[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 10 (Monday, February 2, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S377-S378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRATULATING THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, on behalf of the leader, I ask 
unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate 
consideration of S. Res. 295, submitted earlier today by Senators 
Kennedy, Kerry, Reed, and Chafee.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 295) congratulating the New England 
     Patriots on their victory in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
   (At the request of Mr. Daschle, the following statement was ordered 
to be printed in the Record.)
 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, backed by the heartiest fans in the 
world, the New England Patriots are once again the greatest football 
team in the Nation. I want to join so many others in commending the 
Patriots for their marvelous and miraculous season, in which the team 
overcame injuries and a slow start to end up with a fifteen-game 
winning streak and a second Super Bowl championship in three years. 
From the wise stewardship of Bob Kraft and Bill Belichick to the Tom 
Brady-led offense and the Ty Law-led defense, the Patriots are a team 
in the fullest sense of the word. Congratulations also to the Carolina 
Panthers, who mad Super Bowl XXXVIII one of the most memorable season-
ending games in U.S. professional sports history.
  (At the request of Mr. Daschle, the following statement was ordered 
to be printed in the Record.)
 Mr. REED. Mr. President, on February 1, 2004, the New England 
Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers, 32-29 in what has been already 
called one of the most exciting Super Bowls of all time. I commend the 
Patriots players, coaches and management for a thrilling victory. These 
Patriots have been a testament to successful teamwork, setting a 
wonderful example of self-sacrifice and unity, and showing us all what 
is possible when we work together, believe in each other, and 
collaborate for the greater good. The Patriots' embodiment of the team 
concept was needed to overcome the tenacious Carolina Panthers, who 
came back again and again in a spectacular effort.
   The hard-earned victory in Super Bowl XXXVIII, the second in 3 years 
for the Patriots, was also their 15th consecutive win, putting the team 
in elite company as one of the greatest teams in NFL history. 
Amazingly, once again the New England region, and indeed, the entire 
country, were held on the edge of their seats as the Patriots kicker, 
Adam Vinatieri, won the game on a last second field goal. Indeed, 
Vinatieri has been a friend to my home State of Rhode Island, active in 
the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, D.A.R.E., and as 
a spokesperson for the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island's Teen 
Anti-Smoking Contest.
   This Patriots team was led all season by their coach, Bill 
Belichick, who has masterminded victory after victory by stressing 
preparation, team work and adaptation. In the championship game the 
Patriots defense, arguably the team's best asset, was led by Ty Law,

[[Page S378]]

Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi and the veteran Willie McGinest. Vrabel was 
particularly impressive as an ``Ironman'' playing on the offense and 
scoring a touchdown.
   The Patriots offense was led by the Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady who 
time after time led his team back until finally placing them in 
position to win. Brady was helped on offense by clutch performances 
from Troy Brown, Deion Branch, Kevin Faulk and Antowain Smith. 
Ultimately it was the Patriots offense, cool under the pressure, that 
brought them a hard earned victory.
   Let me also acknowledge a Rhode Island native on the New England 
team. A former Boston College standout, running back Mike Cloud, was an 
important part of the Patriots' winning season, scoring five touchdown 
and making critical plays. Cloud is a former Rhode Island Player of the 
Year and long before he helped the Patriots win their second Super 
Bowl, he helped lead Portsmouth High School to three consecutive Rhode 
Island Class A Championships. I am proud that he has had the 
opportunity to represent our State and play an important role in this 
victory.
   Once again, my congratulations to the New England Patriots and their 
fans on their Super Bowl victory. 
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc; that the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate; and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed 
in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 295) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 295

       Whereas, on Sunday, February 1, Adam Vinatieri of the New 
     England Patriots kicked the winning field goal with seven 
     seconds remaining in the game to defeat the Carolina Panthers 
     by the score of 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, 
     Texas;
       Whereas this victory is the second Super Bowl championship 
     won by the Patriots in the past three years;
       Whereas quarterback Tom Brady led the Patriots to victory 
     in both those years, and was named Super Bowl Most Valuable 
     Player in both years;
       Whereas both of the Super Bowl victories were earned by the 
     Patriots in the final seconds of the game on a field goal by 
     Mr. Vinatieri;
       Whereas the Patriots tied an NFL record by winning 15 
     consecutive games in the recent season;
       Whereas Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick and Assistant 
     Coaches Romeo Crennel and Charlie Wiess brilliantly created 
     successful game plans throughout the season, and Mr. 
     Belicheck was named the Coach of the Year in the National 
     Football League;
       Whereas extraordinary efforts by other Patriots players 
     including Deion Branch, Troy Brown, David Givens, Ty Law, 
     Willie McGinest, Richard Seymour, Antowain Smith, Mike 
     Vrabel, and Ted Washington also contributed to the Super Bowl 
     victory;
       Whereas the New England Patriots offensive linemen, Matt 
     Light, Joe Andruzzi, Dan Koppen, Russ Hochstein, and Tom 
     Ashworth deserve great credit for protecting quarterback Tom 
     Brady and for allowing no sacks of the quarterback in the 
     Super Bowl game or in any of the other games in the post-
     season playoffs; and
       Whereas Patriots owner Bob Kraft deserves great credit for 
     his strong support of the team, and for his acknowledgement 
     that the Super Bowl victory would not have been possible 
     without the strong support of the millions of fans from New 
     England.
       Resolved, That the Senate of the United States 
     congratulates the New England Patriots on winning Super Bowl 
     XXXVIII.

                          ____________________