[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 7 (Friday, January 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN HONOR OF SCOTT HASKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 12, 2007

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to commend Scott Haskins on 
successfully swimming the English Channel. It is considered one of the 
most challenging swims in the world. This has been accomplished by 
fewer than 850 swimmers. Scott, a California native, became the first 
in the Haskins family to swim the English Channel.
  Scott Haskins was born on July 3, 1964. His father Sam Haskins, my 
first cousin, and mother Judy Chapman Haskins live in the San Francisco 
Bay area. Scott has a sister Eliza and brother John, and is married to 
wife Elizabeth ``Timmie'' Friend.
  Scott learned to swim at the age of 4 in a swimming pool and began 
swimming in the ocean at the age of 5. Scott swam butterfly and 
freestyle events competitively from age 11 to 20. He first began 
swimming open water events in 1990--mostly one and two mile swims in 
the San Francisco Bay Area. Scott swam his first long distance open 
water swim in 1994.
  In 1995, Scott achieved the level of All American Long Distance 
Swimmer with the U.S. Masters Swimming in 1995 and 1996. On August 3, 
1996, Scott swam around the island of Manhattan, a distance of 28.5 
miles.
  In 2006, Scott trained for 6 months at the Dolphin Club in San 
Francisco, California. His training included daily swimming as well as 
a 6-hour swim, an 8-hour swim, and a 10-hour swim in preparation to 
swim the English Channel.
  On August 16th, with brother John on board the boat Galivant, Scott 
began to swim across the English Channel toward France. Scott finished 
with an official time of 10 hours and 25 minutes. Scott's time is in 
the top 18 percent of the fastest Channel swims.
  To celebrate his great accomplishment, Scott with his family at his 
side, went to a tavern in Dover, England that is frequented by swimmers 
and a place where many have ``signed in'' on the walls and ceiling 
after completing their Channel swims. Scott also ``signed in'' on the 
ceiling next to the other Channel swimmers from San Francisco's Dolphin 
Club.
  Madam Speaker, I take this opportunity to congratulate Scott Haskins 
on successfully swimming the English Channel and to recognize him for 
this outstanding achievement.

                          ____________________