made him an 
     inspiration to millions of people around the world: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates Lance Armstrong and the United States 
     Postal Service team on their historic victory in the 2003 
     Tour de France; and
       (2) commends the unwavering commitment to cancer awareness 
     and survivorship demonstrated by Lance Armstrong.
       Sec. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Lance 
     Armstrong.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bell) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis).


                             General Leave

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks on H. Res. 350.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 350 congratulates Lance Armstrong for 
winning the 2003 Tour de France, a race many consider the most grueling 
sporting event in the world.
  Mr. Speaker, on July 27 Lance Armstrong won the incredible 23-day 
bicycle race through French mountains, countryside and cities to become 
the fifth cyclist in the 100-year history of the race to earn five Tour 
de France victories. Even more impressively, Lance won the race for the 
fifth consecutive year, becoming only the second person ever to do so.
  Since this House recessed for the summer the same weekend as Lance's 
victory, I am very proud that on its first day back this distinguished 
body is recognizing the inspirational Lance Armstrong and his 
unbelievable courage, grit, and determination.
  Lance Armstrong, one of the giants of American athletes over the last 
decade, was born to a 5'3", 105-pound 17-year-old mother in the suburbs 
of Dallas in September 1971.
  Growing up, while other classmates were playing football or partying, 
Lance spent much of his free time running, riding his bicycle, swimming 
and exercising. At the age of 13, Lance began to enter triathalons all 
over the U.S. where he biked, ran and swam with the Nation's best.
  As a high school senior, Armstrong qualified to train with the U.S. 
Olympic team, but ultimately he focused solely on cycling. As a cyclist 
he won the U.S. National Amateur Championship in 1991. Over the next 5 
years, Lance won 12 bike races, including the World Championships in 
1993. By 1996 Lance Armstrong was a top-rated cyclist in the world, but 
it was during 1996 after a victory at the Tour DuPont in North Carolina 
that he began to feel more fatigue and discomfort than usual, even 
after an exhausting race. Later that year he was diagnosed with 
testicular cancer. Some of Lance's doctors at the time gave him only a 
40 percent chance of surviving. He would say later he thinks that they 
were only being nice when they said that.
  Lance soon underwent three major operations and chemotherapy to fight 
off the disease that had spread to his abdomen, his lungs and his 
brain. The treatments were successful; and within a year of being 
diagnosed with cancer, he was pronounced cancer free. As a survivor, 
Lance has become one of the world's most influential cancer research 
advocates. Lance founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation to promote 
cancer research and awareness. He also wrote the best selling book, 
``It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life,'' that tells the 
full story of how his early successes were interrupted by cancer, how 
he survived cancer, and how he eventually returned to racing and won 
his first Tour de France in 1999.
  This year, having never won the race in his previous five victories 
by less than 6 minutes, Lance made his fans sweat a little bit. He 
ultimately won the 2,125 mile race by 61 seconds after he endured rain, 
fog, heat, illness, and even protesters, not to mention the 
indescribably punishing course.
  President Bush called to congratulate him on the night of his fifth 
straight triumph.
  In his book, Lance describes in gut-wrenching detail the miserable 
initial symptoms of testicular cancer. He explained the anguish of how 
it felt to learn he acquired the deadly disease in 1996 at a point when 
his racing career was literally just starting to take off. Perhaps the 
following excerpt that describes his life's spirit is the more enduring 
words of his book. He said, ``I want to die at 100 years old with an 
American flag on my back and the star of Texas on my helmet, after 
screaming down an Alpine descent on a bicycle at 75 miles per hour. I 
want to cross one last finish line as my wife and my 10 children 
applaud, and then I want to lie down in a field of those famous French 
sunflowers and gracefully expire: the perfect contradiction to my once 
anticipated poignant early demise.''
  Mr. Speaker, Lance Armstrong is an incredible role model to all 
citizens for his relentless work ethic, unmatched physical fitness that 
has helped him become perhaps the greatest cyclist of all time. It is 
remarkable that he achieved his great accomplishments in the cycling 
world after he overcame cancer, proving to all that a person can not 
only defeat cancer, but can thrive after beating it.
  Mr. Speaker, Lance turns 32 years old this month, more than 7 years 
after he miraculously overcame the cancer that experts said he had less 
than a 50 percent chance of surviving. Almost as remarkably, he has 
assured all his fans that he is determined to pursue a sixth straight 
Tour de France victory next summer. I, for one, cannot wait to cheer 
him on.
  For all of these reasons, I urge all Members to support the adoption 
of House Resolution 350 that commemorates Lance Armstrong's fifth Tour 
de France victory.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support today of House Resolution 350. Mr. 
Speaker, Lance Armstrong, national and world champion cyclist, two-time 
Olympian, humanitarian, cancer survivor, and now five-time winner of 
the Tour de France, faced his first athletic challenge as a fifth 
grader in a second grade swim class. Through his now signature hard 
work and determination, Lance Armstrong was eventually put in a swim 
class with his own age group and later went on to place fourth in the 
1,500 meter freestyle in his State.
  At age 13 Lance became a junior triathalon athlete. At age 15, just 5 
years after being placed in that second grade swim class, Lance 
Armstrong won so many triathalons he made over $20,000 in just one 
year. The swimming and running components of the triathalon gave way to 
cycling. In his junior year of high school, the U.S. Cycling Federation 
invited him to join the 1990 Junior World Championship Team in Moscow.
  Born on September 18, 1971, Lance's athleticism was nurtured by his 
mother, Linda, a single parent who has been a constant source of 
strength and inspiration for Lance. This shy, all-American kid from the 
great State of Texas would become only the fifth rider in history to 
win the Tour de France five times. In 1991, Lance Armstrong won the 
Amateur Cycling Championship. He turned professional in 1992 and 
captured 10 titles by 1993. By the mid-1990s he had won the Tour DuPont 
twice and was being hailed as the finest U.S. cyclist.

[[Page H7802]]

  In 1996, however, he was diagnosed with a very serious form of 
cancer. Given only a 50 percent chance of survival, he underwent 
surgery and chemotherapy. In one of the more impressive comebacks in 
sports history, he returned to cycling in 1998 and reached the pinnacle 
of his sport with five consecutive victories in the Tour de France, the 
sport's toughest and most prestigious race.
  Lance Armstrong is truly in a class by himself and is well-deserving 
of this resolution in his honor.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.
  Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, again, on behalf of the House, I want to congratulate 
Lance Armstrong for his most recent Tour de France win. I urge all 
Members to support the adoption of House Resolution 350.
  Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar).
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the extraordinary 
accomplishment of Lance Armstrong in winning five consecutive Tours de 
France.
  I have with me the principal newspaper in Paris that follows athletic 
events, Le Journal de Paris, whose headline says, ``les Parisiens 
etaient la a l'arrivee du Tour,'' `Parisiens were there when the tour 
arrived in Paris', and so was I. I made it my point, a long-held dream, 
to be on the Champs Elyssees for the final stage of the Tour de France, 
as an avid cyclist, to cheer and support Lance Armstrong, whom I have 
known for quite some time. I also got to ride the last leg of the tour, 
as this newspaper shows 11,000 other cyclists, wearing yellow jerseys 
with the logo ``La randonnee du centenaire'' (The Centennial Ride), 
riding the Champs Elyssees over the last 40 kilometers of the Tour de 
France; and not only that, but I was interviewed on French national 
television just quite by accident, I will say to my friend and my 
colleague from Texas, in French, and represented the United States I 
think very appropriately.
  It is impossible to understand the accomplishment of Lance Armstrong 
unless one follows the events of cycling and understands the technical 
intricacies of the Tour de France. To say that it is like running a 
marathon every day for 3 weeks is in itself an understatement of the 
athleticism and the strength and the mental toughness that it takes to 
lead the tour, to win it five times in a row. And only one other 
cyclist in the 100-year history of the Tour de France has done that, 
Miguel Indurain of Spain. Three others have won it five times, though 
not consecutively; only two have won it consecutively.
  Lance Armstrong represented the very best of America, the very best 
of athleticism, the very greatest in accomplishment in athletic history 
in winning five consecutive Tours de France, and all of America's proud 
of him, and I must say that all of France acknowledges his 
accomplishment. They recognize great accomplishments and great 
achievements on the athletic field and in other arenas as well, but for 
this one, Lance stands on the pedestal of history alone.
  Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I am here this afternoon principally, as 
with our colleague the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), to 
honor my constituent Lance Armstrong. I join in offering hearty 
congratulations to a heroic American, Lance Armstrong. This proud 
Texan, cancer survivor, public health advocate, Olympian and now five-
time Tour de France champion has captivated the imagination and won the 
hearts not only of Texas, but of our Nation and the world. However, I 
believe it is fair to say that nowhere is the enthusiasm for Lance's 
achievements greater than in his hometown of Austin, Texas.
  We have an old French embassy from the days of the Republic of Texas 
there, and our relationships with France are good, so we mean no 
disrespect in saying that among us Austinites we refer to it as the 
``Tour de Lance'' because he has had such success in representing our 
State and our country in this world athletic competition.
  Lance was in Austin last Sunday night to be honored at the University 
of Texas Longhorn football game and victory, and he is honored there 
most every day by his many neighbors who applaud his success.
  While we are proud to have Lance wear the red, white, and blue of our 
country and of the U.S. Postal Service team when he is in a race, we 
prefer to see him in yellow, when he crosses that finish line in that 
yellow jersey, a sign of courage, a sign of victory. It is appropriate 
for Lance's team to be sponsored by the Postal Service: while not faced 
with too much snow, despite rain and considerable heat and gloom of 
night, he stayed the course as a swift competitor for all of his 
appointed rounds.
  Lance is a champion, defined not by his setbacks but by his 
relentless determination to overcome them. Indeed, this year's victory 
particularly was symbolic of the often rocky road that Lance Armstrong 
has ridden. Not until after a painful struggle through searing heat and 
a frightening crash late in the race did the true fortitude of the real 
Lance Armstrong emerge for all to see, a familiar grimace on his face, 
avoiding any obstacle in the way and leaving his closest competitors in 
the dust. Just as not so long ago when faced with his very steepest 
climb in life, Lance persevered and pushed himself to beat daunting 
challenges against long odds.
  In Austin, we began development of the Lance Armstrong bikeway. This 
cross-town trail is a fitting tribute for his accomplishments, and it 
will be a safe route for community cyclists and pedestrians who want to 
get off the road when they exercise or commute to work. It is one of 
the examples of the worthwhile projects resulting from the 
transportation enhancements program this House will consider this week.
  Lance has joined with those of us who are members of the bipartisan 
House cycling caucus on a number of occasions and has been active in 
promoting cycling. It is not just the people who wear a yellow jersey 
or race competitively who can enjoy the many benefits of cycling.
  I hope the House will honor him not only with this resolution today, 
but by its actions in maintaining our commitment to the transportation 
enhancement program that will be on the floor on Friday.
  Lance Armstrong also voices his concern in Austin and here in 
Washington through the Lance Armstrong Foundation, a foundation that he 
set up to encourage other nonprofits in their efforts to promote cancer 
survivorship. They are doing an outstanding job in Texas of raising 
this issue in cooperation with other health organizations here in 
Washington, D.C.
  This Congress can pay tribute to Lance by seeing that we have the 
resources dedicated to cancer survivorship that are so very important 
to millions of Americans and adopting legislation to advance this 
important issue. The Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life Act 
expands and coordinates the activities of the National Institutes of 
Health and the Center for Disease Control with respect to cancer 
survivorship research.
  So to Lance we say thanks for your contributions to our country, 
particularly to central Texas, and your inspiration to children, to 
cancer survivors and to athletes worldwide. Congratulations on your 
success not only on the bike but, most importantly, for all of your 
successes in life. You have taught us the importance of survivorship; 
it is that we have so much for which to live.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
Chairman Davis' Resolution H. Res. 350, honoring Lance Armstrong. Mr. 
Chairman, I had planned to introduce a similar resolution with 24 
cosponsors along with Representative McHugh and Representative Doggett. 
I have turned these cosponsors over to Chairman Davis and appreciate 
him adding them to his resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, today we honor a man who has shown tremendous strength, 
courage, and perseverance in his struggle to overcome seemingly 
insurmountable odds. Lance Armstrong is a world-class cyclist who came 
back from a grueling battle with cancer to dominate in his sport; a man 
who has remembered those still battling against cancer and who strives 
each day to make a difference in their lives. I am pleased to join in 
honoring Mr. Lance Armstrong.
  On Sunday, July 27, 2003, Lance Armstrong achieved his fifth 
consecutive Tour de France

[[Page H7803]]

victory. The completion of this 23-day, 2,125-mile cycling race is a 
significant accomplishment. Yet, even more significant are the odds 
that Mr. Armstrong overcame in order to compete in this, his ninth, 
Tour de France. After competing in the race from 1993 to 1996, Lance 
Armstrong was informed that he had testicular cancer that had spread to 
his abdomen, lungs, and brain.
  This information was undoubtedly devastating to Lance Armstrong. 
However, this man was not about to give up on his life and dreams. He 
chose, instead, to fight cancer with all of his strength. He decided 
that the disease would not win. It took a long and difficult struggle, 
chemotherapy, and surgery, but Lance Armstrong remained strong and 
never gave up hope.
  Mr. Armstrong is now in recovery, but he continues to fight cancer. 
After succeeding against enormous odds, he is now helping others as 
they face their own battles with cancer. In 1997 he founded the Lance 
Armstrong Foundation, or the LAF. This organization provides support, 
information, and services to cancer patients and survivors. Through the 
LAF, Lance Armstrong has supported thousands of cancer patients and 
survivors by actively advocating for their needs. His books It's Not 
About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life and Every Second Counts offer 
inspiration to those devastated by this terrible disease. By sharing 
his story, Mr. Armstrong has given comfort and hope to untold numbers 
of people battling cancer and their families.
  Lance Armstrong's battles have only just begun. He continues to fight 
cancer through the Lance Armstrong Foundation and to hold his position 
as one of the greatest cyclists of all time. He has truly earned the 
pride of his coach, Chris Carmichael, his main sponsor, the United 
States Postal Service, and all of his loyal fans.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate Mr. 
Armstrong on his many tremendous accomplishments, especially his fifth 
consecutive Tour de France victory, and wish him all the happiness that 
life has to offer. I also want to commend Ms. Sarah Kinneer, a summer 
intern of mine, for her work on this Resolution. She worked hard and 
did an outstanding job.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. 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 Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 350.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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