[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 145 (Thursday, October 16, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING LAURA BERG

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 16, 2003

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with tremendous pride that I rise 
today to honor one of my constituents from Santa Fe Springs, 
California, Laura Berg, who has recently been named to the U.S. Olympic 
Women's Softball Team. Laura has been a member of this team in the 1996 
and 2000 Olympic games, winning gold medals both times. She is one of 
four two-time Olympic champions on the current team which will compete 
in the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, Greece. Berg started as a 
centerfielder in all 10 games in the 2000 Olympics and will play 
outfield for the team in 2004.
  Berg has been a part of the USA Softball national system since 1994 
when she was member of the USA Team that captured gold at the ISF 
Women's World Championship in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. In 
addition to her Olympic glory, Laura has won numerous accolades for her 
softball skills at the high school, college, national and international 
levels, including two gold medals at the Pan American Games and three 
World Championship gold medals. A graduate of Santa Fe High School and 
Fresno State University, she is of three players at Fresno State to 
ever boast 300 or more career hits and post a 160-game defensive 
errorless streak. She also spent 4 years as an assistant coach for the 
Fresno State Bulldogs team.
  Laura firmly believes in setting challenging goals for herself and 
working hard to achieve them, whether she is practicing softball and 
studying in school. Her commitment to her sport, positive attitude, and 
strong work ethic have led to her extraordinary success and make her a 
role model for other young women.
  Laura began playing softball as a child, tagging along to a program 
in which her parents had enrolled her twin sister, Randi. She continues 
to be inspired by the challenges of the game and has become a veteran 
leader for her teammates.
  Laura is married to Rob Peterson, the Assistant Athletic Director at 
the University of South Dakota. The two met when Peterson was Director 
of Facilities at Fresno State.
  For the next 11 months, Laura and her teammates will be working hard 
in preparation of defending their Olympic title. I ask all of my 
colleagues to join me in congratulating Laura and the other outstanding 
women who make up the team and in wishing them great success.

                          ____________________