[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 13, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H13595-H13596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING SHAWN JOHNSON ON BECOMING THE 2007 WORLD ARTISTIC 
                          GYMNASTICS CHAMPION

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 684) congratulating Shawn Johnson on 
her victory in becoming the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Champion in 
women's gymnastics.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 684

       Whereas Shawn Johnson won four gold medals at the 2007 Pan 
     American Games in Rio de Janiero for team competition, all 
     around, uneven bars, and balance beam, as well as one silver 
     medal for floor;
       Whereas Shawn Johnson won the 2007 Visa Championships in 
     San Jose, California, to become the United States champion in 
     gymnastics;
       Whereas Shawn Johnson won three gold medals at the 2007 
     World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, 
     Germany, making her the 2007 world all-around champion, one 
     of only four American women to have achieved such 
     recognition; and
       Whereas Shawn Johnson has brought great pride and honor to 
     her family, friends, and the citizens of Iowa with her 
     numerous accomplishments at the age of 15: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates 
     Shawn Johnson on her outstanding accomplishment in becoming 
     the 2007 World Gymnastics Champion in women's gymnastics.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. 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. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as he may consume to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Boswell), the 
author of this legislation.

[[Page H13596]]

  Mr. BOSWELL. I would like to thank Mr. Davis for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased today to congratulate an inspirational 
young woman from my district, Shawn Johnson, the daughter of Doug and 
Terri Johnson of West Des Moines, Iowa, who recently won the 2007 World 
Artistic Gymnastic Championship, which took place in Stuttgart, 
Germany. At the age of 15, Shawn has achieved more and seen more than 
many high school students dream of. She has done it all while 
maintaining her status as an honor student alongside her friends at 
Valley High.
  Shawn has traveled the world, winning title after title. This past 
July, she won five medals at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de 
Janeiro. Winning the 2007 Visa championships in San Jose, California, 
made her the United States champion in gymnastics. On September 9, 
Shawn became the world all-around champion, taking home three gold 
medals at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, 
Germany.
  While her shows are exciting and full of grace, one of the most 
inspiring things about her championship is that Shawn is shaping 
history. Having joined an elite group of women gymnasts, Shawn is one 
of only four American women to win the 40-year-old competition.
  Shawn has impressed many around the globe and has made Iowans 
incredibly proud. She is reminding us how important hard work and 
dedication are. In honor of Shawn's accomplishments, Governor Chet 
Culver declared October 17 Shawn Johnson Day in Iowa, and we are 
extremely proud to join my fellow Iowans in congratulating Shawn and 
thanking her for making history in the great State of Iowa.
  Shawn's positive attitude to achieve has taken her to amazing places. 
I suspect she's not quite finished. Promising to be ready for the 
Beijing Olympics, she told a reporter that she would ``put in 100 times 
more effort and hopefully come back with another gold.''
  Again, congratulations Shawn, and good luck at future competitions. 
You make me proud, you make our congressional district proud, you make 
your school in west Des Moines proud, you make our State of Iowa proud, 
and you make our country proud. We wish you continued success. On to 
the Olympics.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that everyone will support this resolution.
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Today, I rise and urge passage of H. Res. 684, congratulating Shawn 
Johnson on her recent national championship in women's artistic 
gymnastics. Just this year, Shawn has won the all-around competition at 
the Pan American Games, the American Cup, the national championship and 
the world championship. She has appeared on ``ABC World News Tonight,'' 
``The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' and at a gala for Pink With a Twist, a 
group that fights cancers among women.
  She has been honored with Shawn Johnson Day in Iowa, with the 
Longines Prize for Elegance, and as ABC's Person of the Week. All this 
for a 15-year-old, 4-foot 8, 88-pound high school sophomore who 
sometimes finds time to walk dogs at shelters and serves as a ball girl 
for her school's football team.
  She never bothered to crawl, according to her mother, Terri Johnson. 
At 9 months old she simply arose and began to walk. At age 3, her 
mother enrolled her in gymnastics class ``just to channel all her 
energy,'' her mom said. I think it's important to point out that it was 
her mom who drove her so many times to so many practices, because with 
all great athletes, we have to acknowledge that the parents play such a 
great role in it.
  At the age of 6, she showed up at Qiao Gymnastics in Des Moines, 
where Qiao was working. A former top gymnast from China, Qiao had come 
to the United States to study English at the University of Iowa. 
Although her first coach said that she had more raw strength than 
gymnastic ability, Coach Qiao saw her potential immediately and worked 
hard to nurture that talent.
  This means long and busy days for Shawn. After school, she heads to 
the gym for a 4-hour workout, then home to do school work. Yet, she 
maintains a 4.0 average. Unlike traditional gymnasts, artistic 
gymnastics traditionally has not been a sport where 15-year-olds excel. 
It combines the disciplines of gymnastics and ballet, and few athletes 
as young as Shawn have been able to master it.

                              {time}  1730

  But through hard work, discipline and the ability and the tutelage of 
a good coach, she has already made her mark as one of the world's 
greatest gymnasts. With Pan Am, national and world titles behind her, 
Shawn now points towards 2008 to the summer Olympics to be held in 
Beijing. ``I think it would be cool, not only for me, but for him,'' 
she said, ``and I think it would be a proud moment for both of us.''
  What I want to say to my colleagues is this is a special young woman 
and one that I know everyone in Iowa has a lot of pride in, but 
everybody in the United States shares in that pride, and I urge passage 
of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the 
consideration of H. Res. 684, a bill that congratulates Shawn Johnson 
on her victory in becoming the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Champion 
in women's gymnastics.
  H. Res. 684, which has 57 cosponsors, was introduced by 
Representative Leonard L. Boswell on September 26, 2007. H. Res. 684 
was reported from the Oversight Committee on October 23, 2007, by voice 
vote.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Shawn Johnson, at the age of 15, won three gold 
medals at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, 
Germany. She became the fourth United States woman ever to win a world 
all-around title with her come-from-behind victory in the women's all-
around finals of the 2007 world championships. She joined Kim Zmeskal, 
Shannon Miller and Chellsie Memmel as the only U.S. women to win a 
world all-around title in gymnastics.
  This year, Ms. Johnson was first at the 2007 Tyson American Cup. She 
won the all-around title at the 2007 Pan Am Games, along with the U.S. 
women's gymnastic team, receiving gold metals for the uneven bars and 
balanced beam events. She also won the silver medal for the floor 
exercise event. At the 2007 Visa Championships, she won her first 
senior U.S. all-around title.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Boswell, on 
congratulating the outstanding accomplishments of Ms. Johnson in 
becoming the 2007 World Gymnastics Champion in women's gymnastics and 
urge the swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and urge passage of 
this resolution.
  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. 684.
  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.

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