[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 72 (Thursday, May 26, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H4076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO KATIE BROWNELL

  (Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
salute a young girl who is truly in a league of her own, Kate Brownell.
  Katie is a shy 11-year-old girl of few words, but when she gets on 
the baseball field she lets her pitching do the talking, and she rocks. 
Brownell is the only girl in the Oakfield-Alabama Little League 
Baseball Program. Last week, she threw a perfect game for the Dodgers 
in an 11-0 victory for the Yankees.
  How dominant was she? She struck out all 18 batters she faced, 
yielding no more than two balls to any batter in a 6-inning victory. 
Katie accomplished something that league officials cannot remember 
anyone, boy or girl, ever doing. Brownell is not just good at pitching, 
she is also great at the plate, and her batting average is .714.
  When I first read her story, I was excited and inspired by this young 
girl's talent. I was so impressed that I wanted to be sure to come down 
to the floor and recognize her achievement. She exemplifies what you 
can achieve, regardless of gender.
  That is why it is bewildering to me that in this day and age we are 
debating whether or not to allow women in combat. If anything, young 
women like Katie serve to remind us that we can pretty much do anything 
that men can, and sometimes even better.

                          ____________________