[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 10, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H8098-H8101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING RAFAEL PALMEIRO OF THE TEXAS RANGERS FOR HITTING 500 
MAJOR LEAGUE HOME RUNS AND THANKING HIM FOR BEING A ROLE MODEL FOR THE 
             CUBAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND FOR ALL AMERICANS

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 315) congratulating Rafael Palmeiro of the 
Texas Rangers for hitting 500 major league home runs and thanking him 
for being a role model for the Cuban American community, as well as for 
all Americans.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 315

       Whereas Rafael Palmeiro hit the 500th home run of his 
     career on May 11, 2003 at The Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, 
     becoming only the 19th player in baseball history to 
     accomplish such an achievement;
       Whereas Rafael Palmeiro's achievement places him in the 
     company of baseball's elite, including Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, 
     Mickey Mantle, and Ted Williams;
       Whereas Rafael Palmeiro's power swing has been consistent 
     over his 17 years in the major league and this consummate 
     quiet professional is still going strong;
       Whereas, with eight consecutive seasons with at least 38 
     home runs, Rafael Palmeiro has established himself as one of 
     the game's great power hitters;
       Whereas, in addition, Rafael Palmeiro has mastered the 
     intricacies of playing his position, first base, becoming a 
     four-time All Star and earning three consecutive Gold Gloves 
     from 1997 to 1999;
       Whereas, through dedication and hardwork, Rafael Palmeiro 
     has become one of the superstars of baseball and a future 
     Hall of Famer;
       Whereas Rafael Palmeiro is the personification of hard work 
     and determination, and is an inspiration for Cuban Americans, 
     having fled Havana, Cuba with his family in 1971;
       Whereas Rafael Palmeiro has become a role model for people 
     of all ages, taking time to work with foster children at the 
     Lena Pope Home in Ft. Worth, Texas, including raising more 
     than $160,000 for supporting foster children and for 
     encouraging foster parenting; and
       Whereas, in addition to all of Rafael Palmeiro's other 
     endeavors, he dedicates time to his wife Lynne and his two 
     children, thirteen-year-old Patrick Ryne and eight-year-old 
     Preston Connor: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates 
     Rafael Palmeiro of the Texas Rangers for hitting 500 major 
     league home runs and thanks him for being a role model for 
     the Cuban American community, and all Americans, and for 
     inspiring all Americans to persevere and work hard to achieve 
     their dreams.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. 
Maloney) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on the resolution currently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 315, introduced by my distinguished 
colleague from the State of Texas (Mr. Sessions), congratulates Rafael 
Palmeiro of the Texas Rangers for becoming the 19th player in major 
league baseball history to hit 500 home runs and thanking him for being 
a role model for the Cuban American community and, indeed, for all 
Americans.
  On May 11, the Texas Rangers beat the Cleveland Indians in a 
seemingly ordinary early season major league baseball contest. During 
the game, he

[[Page H8099]]

hit his 10th home run of the year. But this home run, Mr. Speaker, the 
500th of his career, forever placed Rafael Palmeiro in a select class 
among baseball's greatest sluggers of all time.
  In surpassing the 500 home run milestone, he affords this House a 
chance to recognize not only his exploits on the field, but also his 
selfless community-conscious conduct off the field. Mr. Speaker, Rafael 
Palmeiro was born on September 24, 1964, in Havana, Cuba. He left Cuba 
as a young boy in 1971 and moved to Miami with his mother and two of 
his three brothers in pursuit of political freedom. He attended 
Mississippi State University where he played baseball. Upon his 
graduation in 1985, Rafael was first selected by the Chicago Cubs in 
the first round of the amateur baseball draft. Within a year of being 
drafted, he was also selected and played in the majors where he has 
remained ever since.
  In addition to the Cubs, Rafael played for the Texas Rangers and the 
Baltimore Orioles. Rafael has hit 523 home runs and batted in 1,676 
runs during his outstanding 18-year career.
  In between his big hits on the diamond, Rafael hits home runs off the 
field by staying involved in the lives of children in his community. 
Rafael makes regular appearances with children through programs such as 
Make-a-Wish Foundation of North Texas, an organization that makes 
individuals' wishes come true for children with life-threatening 
illnesses. Rafael also works with the Lena Pope Home in Fort Worth, 
Texas, which has educated, counseled, sheltered, and improved the lives 
of literally thousands of children each year. Rafael and his wife, 
Lynne, have donated generously to the Lena Pope Home and have helped 
the organization recruit foster parents.
  In addition, this past spring, Rafael orchestrated a 2-week reading 
challenge for students in the Dallas area. Over 15,000 people 
participated in the 2-week program, and those students who read at 
least 500 minutes during the contest were entered into a drawing to 
attend the Rangers June 14 game, after which Rafael was honored for 
hitting 500 home runs.
  Mr. Speaker, only 18 other players in major league baseball history 
have hit as many home runs as Rafael Palmeiro, and that alone is worthy 
of commendation by this House. But this resolution particularly honors 
Rafael's selfless service to his community.
  Today, the House of Representatives, and indeed the entire Nation, 
salutes Rafael Palmeiro for his success, for living the American Dream, 
and for helping so many children to achieve their own dreams. 
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of 
House resolution 315 that honors both the athletic, as well as the 
philanthropic, achievements of Rafael Palmeiro.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions) for 
introducing this worthwhile measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
I congratulate my colleagues from Texas for putting forward this 
important resolution.

                              {time}  1115

  Mr. Speaker, Rafael Palmeiro continues to climb the all-time home run 
list. On Tuesday, Aug 26, Palmeiro hit his 521st career home run, tying 
him for 13th place on the list with Willie McCovey and Ted Williams. 
Palmeiro has 31 home runs this season and is the sixth player in major 
league history with 30 or more home runs in nine consecutive seasons.
  Born on Thursday, September 24, 1964, Palmeiro began his major league 
baseball career on September 8, 1986, with the Chicago Cubs. However, 
Palmeiro did not start out as a power hitter. He hit just 25 homers in 
258 games for the Cubs before being traded to the Texas Rangers after 
the 1988 season. In his first season in Texas, Palmeiro hit 8 homers in 
156 games and then led the American league with 191 hits with just 14 
homers in 1990. Palmeiro had 203 hits, a league-high 49 doubles and 26 
homers in 1991.
  As he got stronger, Palmeiro learned to pull the ball and the numbers 
started to build. He had 37 homers and 105 RBI's in 1993. He then left 
Texas as a free agent for Baltimore. Palmeiro had 182 homers and 553 
RBI's in 742 games over 5 seasons in Baltimore before returning to the 
Texas Rangers. Along with his homers, Palmeiro also has 3 Gold Gloves 
at first base. He has never been on the disabled list, averaging 157 
games a year since 1988.
  Rafael Palmeiro is also very active in the community and has hosted 
the Raffy Readers reading program and is helping to build a youth 
baseball field in Colleyville, Texas.
  I congratulate Mr. Palmeiro for his contributions to the game of 
baseball and the community.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from the Texas (Mr. Sessions), the sponsor and author of 
this resolution. Play ball.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Ros-Lehtinen) who, as a proud Cuban-American, is also a member of the 
Republican baseball team, a person who enjoys not only supporting other 
Cuban-Americans but also our baseball team, and to be joined by my good 
friend, the gentleman from the Committee on Rules, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart), also a Cuban-American.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I come to the floor this 
morning to speak on H. Res. 315, honoring Texas Ranger first baseman 
Rafael Palmeiro for his amazing feat of hitting his 500th career home 
run. This resolution honors not only Rafael's accomplishments in major 
league baseball which are numerous, but also his many off-field 
contributions which are just as important.
  Rafael is the epitome of hard work and professionalism, and I am 
proud to honor him today, this individual who puts his family, his team 
and his community before himself.
  On May 11, 2003, Rafael Palmeiro hit his 500th home run at the ball 
park in Arlington Texas, becoming only the 19th player in baseball 
history to do so. With his 500th home run, Palmeiro joined the company 
of baseball's elites like Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Ted 
Williams. In fact, since May 11 when he accomplished this feat, 
Palmeiro has now moved to 13th on this exclusive list of 500 home run 
hitters.
  Mr. Speaker, beyond the statistics and the numbers, however, Rafael 
Palmeiro has done significant work by make making a difference in his 
community. Whether it is encouraging foster parents through his hard 
work at the Lena Pope Home in Ft. Worth, Texas or encouraging kids to 
read with his Raffy's Readers program, Palmeiro is an ardent spokesman 
for children's causes.
  Mr. Speaker, these are just a sampling of Rafael Palmeiro's actions 
in giving back to his community. This, on top of spending time with his 
lovely wife, Lynne, and their two sons, Patrick Ryne who is 13, and 
Preston Connor who is 8. Rafael Palmeiro has become a role model for 
people of all ages with his on- and off-the-field accomplishments.
  I am proud to be the lead co-sponsor of this bill honoring a fine man 
who is a shining example of the things that a kind and good person can 
achieve in their life.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), one of the co-
sponsors and authors of this resolution and an important leader in this 
body.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to 
thank the leaders on the bill. I am pleased to join my colleagues from 
Texas this morning in honoring Rafael Palmeiro of the Texas Rangers, a 
major league baseball team, for his accomplishment in reaching the 500 
home run marker in May.
  Along with his honors, he also has numerous other hitting records, 3 
Gold Gloves at first base and he has never been on the disabled list. 
But it is not just his excellence on the field that explains why he has 
legions of fans across Texas and the country. He is a man of 
outstanding character. He is humble even though he is distinguished and 
destined for the Hall of Fame.
  It is his humility that he takes out into our community, contributing 
to so many important causes in the Dallas, Ft. Worth area, the Lena 
Pope Home in Ft. Worth, Shoes for Orphan Souls, and his own 
organization, Raffy's 500 Club.

[[Page H8100]]

Throughout his career, he has spent his time encouraging foster 
parenting, actively participating in the Make a Wish Foundation, 
encouraging our youth to read, and raising money for numerous disease 
research foundations.
  He is an inspiration to all of people of all ages and he means so 
much to us in the Dallas, Ft. Worth metroplex. I am pleased to be a co-
sponsor of this bill. I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions) 
for highlighting the hard work and dedication of Rafael Palmeiro.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart), who will be 
batting clean-up for our team. The gentleman is a good Cuban-American, 
a baseball fan who follows the Florida Marlins, the Yankees, and now I 
know, the Texas Rangers.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the 
gentlewoman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it is very appropriate that the Texas delegation 
is united behind this resolution. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Sessions) brought it forward. I recall I have had the privilege of 
meeting Rafael Palmeiro. He is an extraordinary human being, a man of 
great decency. He had made it clear, by the way, that when he was 
playing up here, in a team near here, that he wanted to return to Texas 
because he is a proud Texan and he loves that State very much and its 
people. So that is why I think it is important for the Texas Delegation 
to be leading this effort today, and it is the right thing to do for 
this Congress to honor this man.
  He is not only an extraordinary athlete but, as I said before, a very 
decent human being. A loving family man, he is extremely generous with 
his family, compassionate, as he is with his community. He is also a 
patriot and that is another reason why I admire him so much. I know of 
his love for freedom.
  For example, he refused to go back to Cuba. He says he will not do it 
as long as the dictatorship is in power. As a matter of fact, when he 
was playing for the Orioles here and the owner of that team was 
recruited by this campaign that wants to open relations with Castro and 
help the dictatorship and the team was sent to Cuba, he refused, Rafael 
Palmeiro. So he stands up for his principles. He is a man of principle, 
a man of decency.
  He has a wonderful family and he helps his community in Texas in an 
extraordinary fashion. So for so many reasons we are very, very proud 
of him. Obviously, the entire island of Cuba looks to him as an idol, 
but really the entire American nation also. This great United States of 
America admires him because of his extraordinary accomplishments. And 
so to that human being, we, the Congress of the United States, today 
sends not only our esteem but our admiration.
  Again, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions) and the Texas 
delegation who have brought forward this resolution for doing so. It is 
a privilege for me to be able to stand today on behalf of this 
resolution honoring this great man and extraordinary athlete, Rafael 
Palmeiro.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), who, along with the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Sessions), is the lead author and sponsor of this important 
resolution.
  (Mr. FROST asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Rafael Palmeiro of the 
Texas Rangers for hitting 500 home runs and to thank him for his 
outstanding contributions to the local community.
  Known both for his powerful swing and golden glove at first base, 
Raffy, as he is known to many fans, joined an elite club on May 11 when 
he became only the 19th player in baseball history to hit 500 major 
league home runs.
  Mr. Speaker, Rafael Palmeiro has been a constant example of hard work 
and quiet dedication to his sport. He is a four-time All-Star and was 
awarded three consecutive Gold Glove awards from 1997 to 1999. Known 
for his rock solid dependability, he has never spent a day on the 
disability list and has missed astoundingly few games each season. With 
the exception of the strike-shortened 1994 season, he has played an 
average of 157 games in each 162-game season of his career.
  He is currently three home runs short of tying Jimmie Foxx's record 
of 9 straight years with 35 or more home runs. Since 1993, only Barry 
Bonds and Sammy Sosa have hit more home runs.
  Mr. Speaker, Rafael Palmeiro has become a role model for people of 
all ages. Having fled Cuba with his family in 1991, he remains a hero 
within the Cuban-American community. Additionally, his dedication to 
the local community, as we have already heard, for his work with foster 
children and families in Ft. Worth has made him a leader both on and 
off the field. My wife, Kathy, and I just recently attended a reception 
at the ball park sponsored by Raffy on his Shoes for Orphans program, a 
program that he has spent a great deal of his time on recent years.
  Mr. Speaker, I have had the honor of watching Rafael Palmeiro play at 
the ball park in Arlington in my congressional district. He deserves 
special recognition for his tremendous achievement and I look forward 
to the day when he will join the likes of Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and 
Roberto Clemente in Cooperstown at the baseball Hall of Fame. I know my 
colleagues will join me today in congratulating him and in wishing him 
continued success in all of his future endeavors.
  I would like to add and note to the management of the Texas Rangers 
ball club. I hope that the management of our great club will find a way 
to extend Raffy's contract when it runs out at the end of this year so 
that he may finish his career as a Texas Ranger.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), an important leader, not only on 
this resolution, but in this body.
  (Mr. SERRANO asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I come to join today in celebrating what is a fabulous 
career and a fabulous human being. Just think of it, over 15,000 
people, men have played professional major league baseball and only 19 
have hit over 500 home runs. And Rafael Palmeiro has done it, and this 
is my personal opinion, in a way that is really unique. He is not 
6'5". He is not 250. He is not muscular, but he has one of the 
prettiest swings you will ever want to see on the baseball field.

                              {time}  1130

  Every time he connects, somebody my size wonders how is that ball 
going to take off, and it always manages to take off; but I also come 
for a special reason.
  Through a dear friend of mine, Juan Gonzalez, the Texas Rangers 
outfielder, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Palmeiro this summer and 
sit with him a couple of hours and speak with him about baseball and 
other things; but I was amazed at how warm and strong he was in dealing 
with everybody around him, especially when you are sitting somewhere in 
public and every fan comes over for an autograph, every fan comes over 
to talk to you; and he took the time to speak to every child, and he 
took the time to speak to every fan that came over. That meant a lot to 
me, but a lot of folks just do not want to be bothered when they play 
ball, and they take the money. So I wanted to come and join this 
tribute.
  Rafael Palmeiro is without a doubt a future Hall of Famer and he has 
done it in typically following the American Dream, coming from Cuba 
looking for a better way, a better life for his family, for himself, as 
a child, graduating from college, being drafted and playing day after 
day after day. I am always amazed also at the fact that this man does 
not ever seem to get hurt. He just continues to play and play and play.
  I, like so many other Americans, so many people throughout the world, 
love the game of baseball. It is part of who I am as a person; and to 
have him play it the way that he does is just absolutely great, and 
because I got to know him, I got to even enjoy his baseball even more.
  So I want to thank the sponsors on both sides of this resolution. 
This gentleman really deserves this tribute. He is one of the all-time 
greats. Baseball

[[Page H8101]]

is still, in my opinion, the best game and certainly our greatest 
export throughout the world and Latin America; and I come to celebrate 
Mr. Palmeiro today on his career and what would certainly be induction 
into the Hall of Fame very soon.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume. I also have no other speakers.
  Again, I congratulate the gentleman from Texas for introducing this 
legislation, and I urge all Members to support the adoption of House 
Resolution 315.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shaw). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 315.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________