[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 144 (Wednesday, October 15, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H9400-H9401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING EAST BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED
STATES LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM CHAMPIONS
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 273) recognizing and
congratulating the East Boynton Beach, Florida, Little League team as
the 2003 United States Little League Champions.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 273
Whereas the Little League team East Boynton Beach, Florida,
captured the Florida State and Southeastern United States
Regional Championship to reach the Little League World Series
in historic Williamsport, Pennsylvania;
Whereas more than 7,000 teams from around the world
competed for the honor of reaching the Little League World
Series, East Boynton Beach was among the 8 final American
teams;
Whereas, on August 23, 2003, after competing against the
best young baseball players in the Nation, East Boynton Beach
defeated the team from Saugus, Massachusetts, by a score of
9-2 in the final game, thus capturing the United States
Little League Championship title;
Whereas the team spirit and sportsmanship displayed by its
roster of East Boynton Beach players Michael Broad, Richie
DeJesus, Cody Emerson, Jordan Irene, Patrick Mullen, R.J.
Neal, Matt Overton, Ricky Sabatino, Benny Townsend, Devon
Travis, and Andrew Weaver set a new standard of excellence
through team spirit and sportsmanship;
Whereas the coaching staff led by manager Kenny Emerson,
assisted by coaches Joe Irene and Tony Travis not only taught
these young men how to play top grade baseball on the field,
but also taught them the best way to conduct themselves off
the field;
Whereas national television commentators, sportswriters,
and other media from around the world singled out East
Boynton Beach for the way they joyfully played the game and
the respect and friendship they showed to all opposing
players from around the world; and
Whereas these Little League ambassadors from East Boynton
Beach have honored their parents, families, teachers,
friends, and the City of Boynton Beach, Florida, by their
actions, demonstrating not only the best of Little League
tradition but the best of America: Now therefore be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress--
(1) recognizes the achievement of the Little League team
East Boynton Beach, Florida, in winning the United States
Little League Championship and congratulates them on this
victory and on the example of excellence they set on the
field and off the field;
(2) expresses its pride that the 2003 East Boynton Beach
team represents America as the 2003 United States Little
League Champions and invites the players, coaches, parents,
and other league and city officials to the United States
Capitol in Washington, D.C. to be honored;
(3) requests that the President recognize the national
champions in their achievements; and
(4) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to
make available enrolled copies of this resolution to the City
of Boynton Beach and the Boynton Beach Little League office
for appropriate display and to transmit an enrolled copy of
this resolution to each player and coach of the East Boynton
Beach Little League baseball team.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as
he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw),
the sponsor of this resolution.
{time} 1500
Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time.
Mr. Speaker, this past August, some of the best young athletes from
around
[[Page H9401]]
the country gathered in historic Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to compete
in America's favorite past time at the 2003 Little League
Championships. Today, I stand with my colleagues from Palm Beach
County, the gentlemen from Florida (Mr. Wexler) (Mr. Foley) and (Mr.
Hastings), to honor these boys from my home district who captured the
United States championship.
Just as we honor their victory with this resolution, I want to
especially compliment them on their spirit and their sportsmanship
which became legendary in this series. These are the character traits
that deliver victory and most certainly enabled them to bring home the
championship to East Boynton Beach.
So let me first start by congratulating the boys from the East
Boynton Beach Little League team: Michael, Richard, Cody, Jordan,
Patrick, R.J., Matt, Ricky, Benny, Devon, and Andrew, who are also
known as this year's United States Little League World Series
Champions.
While we all recognize their outstanding achievements, we also
recognize that children do not get there on their own. In each of our
lives, there are people we remember who have helped shape our character
along the way: role models who helped make our choices clearer, role
models who make our defeats less painful and our victories even
sweeter, role models who teach us through their encouragement and
support. As we grow older, we come to recognize the scope and impact of
their influence and that influence as it has affected our lives.
The boys from East Boynton Beach are surely no exception to this
rule. They have been reared by loving parents who, no doubt, sacrificed
much of this past year. To make their sons' dreams come true, they
chauffeured them to countless practices and packed the family up to
cheer at games all season long. When the boys were on the field, they
were coached by the best in the league, led by manager Kenny Emerson,
assisted by coaches Joe Irene and Tony Travis. These role models not
only taught the team how to play top-grade baseball on the field, but
also taught them the best way to conduct themselves when they are off
the field.
So for all of these reasons, I am proud to bring to the attention of
the United States House of Representatives the phenomenal achievements
of these fine young men from Florida's 22nd Congressional District.
Their victory brought East Boynton Beach great recognition, as it has
indeed all of Palm Beach County and the State of Florida. But it was
their teamwork and their sportsmanship that brought us all the greatest
of pride. We applaud their effort and are offering this concurrent
resolution to honor their spirit, which captured our hearts and brought
home the championship. I am sure my colleagues will join me in voting
``yes'' on this resolution.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, 11 preteen boys from East Boynton Beach came within a
game of winning the Little League World Series. They lost the Little
League game to Japan, but they had a wonderful time playing the game
and spending the summer becoming the first team from southern Florida
to win the national championship. A pitcher on the East Boynton Beach
team said of the Little League World Series game, ``I don't care that
we lost. We had a blast.''
Little League baseball was created for just that purpose. In 1938, a
man named Carl Stotz hit upon the idea for an organized baseball team
for the boys of his hometown of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Mr. Stotz
gathered several of the neighborhood children and experimented with
different types of equipment and different field dimensions during that
summer. In 1939, he enlisted the help of others and formed three teams:
Lycoming Dairy, Lundy Lumber, and Jumbo Pretzel.
Mr. Stotz came up with the name Little League, and the first Little
League game was played June 6, 1939. His idea was to provide a
wholesome program of baseball for the boys of Williamsport as a way to
teach them the ideals of sportsmanship, fair play, and teamwork.
Carl Stotz would have been proud of the East Boynton Beach team.
Sportsmanship, fair play, and teamwork are what made them the 2003
United States Little League Champions, an example not often set by the
grown-ups involved in the game.
The East Boynton Beach Little League baseball team played with
respect and friendship for their coaches, parents, and opposing teams.
And all should be commended.
I join the sponsors of this resolution in commending them for their
achievements.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I would advise the gentlewoman we have
no additional requests for time.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Wexler).
Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution
recognizing the accomplishments of the East Boynton Beach Little League
team, which have been stated very eloquently, who won the United States
Little League championship title this summer.
This Little League team from East Boynton Beach captured the hearts
and souls of America this past August through sheer determination,
grit, and love for the game of baseball. Out of the 7,000 teams from
across the globe participating in the Little League World Series, these
young ball players displayed the highest level of sportsmanship and
goodwill. I am extremely proud of the way they worked together as a
team, as representatives of their community and Nation, and with the
greatest amount of respect for their opponents.
I join my colleagues in Congress in congratulating the East Boynton
Beach players: Michael Broad, Richie DeJesus, Cody Emerson, Jordan
Irene, Patrick Mullen, R.J. Neal, Matt Overton, Ricky Sabatino, Benny
Townsend, Devon Travis and Andrew Weaver. I also want to highlight the
extraordinary efforts of manager Kenny Emerson and coaches Joe Irene
and Tony Travis, individuals who instilled a keen sense of skill,
spirit, and confidence in these young men and taught them how to
conduct themselves on and, maybe even more importantly, off the field.
Finally, I also want to congratulate and thank those who are often
overlooked who are critical to the accomplishments of these teams. East
Boynton Beach's success could not have been achieved without the
sacrifice of family members as well as the support of fans in Boynton
Beach and throughout Florida. Clearly, the backbone of this team is not
only the players and the coaches, but also the parents and family
members who sacrificed their time, money, and effort to support this
team of champions.
Again, I would like to join the gentlemen from Florida (Mr. Shaw)
(Mr. Hastings) (Mr. Foley) in congratulating the East Boynton Beach
Little League team for winning the United States league championship.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the gentlewoman from California (Ms.
Watson), I yield back the balance of our time.
Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the resolution, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). 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.
273.
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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