[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 25, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H4079-H4082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM FOR 
      WINNING 2007 NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 320) congratulating the University of Tennessee 
women's basketball team for winning the 2007 NCAA Division I Women's 
Basketball Championship.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 320

       Whereas, on April 3, 2007, before a crowd of over 20,000 
     fans, the University of Tennessee women's basketball team 
     (the ``Lady Vols'') defeated the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers 
     by a score of 59-46 to win the 2007 National Collegiate 
     Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Women's Basketball 
     Championship;
       Whereas this championship was the first national title for 
     the Lady Vols since their 3-year championship run in 1996-98, 
     and their 7th national title in the last 20 years;
       Whereas the Lady Vols were successful due to the leadership 
     of Coach Pat Summitt, the Nation's all-time winningest NCAA 
     basketball coach (men's or women's) with 947 wins over 33 
     seasons at the University of Tennessee;
       Whereas Joan Cronan, the Women's Athletics Director, has 
     shown vision and leadership throughout her 24-year career at 
     the University of Tennessee and created one of the most 
     visible and respected athletic programs in the country;
       Whereas the Lady Vols were undefeated in conference games 
     during the 2006-2007 season and compiled an impressive 
     overall record of 34 wins and 3 losses;
       Whereas Candace Parker tallied 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 
     assists and was selected the Most Outstanding Player for the 
     2007 tournament, becoming the 5th Lady Volunteer to be so 
     honored, following in the footsteps of Chamique Holdsclaw 
     (1998, 1997), Michelle Marciniak (1996), Bridgette Gordon 
     (1989), and Tonya Edwards (1987);
       Whereas Shannon Bobbitt, who at only 5 feet, 2 inches, is 
     the smallest player ever at the University of Tennessee, 
     scored 3 decisive 3-pointers in the 2nd half, finished the 
     game with 13 points, and was named to the 2007 All-Tournament 
     Team;
       Whereas Nicky Anosike had a career high of 16 rebounds and 
     was named to the 2007 All-Tournament team;
       Whereas senior Sidney Spencer scored 11 points and Alberta 
     Auguste scored 10 points, with both players achieving a 
     combined 6 for 6 from the free throw line;

[[Page H4080]]

       Whereas Alexis Hornbuckle played outstanding defense and 
     created energy on the court;
       Whereas Dominique Redding and Alex Fuller also contributed 
     to the team's victory;
       Whereas the 2006-2007 team has an average GPA above 3.0; 
     and
       Whereas Coach Pat Summitt's Lady Vols continue their 
     remarkable graduation rate, with every student athlete who 
     has completed her eligibility at the University of Tennessee 
     either graduating or working toward all of the requirements 
     for graduation: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the University of Tennessee women's 
     basketball team for being champions on and off the court and 
     for their victory in the 2007 NCAA Division I Women's 
     Basketball Championship;
       (2) recognizes the significant achievements of the players, 
     coaches, students, alumni, and support staff whose dedication 
     and hard work helped the University of Tennessee Lady Vols 
     win the NCAA championship; and
       (3) respectfully requests the Clerk of the House of 
     Representatives to transmit copies of this resolution to the 
     following for appropriate display--
       (A) Dr. John D. Petersen, President of the University of 
     Tennessee;
       (B) Dr. Loren Crabtree, Chancellor of the University of 
     Tennessee, Knoxville;
       (C) Joan Cronan, Women's Athletics Director; and
       (D) Pat Summitt, Women's Basketball Head Coach.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Clarke) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Wilson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 320 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  (Ms. CLARKE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H. Res. 320 congratulates the University of Tennessee women's 
basketball team for winning the 2007 NCAA Division I women's basketball 
championship.
  I would like to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Tennessee, 
Representative Duncan, for bringing this resolution to the floor.
  In recognition of the accomplishments of the Tennessee women's 
basketball team for winning the 2001 NCAA Division I championship, we 
need only reflect back to the year 1972, when in this body title VIII, 
also known as the Pepsi Teammate Equal Opportunity and Education Act, 
was enacted. Title VIII has demonstrated significant impact on high 
school and collegiate athletics. As a result, women nationwide have had 
the opportunity to engage in extracurricular activities enriching their 
collegiate experience. As well, as a result, we are here today to 
recognize the victory of the Tennessee women's basketball team 2007 
NCAA Division I champions.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and demonstrate our 
commitment to girls and women's athletics.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), who has ably 
developed this resolution.
  Mr. DUNCAN. I thank the gentleman from South Carolina for yielding me 
this time, and I thank the gentlelady from New York for her support for 
this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege and honor of representing Knoxville 
and the surrounding area, which is the home of the main campus of the 
University of Tennessee and the home of the great basketball team, the 
Tennessee Lady Vols.
  I have sometimes said, Mr. Speaker, that the colors orange and white 
are almost as patriot or more patriotic in my district than red, white 
and blue. And I also have said that oftentimes it appears that the 
biggest thing in my district is Tennessee football and Tennessee 
women's basketball, although Tennessee men's basketball is coming back 
under the leadership of our great new coach, Coach Bruce Pearl. But we 
are especially proud of our Lady Vols basketball coach, Ms. Pat Head 
Summitt. Under Coach Summitt, Tennessee women's basketball sometimes 
frequently had crowds of two and three times the number of fans that 
the men's basketball team would draw, sometimes drawing crowds as large 
as 24,000, 25,000 people. Pat Summitt is the NCAA's winningest coach, 
man or woman, in Division I, and has posted an overall record of 947 
wins against only 180 losses, a phenomenal winning percentage of 84 
percent.
  Her 2007 NCAA title was the seventh in her 33-year career at 
Tennessee. She also captured NCAA titles or led the Lady Vols to NCAA 
championship titles in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998, as well 
as this year. She trails only UCLA's legendary John Wooden for the most 
lifetime NCAA titles. Coach Wooden captured 10 during his tenure.
  She was named SEC Coach of the Year in 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2003, 
2004, and 2007. She was the NCAA women's Coach of the Year an 
unbelievable number of times, in 1983, 1987, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1998 and 
2004.

                              {time}  1315

  She was named the Naismith Coach of the Century in the year 2000. I 
want to congratulate Pat Head Summitt and her assistant head coach 
Holly Warlick who has been with her through most of those years, and 
also assistants Nikki Caldwell and Dean Lockwood.
  The 2007 Lady Vols compiled a 27-2 regular season record, a 14-0 SEC 
record, a 34-3 allover record including the SEC and NCAA tournaments.
  On April 3, 2007, before a crowd of over 20,000 fans, the Lady Vols 
beat the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers by a score of 59-46.
  Mr. Speaker, all of the players on the Lady Vols have grade point 
averages over 3.0. Coach Summitt, in her 33 years of coaching, has had 
an astounding record of a 100 percent graduation rate. And she won't 
even let her young women take easy courses. It is an amazing record 
that no other coach in the country can match.
  I want to commend Candace Parker, the most outstanding player of the 
2007 NCAA tournament, and the starting lineup of Shannon Bobbitt, Nicky 
Anosike, Sidney Spencer, Alexis Hornbuckle; Sidney Spencer, the only 
senior on the team; and certainly the key bench players like Dominique 
Redding, Alberta Auguste, Alex Fuller, and Cait McMahan from my own 
district in Maryville, Tennessee.
  I want to also thank all of the members of the Tennessee delegation 
for cosponsoring this resolution with me, as well as 22 other 
bipartisan cosponsors from across this country, from California to West 
Virginia and South Carolina to Pennsylvania.
  I appreciate the nationwide support this resolution has.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as he may 
consume to the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Education and Labor Committee, 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews).
  (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ANDREWS. I thank my friend from New York for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the outstanding athletes of the Lady Vols 
of the University of Tennessee for being outstanding students, 
outstanding athletes, and great representatives of their university in 
this country.
  I must say, coming from New Jersey, as far as we were concerned, 
there were two champions playing in this championship game that took 
place. The Lady Vols won a decisive victory fair and square on the 
court, although those of us that are fans of Rutgers say we will be 
back next year to challenge again.
  But I was in the chair when the Rutgers resolution passed last week, 
and I did not want to let this moment pass without adding my voice to 
acknowledge the championship quality of the young women on both of 
these teams. In New Jersey, we are particularly proud of the grace and 
dignity and class shown by the young women of the Rutgers Scarlet 
Knights basketball team. We think those characteristics are amply 
shared by the Lady Vols as well, and I just wanted to add my voice

[[Page H4081]]

of congratulations as the runner-up to the Lady Vols. But we believe 
that our young ladies, Mr. Speaker, from Rutgers are champions in every 
sense of the word.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlelady from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).
  Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from South 
Carolina and my colleague from Tennessee for his work on the 
resolution, and I thank Mr. Andrews for his kind remarks. And, yes, we 
think the Scarlet Knights as we honored them last week did a wonderful 
job.
  But I will have to tell you, Mr. Speaker, we were so thrilled with 
our Tennessee Lady Vols, and we did like that score of 59-46. We 
thought that was very good. We liked the fact that our Lady Vols 
captured their seventh title in 20 years, and it was the first NCAA 
championship since they won three straight titles, as my colleague from 
Knoxville mentioned, there in 1996, 1997, 1998.
  He mentioned also their coach, Pat Head Summitt, and mentioned that 
she is the NCAA's all-time winningest coach, male or female. She is 
given to leadership and she is given to mentoring and role modeling. 
That is why she has totaled up 947 victories, and she is still counting 
because she is still out there.
  And we accept that challenge from those at Rutgers. We know they are 
coming back next year, but so are we, and we know that Coach Summitt is 
going to be out there. And, again, we expect that they will dominate 
not only the SEC but the NCAA.
  And, as always, the Lady Vols accomplished their goal with the 
dignity befitting one of college basketball's most celebrated programs. 
Yet their on-the-court exploits pale in comparison to the fact that the 
Lady Vols continue to set a standard for Division I college sports in 
the classroom. Coach Summitt and her staff demand the best, and that 
attitude is reflected in the championship team's 3.0 grade point 
average, and the program's remarkable graduate rate that has spurred 
every student who has completed her eligibility at the university to 
either graduate or continue working toward requirements for graduation. 
Basketball excellence deserves our applause, but a commitment to 
academic excellence and the pursuit of a young student athlete's 
college degree and their leadership and professional development 
deserves our celebration.
  I do congratulate the Lady Vols, Coach Summitt, and the entire 
University of Tennessee family for their tremendous achievements.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper).
  Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues from 
Tennessee and across the country who are honoring the Lady Vols for 
their terrific performance in the recent basketball tournament. We also 
want to honor, of course, the Scarlet Knights from Rutgers, all the 
teams that participated in this wonderful tournament and did a 
wonderful job; but particularly from Tennessee, we want to honor the 
Lady Vols, and their incredible coach, Pat Head Summitt.
  I have the honor of representing part of Cheatham County, and Pat 
Summitt claims that as her home, and we are very proud that she is from 
there as the winningest coach in NCAA history.
  So everything that should be said I think has been said. I would just 
like to associate myself with the remarks because Tennesseans and all 
Americans, I think, are proud of the performance of the Lady Vols.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp).
  Mr. WAMP. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for this moment for 
us to come and celebrate the Lady Vols' victory of the national 
championship.
  Mr. Speaker, two of my favorite things in life, as people know who 
know me, are the game of basketball and the Tennessee Volunteers. In 3 
months, I will have a son who is a junior at the University of 
Tennessee, and a daughter who is a freshman, as my son has been there 
for 2 years, and Kim and I are about to have both of our children as 
students at the University of Tennessee, and we very much love the 
school.
  I want to speak a moment about the school, because with the HOPE 
scholarship and the tremendous influx in new students at the University 
of Tennessee, standards and scores continue to go up. With each and 
every freshman class, the University of Tennessee becomes a much 
better, even better institution of higher learning. The quality is very 
much on the rise, and we are very proud of our school.
  But one of the aspects of the University of Tennessee that is so 
unique is the quality of student athletes that we see there at the 
University of Tennessee across the spectrum, and then the quality of 
the athletics that go with those student athletes, from sports like 
basketball and football, which are nationally well known, but across 
the spectrum to baseball and swimming and other athletic endeavors. And 
we are glad that Bruce Pearl is there now as well, and the men's team 
is sweet 16 and very, very strong. But we are known for ladies' 
basketball.
  The Lady Vols are the best organization in the country for years and 
years. I won't go back through all the numbers. But, to me, the student 
athletes represent the very best of the University of Tennessee. We are 
very, very proud of them. As a Volunteer dad, I am especially proud and 
look forward to many successful years in the future and a great future 
for the University of Tennessee.
  And I, too, want to pay tribute to Rutgers, a lot of attention, but 
incredible young women that I have seen on television articulating who 
they are and how proud they are of who they are, an outstanding coach. 
And so today we, frankly, come in joint recognition of two great teams, 
two great schools with great traditions. And you have got to feel good 
about the future of our country by looking at the Lady Vols and the 
Scarlet Knights. So congratulations to all.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David Davis).
  Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support 
House Resolution 320, congratulating the University of Tennessee 
women's basketball team for winning the 2007 NCAA Division I women's 
basketball championship.
  The Lady Vols are an institution statewide with an unmatched record 
of success. With their 59-46 victory over Rutgers on April 3, the Lady 
Vols won their unprecedented seventh NCAA national championship.
  A quick review of the program's records in the past quarter of a 
century shows features unmatched in women's basketball history. They 
have seven national titles, 12 championship game appearances, 17 Final 
Four appearances, 25 sweet 16 appearances.
  Tennessee is the only team that has appeared at all 26 NCAA women's 
basketball tournaments, and their Hall of Fame coach, Pat Summitt, has 
been a leader in this program for 33 years. And a record of 947 wins 
and 180 losses gives her more wins than any coach, men or women, in the 
history of college basketball. She has been a leader in advancing 
women's athletics to more of a prominent role, and her winning record 
is even more impressive when you become aware of the fact that every 
Lady Vol who has completed her eligibility at Tennessee has received 
her degree or is in the process of completing her degree.
  Her players and staff have always displayed the highest levels of 
sportsmanship and have been tremendous ambassadors for our university. 
The national and statewide following enjoyed by the Lady Vols include 
numerous fans throughout the First Congressional District of Tennessee. 
Therefore, I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting this worthy 
resolution honoring the coaches and players of the Lady Vols.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlelady from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).
  Mrs. BIGGERT. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to 
congratulate the Lady Volunteers of the University of Tennessee on 
their 59-46 victory over

[[Page H4082]]

Rutgers University to clinch the 2007 NCAA Division I women's 
basketball championship. But I am sure you are wondering why a Member 
from Illinois would rise to discuss a team from Tennessee.
  Mr. Speaker, it is to congratulate not only this team but one of its 
key players, Candace Parker. Candace grew up in the district that I 
represent, the 13th District of Illinois, and once again she is doing 
great things. I first got to know Candace when she led the Naperville 
Central High School Red Hawks to a State basketball title in 2003, a 
feat that they repeated in 2004.
  During her high school years, she was honored with both the Naismith 
and Gatorade National Players of the Year Awards. Candace followed 
Marianne Jones and LeBron James as only the third high school athlete 
in any sport to win the Gatorade National Player of the Year in back-
to-back seasons, and is the first girls' basketball player to achieve 
this distinction.
  During her first year at Tennessee, she was forced to take a medical 
red shirt at Tennessee where she underwent surgery to repair her torn 
ACL. During her time away from basketball, Candace was continuing to 
make headlines, but this time in the academic area. She earned a spot 
on the Lady Volunteers' honor roll, and was named to the Southeastern 
Conference All-Academic Freshman Team. She returned to the court for 
the 2005-2006 season without missing a beat. She was the only player on 
the team to start every game and led the Lady Vols in scoring and 
rebounds.
  While facing Army in the 2006 NCAA tournament, she became the first 
female to dunk in a tournament game and the first to do it twice in any 
game.

                              {time}  1330

  That season, Candace was named the 2006 SEC Tournament MVP, the 2006 
SEC Freshmen of the Year, and the 2006 SEC Rookie of the Year. Adding 
to her extensive list of awards this season, she was named the 2007 SEC 
Player of the Year.
  But perhaps her greatest achievement came as she and the Lady 
Volunteers won the 2007 NCAA Division I women's national basketball 
championship.
  Candace Parker is an outstanding athlete and scholar who has done so 
many impressive things in her short career. Again, I would like to 
congratulate her and her fellow Lady Volunteers for winning. All of 
Illinois, and especially the residents of the 13th Congressional 
District, are proud of Candace and wish her continued success in her 
endeavors.
  I look forward to watching Candace and her teammates defend their 
title next season, perhaps against a team from Illinois.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito).
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Lady Vols on 
winning the 2007 national women's basketball championship.
  You are probably wondering why someone from West Virginia is joining 
in the celebration. That is because Alexis Hornbuckle, a starting guard 
for the Lady Vols, is a native of West Virginia, and I actually have 
been privileged throughout the years to watch Alexis play not only with 
my daughter in AAU, but also since she was an 8-year-old girl she was a 
phenom on the court and we knew only great things were ahead of her. 
She is a wonderful student. She played on a four time State 
championship basketball team in high school. She is from a wonderful 
West Virginia family, and we join today as West Virginians to say 
congratulations to UT and congratulations to Alexis.
  I would also like to say congratulations to her coach, Pat Summitt. 
She is a phenomenal coach of young women, and is growing future leaders 
of America.
  Just to show you the quality of Pat Summitt, when she recruited 
Alexis, when she knew she was going to UT, Pat Summitt came to Alexis' 
church to meet not only her parents, her friends, but also her church 
family.
  So I say a job well done to the University of Tennessee Lady Vols, 
and especially to West Virginia's own, Alexis Hornbuckle.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 320 
congratulating the University of Tennessee women's basketball team for 
winning the 2007 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship.
  I am happy to join my good friend and colleague, Representative 
Duncan, in honoring this exceptional team and all of its 
accomplishments, and wish all involved continued success. I ask my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 320.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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