[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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