[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 121 (Monday, September 25, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H6981-H6983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING AND COMMENDING THE PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS' ASSOCIATION

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 471) 
congratulating the Professional Golfers' Association of America on its 
90th anniversary and commending the members of the Professional 
Golfers' Association of America and the PGA Foundation for the 
charitable contributions they provide to the United States.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 471

       Whereas The Professional Golfers' Association of America 
     (The PGA of America) was founded in 1916 by a group of 
     amateur and professional golfers in New York City, led by 
     department store magnate Rodman Wanamaker, with a mission to 
     promote interest in the game of golf, elevate standards of 
     the golf professional's vocation, hold meetings and 
     tournaments for the benefit of members, assist deserving 
     unemployed members to obtain positions, and establish a 
     benevolent relief fund for deserving members;
       Whereas during World War I The PGA of America began its 
     tradition of serving the military by purchasing and 
     maintaining an ambulance throughout the war for the American 
     Red Cross and encouraging employers of members to hold open 
     positions for its members serving in the United States Armed 
     Forces;
       Whereas The PGA of America has continued its tradition of 
     serving the military by partnering with the National Amputee 
     Golf Association to offer golf programs for wounded military 
     service members that include free golf instruction, free use 
     of golf equipment, and free golf;
       Whereas in 1954 The PGA of America created a charitable 
     foundation, The PGA Foundation, as a public philanthropic 
     foundation to provide resources and professional expertise to 
     make golf accessible in the community by offering free golf 
     programs for youth, the disabled, and the underserved;
       Whereas The PGA of America and its PGA Foundation offer 
     such programs as Play Golf America Days for youths involving 
     free instruction, skills competition, and equipment 
     demonstration; golf programs for inner city youths in 
     Louisville, Kentucky, and Detroit,

[[Page H6982]]

     Michigan, that combine golf, education enrichment and life 
     skills preparation to prepare youths for employment and 
     college; and professional golf instruction and funding for 
     the First Tee golf program for youths;
       Whereas The PGA of America partners with Special Olympics 
     International to make golf an official Special Olympics sport 
     and supports the Special Olympics golf competition at the 
     National Special Olympics and the World Games Special 
     Olympics;
       Whereas The PGA of America in partnership with eighteen 
     four-year college and universities has created an accredited 
     major for students to receive degrees in Professional Golf 
     Management and The PGA of America awards scholarships to 
     ensure women and minorities have the opportunity to obtain 
     Professional Golf Management degrees and membership in The 
     PGA of America;
       Whereas The PGA of America conducts more than 30 
     tournaments for its members and apprentices, including the 
     Ryder Cup, PGA Championship, PGA Grand Slam of Golf, and 
     Senior PGA Championship, and conducts charitable programs 
     related to these tournaments where the tournaments are held;
       Whereas The PGA of America has hosted and sponsored for 
     nine years the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship to 
     provide opportunities for students at predominately minority 
     colleges and universities to participate in collegiate golf 
     championships, career awareness programs, and employment 
     recruiting;
       Whereas The PGA of America is dedicated to providing 
     educational opportunities at the PGA Education Center for PGA 
     members and apprentice professionals and The PGA of America 
     also provides information to the public at the adjacent PGA 
     Historical Center, which celebrates the growth of golf in the 
     United States and honors PGA members who have made 
     significant contributions to the game of golf;
       Whereas The PGA of America is the world's largest working 
     sporting organization with a mission of growing the game of 
     golf and making it accessible;
       Whereas The PGA of America is a not-for-profit professional 
     association which has a membership of approximately 28,000 
     golf professionals who promote the game of golf and make golf 
     a better game; and
       Whereas The PGA of America, its members, and the golf 
     industry annually contribute approximately $62.2 billion to 
     the economy of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That Congress--
       (1) congratulates The Professional Golfers' Association of 
     America (The PGA of America) on its 90th anniversary;
       (2) commends The PGA of America and its members for their 
     contributions to the game of golf and their efforts to make 
     golf accessible; and
       (3) applauds The PGA of America and its members for their 
     contributions to employment and economic growth in the United 
     States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van 
Hollen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, founded in 1916, the PGA is a not-for-profit 
organization comprised of more than 28,000 men and women. These members 
commit themselves daily to promoting the game of golf. They stand by 
their mission to make the game accessible to everyone, and they 
contribute generously to charitable organizations across the Nation.
  I would hope all Members will come together to support H. Con. Res. 
471 as introduced by my distinguished colleague from the State of 
Florida.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I also urge my colleagues to support this resolution, 
where we recognize the PGA of America's efforts to spread the game of 
golf and also for the PGA's many charitable works and their efforts to 
expand and include more people in the game of golf, both through their 
work with the Special Olympics, as well as their reaching out to people 
who have served our country in the Armed Forces overseas.
  Also I would like to note that they have served our troops through 
programs such as their partnership with the National Amputee Golf 
Association, which offers golfing activities for wounded soldiers. 
These are just a few of the many programs that have been offered by PGA 
of America and the PGA Foundation. I urge adoption of the resolution.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Foley).
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the chairman and ranking member 
for bringing the resolution to the floor. I rise today in strong 
support of H. Con. Res. 471, a bill congratulating the Professional 
Golfers Association of America on its 90th anniversary and commending 
the members of the Professional Golfers' Association of America and the 
PGA Foundation for the charitable and economic contributions they 
provide all across our Nation.
  As you may know, the PGA is a nonprofit professional organization 
with a membership of 28,000 golf professionals. The PGA is best known 
for conducting tournaments, such as the Ryder Cup, which was just 
played this last weekend, PGA championships, the PGA Grand Slam of 
Golf, and the Senior PGA.
  However, it does much more. In 1954, the PGA created a charitable 
foundation to help provide the resources and professional expertise to 
make golf accessible to the community by offering free golf programs 
for youth, the disabled and underserved. In fact, many of my colleagues 
participated recently in the Breakfast for the First Tee. We were 
joined by golfing legend Jack Nicholas, where they talked about 
providing for children in all walks of life a chance to play golf, 
learn the sport and become successful.
  The PGA and PGA Foundation strive to serve the community in a number 
of ways. For example, they offer Play Golf America Days for youths 
involving free instruction, skill competition and equipment 
demonstration. They partner with Special Olympics International to make 
golf an official Special Olympics sport, and with the National Amputee 
Golf Association to offer golf programs for wounded military 
servicemembers.
  The PGA of America hosts and sponsor the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf 
Championship to provide opportunities for students at predominantly 
minority colleges and universities to participate in collegiate golf 
championships, career awareness programs, and employment recruiting.
  In addition to the charitable contributions, the golfing industry 
adds $62.2 billion to our economy and employs tens of thousands of 
people across the country. In my district alone, the PGA Village, the 
largest PGA facility in the country, employs over 300 people. Their 
national headquarters is located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the 
district of my friend Clay Shaw.
  I want to thank chairman Tom Davis, Mr. Waxman and Mr. Clyburn, who 
is cosponsor of the resolution from South Carolina, who knows well and 
spoke with me the other day about the vital importance of golf in South 
Carolina, for their efforts in moving this resolution so quickly to the 
floor.
  Mr. Speaker, again I want to congratulate the PGA on its 90th 
anniversary and thank all of its members for making such a difference 
in people's lives all around the country.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for introducing this resolution. I 
think I also ought to note that PGA President Tim Finchem has done 
wonders for this organization in terms of bringing this back into the 
inner city, bringing golf to those with disabilities and communicating 
with us here on Capitol Hill about the kinds of things they are doing.
  I would urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 471 
and extend my congratulations and appreciation to the Professional 
Golfers' Association of America for 90 years of continued excellence.
  Today, the Professional Golfers' Association is the largest working 
sports organization in the world.

[[Page H6983]]

  The PGA of America was first formed in 1916 by department store 
magnate Rodman Wanamaker and a group of 35 professional and amateur 
golfers. The organization's objectives were to promote interest in the 
game, elevate the standards of the golf professional's vocation, 
protect the mutual interest of its members, hold meetings and 
tournaments for the benefit of members, assist deserving unemployed 
members to obtain positions and to establish a benevolent relief fund 
for deserving members. These goals are still very much intact.
  The PGA has also been able to grow interest in the game, protect its 
members, and even provide assistance to America in its times of need. 
For example, after the outbreak of World War I, the PGA of America 
purchased and maintained an ambulance to be used by the American Red 
Cross. The PGA of America did this again after the outbreak of World 
War II.
  In 1954, the PGA of America formed the PGA Foundation, a public 
philanthropic foundation dedicated to growing interest in the game 
while enhancing the quality of life for all people, especially 
underrepresented people.
  More recently, the PGA of America has contributed a great deal to the 
United States in providing relief following September 11th and 
Hurricane Katrina. The PGA of America donated $500,000 to match Ryder 
Cup donations for September 11th relief funds and raised $1.3 million 
for Hurricane Katrina Relief Funds.
  The PGA of America has not only provided monetary contributions but 
has also offered different programs such as the Urban Youth Golf 
Program in Louisville. The PGA Foundation provides resources and 
funding for local PGA professionals to conduct golf lessons for more 
than 300 urban youth. This program offers free participation and 
possible scholarships to attend the University of Louisville.
  The PGA of America has forged partnerships with other organizations 
such as Special Olympics International to make golf accessible as an 
official game in the Special Olympics and has created educational 
programs such as ``Golf in Schools'' which teaches students in 
elementary through high school about golf as well as such important 
topics as diet, nutrition, physical fitness and the importance of 
having a positive mental outlook.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I express my support for H. Con. Res. 471. Let us 
honor the PGA of America for its dedication to its members, its 
philanthropic work, and its service to the game that so many of us 
love.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I also commend Mr. Foley for his 
leadership on this issue, and yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 471.
  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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