[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 152 (Tuesday, October 9, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H11333-H11335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1515
COMMENDING GREEN BAY PACKERS QUARTERBACK BRETT FAVRE FOR ESTABLISHING A 
    NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE RECORD FOR MOST CAREER TOUCHDOWN PASSES

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 697) commending Green Bay Packers 
quarterback Brett Favre for establishing a National Football League 
record for most career touchdown passes, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 697

       Whereas on September 30, 2007, Green Bay Packers 
     quarterback Brett Favre established a National Football 
     League (NFL) record by throwing his 421st touchdown pass;
       Whereas in addition to the career touchdown mark, Brett 
     Favre also holds the NFL record for greatest number of wins 
     by a starting quarterback and the NFL record for playing in 
     the most consecutive games as a starting quarterback;
       Whereas Brett Favre is the only 3-time winner of the NFL's 
     Most Valuable Player Award;
       Whereas Brett Favre's 16 consecutive years of dedicated 
     service with the Green Bay Packers has enhanced the lives of 
     the people of Northeast Wisconsin and exemplified the 
     Wisconsin work ethic;
       Whereas Brett Favre's contributions to his community have 
     extended beyond the football field;
       Whereas Brett Favre was born in Gulf Port, Mississippi, was 
     raised in Kiln, Mississippi, and attended the University of 
     Southern Mississippi;
       Whereas Brett Favre's loyalties to his home State of 
     Mississippi and adopted State of Wisconsin are reflected in 
     his participation in and organization of numerous charitable 
     activities in those States, including the Brett Favre 
     Fourward Foundation, the Special Olympics, the Make-A-Wish 
     Foundation, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America;
       Whereas the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation aids 
     disadvantaged children in Wisconsin and Mississippi and has 
     raised more than $1,000,000 for people affected by Hurricane 
     Katrina in Mississippi;
       Whereas Brett Favre and his wife, Deanna Favre, co-founded 
     the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation, which provides assistance 
     to women in need affected by breast cancer; and
       Whereas Brett Favre has demonstrated that hard work and 
     single-mindedness of purpose can bring success, and 
     epitomizes the words of NFL Hall of Fame Coach Vince 
     Lombardi: ``People who work together will win, whether it be 
     against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern 
     society.'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre for 
     establishing a National Football League record for most 
     career touchdown passes;
       (2) recognizes Brett Favre for his outstanding community 
     service in Wisconsin and Mississippi and his 16 consecutive 
     years of dedicated service with the Green Bay Packers, a 
     community-owned organization; and
       (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to Brett Favre, to the 
     Green Bay Packers organization, and to the Commissioner of 
     the National Football League.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as he might consume to the author of this legislation, 
Representative Steve Kagen.
  Mr. KAGEN. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague.
  Madam Speaker, Green Bay, Wisconsin, the Green Bay Packers and 
quarterback Brett Favre have a great deal in common. They're 
hardworking, dedicated to the community and believe in competing with, 
not against, one another to bring out the very best performance 
possible for each and every athlete and every time on the field.
  Today, the United States House of Representatives offers its praise 
to Brett Favre, to his family, to the Green Bay Packers and to the 
people of Wisconsin who together own the most storied team in 
professional sports.
  In fact, the Green Bay Packers, unlike any other corporate entity in 
America, can never be offshored because the team is owned by the people 
living in Green Bay and Wisconsin.
  There are three things our Nation can learn from the success of Brett 
Favre and the Green Bay Packers. First, the team competes with one 
another to bring out the very best performance from every athlete.
  Secondly, Brett, like successful Olympic speed skating champions that 
I've come to know, does his personal best every single day, in practice 
and on the field. If one does one's personal best each and every day, 
no one can criticize you.
  And lastly, the two words that form our American competitive spirit: 
``move up.'' Don't settle for second place. Shoot for the gold and 
settle for the silver, but at all times, never, never stop trying to 
move up. And remember, we know from our experiences that everybody 
falls. We all have failures. But it's not how far you fall; it's how 
high you bounce back.
  Compete with one another. Do your personal best every day and move 
up. These three ideas tell the story of the Green Bay Packers and their 
quarterback Brett Favre. They reflect the spirit of the people in both 
Wisconsin and in Mississippi, and they will continue to be lived out by 
Brett Favre during his career in professional sports and beyond.
  I ask my colleagues to join with me in recognizing the 
accomplishments of the Green Bay Packers, the hardworking people of 
Green Bay and the people of Wisconsin and our future Hall of Fame 
quarterback Brett Favre.
  If I may read the resolution, which reads, H. Res. 697, ``Commending 
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre for establishing a National 
Football

[[Page H11334]]

League record for most career touchdown passes, and for other purposes.
  ``Whereas on September 30, 2007, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett 
Favre established a National Football League (NFL) record by throwing 
his 421st touchdown pass;
  ``Whereas in addition to the career touchdown mark, Brett Favre also 
holds the NFL record for greatest number of wins by a starting 
quarterback and the NFL record for playing in the most consecutive 
games as a starting quarterback;
  ``Whereas Brett Favre is the only 3-time winner of the NFL's Most 
Valuable Player Award;
  ``Whereas Brett Favre's 16 consecutive years of dedicated service 
with the Green Bay Packers has enhanced the lives of the people of 
Northeast Wisconsin and exemplified the Wisconsin work ethic;
  ``Whereas Brett Favre's contributions to his community have extended 
beyond the football field;
  ``Whereas Brett Favre was born in Gulfport, Mississippi, was raised 
in Kiln, Mississippi, and attended the University of Southern 
Mississippi;
  ``Whereas Brett Favre's loyalties to his home State of Mississippi 
and adopted State of Wisconsin are reflected in his participation in 
and organization of numerous charitable activities in those States, 
including the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation, the Special Olympics, 
the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America;
  ``Whereas the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation aids disadvantaged 
children in Wisconsin and Mississippi and has raised more than 
$1,000,000 for people affected by Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi;
  ``Whereas Brett Favre and his wife, Deanna Favre, co-founded the 
Deanna Favre Hope Foundation, which provides assistance to women in 
need affected by breast cancer; and
  ``Whereas Brett Favre has demonstrated that hard work and single-
mindedness of purpose can bring success, and epitomizes the words of 
NFL Hall of Fame Coach Vince Lombardi: `People who work together will 
win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems 
of modern society.': Now, therefore, be it
  ``Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
  ``(1) commends Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre for 
establishing a National Football League record for most career 
touchdown passes;
  ``(2) recognizes Brett Favre for his outstanding community service in 
Wisconsin and Mississippi and his 16 consecutive years of dedicated 
service with the Green Bay Packers, a community-owned organization; and
  ``(3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit a 
copy of this resolution to Brett Favre, to the Green Bay Packers 
organization, and to the Commissioner of the National Football 
League.''
  Mr. SOUDER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  We're going to be saying lots of nice things about Brett Favre this 
afternoon, but I want to make sure that he understands the most 
important thing. In my fantasy football team, the Domers, he's my 
starting quarterback this weekend. I need a lot of points. I don't want 
this going to his head that we're passing this congressional 
resolution.
  In my little hometown of 700 of Grabill outside Fort Wayne, Indiana, 
when it was created, a man named Ben Neuenschwander brought a German 
over named Fred Marolf, and then Fred broke off, and up at the county 
line he formed a cheese company. And after many years and just a few 
miles from my hometown, they moved up to where all the cheeseheads go, 
to Wisconsin.
  County Line Cheese today is one of the more famous cheese companies 
in America. And I don't know whether they make the actual cheeseheads 
that you Wisconsinites wear, but they certainly make a lot of the 
cheese.
  That's kind of been my tie to the cheeseheads, because growing up 
near a plant, you could get the green curds and all that type of stuff. 
I followed the Green Bay Packers growing up, and they had Bart Starr 
and Fuzzy Thurston in the line and Jim Taylor, of course Paul Hornung, 
the Notre Dame great, and you kind of wondered whether Green Bay fans 
were going to be like Cub fans and all they did was talk about the 
past. Then along comes Brett Favre.
  So let me rise today in support of this resolution to Brett Favre of 
the Green Bay Packers for breaking the world record on career touchdown 
passes, and the way he handled this with Dan Marino was just amazing 
for the country to watch as they both praised each other.
  He adds to his record also for the most passes attempted, the most 
passes completed and, most importantly of all, the most games won as a 
starting quarterback.
  It's only fitting that Favre continue his run on the NFL record books 
because he's always been a man ahead of his time. He started on his 
high school baseball team as an eighth grader. He started at seven 
different positions, including offensive and defensive line, as a ninth 
grader on a varsity football team.
  In 1987, he arrived at Southern Miss, and at age 17, was listed as 
the seventh-string for the Golden Eagles. Midway through the third game 
of that season, he had become the starter. He would not relinquish that 
spot until he graduated 4 years later. He would lead stunning upsets of 
Florida State and, as a senior, Alabama.
  Two years later, Ron Wolf was hired as general manager of the Green 
Bay Packers. In his first speech to Packer fans, Wolf revealed that the 
Packers' next quarterback was a guy they'd never heard of, a guy who 
had languished as a third-string signal caller of the Atlanta Falcons, 
a guy named Brett Favre. He traded a running back you've never heard of 
to Atlanta for Favre, and the rest is history.
  Well, maybe not all the rest. The Packers are 5-1 this year, and 
Favre, at 38, is off to his best start in years. Teammates say he's in 
the best shape of his career; coaches say he is making the best 
decisions of his career.
  Could he do it again? Could he win his second Super Bowl? American 
cheeseheads hope so. For those of us Colts fans, we hope he does well 
in the final game but doesn't win.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he might 
consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak).
  Mr. STUPAK. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, it's my pleasure to join Mr. Kagen in offering this 
resolution, and I want the Record to reflect that my friend and 
colleague Mr. Kagen is the second-biggest Packer fan in Congress. Being 
from the upper peninsula of Michigan, all of us UPers are known as 
Packer fans. Actually, Green Bay is only just over an hour's drive from 
my home, where the Detroit Lions are more than 10 hours away from home, 
so we are all Packer fans in northern Michigan.
  On Sunday, September 30, with a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide 
receiver Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packer Brett Favre broke Dan Marino's 
career touchdown pass record with 421 touchdown passes.
  Playing in his 17th season in the NFL, Brett Favre has consistently 
shown Packer fans and the Nation that hard work, dedication and 
determination lead to continued success.
  The fact that Brett Favre threw the record-breaking touchdown in 
Minnesota against a tough divisional rival shows that his hard work and 
determination does pay off.
  Throughout his career, Brett Favre has proven that his perseverance 
and love of the game have helped him overcome adversity and succeed at 
such a high level.
  Most importantly, Brett Favre has remained humble while leading the 
Packers to four wins and only one loss so far this season. I realize my 
good friend Mr. Souder has already given the Packers their fifth win. 
That will come this Sunday against the Washington Redskins. After his 
record-breaking performance, Brett Favre said the last thing on his 
mind was the record. That truly sums up how this individual approaches 
the game. It's not for personal glory but for team pride and continuing 
on their winning ways.
  Favre's teammates and coaches credit his work in the off-season and 
between games as the reason the three-time NFL Most Valuable Player has 
remained successful.
  Favre's leadership has helped the Packers to start off the year on 
top of the division.

[[Page H11335]]

  Favre has been a leader off the field as well. This resolution honors 
Brett and Deanna Favre's work supporting the Special Olympics, the 
Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of America, breast 
cancer patients and those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
  In a year plagued with sports scandals, Brett Favre sets a positive 
example for all Americans that there is still honesty and dignity in 
sports.
  I'm proud to join with all my colleagues and the Members of the House 
of Representatives to salute Brett Favre's continued success on and off 
the field, and I look forward to another MVP year.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Madam Speaker, I can assure everybody that the Chicago Bears have a 
great deal of respect for Brett Favre, and I don't intend to get into 
Central Division football, but I do rise in strong support of this 
resolution, a bill that commends Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett 
Favre for establishing a National Football League record.
  Football is an American pastime, and even people who don't know a 
great deal about the game oftentimes get caught up in what takes place, 
what goes on and what is happening. And so when one can rise to the top 
of the list in his profession, throw more passes than anybody else has 
ever thrown, thrill more audiences than perhaps anyone else thrilled, 
keep people coming and enjoying and interacting and being proud of not 
only the areas that they come from but proud of the contribution that 
one makes not only on the field but off the field, all of the 
charitable groups and organizations of which Brett and his family are a 
part of, gives us further reason to commend Representative Steve Kagen 
for his introduction of this legislation.
  I certainly would urge its passage.
  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Green Bay 
Packers quarterback Brett Favre upon his achievement of throwing his 
421st NFL touchdown and breaking the all-time NFL record for touchdown 
passes.
  From my days as Harvard quarterback, I can say firsthand that I have 
a deep appreciation for the sport of football and for the strength and 
dedication it takes not only as an athlete, but as a team leader as 
well. While growing up in western Wisconsin, I spent countless Sunday 
afternoons watching the Green Bay Packers through both good and bad 
seasons. I have watched Brett Favre grow from his first season as a 
Packer, to a Super Bowl MVP, and to a well respected legend.
  Throughout the sports community, Brett Favre is a symbol of stamina, 
leadership, toughness, and sportsmanship. Not only has Brett Favre 
broken the NFL record for touchdown passes, he holds the records for 
most number of wins by starting quarterback, most consecutive games as 
a starting quarterback, and the only three-time winner of the NFL's 
Most Valuable Player Award. During his 16 years on the Green Bay 
Packers, Brett Favre has led the team to two Super Bowls and given 
Wisconsin a good reason to look forward to winter.
  Brett Favre is more than an outstanding athlete; he is a dedicated 
humanitarian who has demonstrated leadership both on and off the field. 
The Brett Favre Fourward Foundation has donated more than $1.5 million 
for disadvantaged and disabled children in Wisconsin and Mississippi. 
When Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi coast, Brett Favre 
played a leading role in rallying fundraising and aid for his home 
state. After his wife, Deanna, was diagnosed with breast cancer, the 
Favres founded the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation to provide support to 
uninsured or underinsured women living with this terrible disease.
  I believe NFL Hall of Fame Coach Vince Lombardi captured it best when 
he said: ``Individual commitment to a group effort--that is what makes 
a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.''
  On behalf of the residents of the state of Wisconsin, I would like to 
congratulate Brett Favre on his many accomplishments, including his 
421st touchdown pass, and to wish him the best of luck for the rest of 
the season.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 697.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________