[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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