[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 13, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H13813-H13814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMENDING ED BLOCK COURAGE AWARD FOUNDATION AND DESIGNATING NOVEMBER 
                     2007 AS NATIONAL COURAGE MONTH

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 45) commending 
the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation for its work in aiding children 
and families affected by child abuse, and designating November 2007 as 
National Courage Month.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate concurrent resolution.
  The text of the Senate concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 45

       Whereas the Ed Block Courage Award was established by Sam 
     Lamantia in 1978 in honor of Ed Block, the head athletic 
     trainer of the Baltimore Colts and a respected humanitarian;
       Whereas each year in Baltimore, Maryland, the Foundation 
     honors recipients from the National Football League who have 
     been chosen by their teammates as exemplifying sportsmanship 
     and courage;
       Whereas the Ed Block Courage Award has become one of the 
     most esteemed honors bestowed upon players in the NFL;
       Whereas the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation has grown 
     from a Baltimore-based local charity to the Courage House 
     National Support Network for Kids operated in partnership 
     with 17 NFL teams in their respective cities; and
       Whereas Courage Houses are facilities that provide support 
     and care for abused children and their families in these 17 
     locations across the country: Baltimore, Maryland, 
     Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Chicago, Illinois, Miami, Florida, 
     Detroit, Michigan, Dallas, Texas, Westchester County, New 
     York, Oakland, California, Seattle, Washington, Charlotte, 
     North Carolina, Cleveland, Ohio, Atlanta, Georgia, St. Louis, 
     Missouri, Indianapolis, Indiana, Buffalo, New York, San 
     Francisco, California, and Minneapolis, Minnesota: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) National Courage Month provides an opportunity to 
     educate the people of the United States about the positive 
     role that professional athletes can play as inspirations for 
     America's youth; and
       (2) the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation should be 
     recognized for its outstanding contributions toward helping 
     those affected by child abuse.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) 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, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.

[[Page H13814]]

  I urge passage of this resolution commending professional football 
players for their work against child abuse.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of S. 
Con. Res. 45, a bill that commends the Ed Block Courage Award 
Foundation for its work in aiding children and families affected by 
child abuse.
  S. Con. Res. 45 was introduced by Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, on 
September 17, 2007.
  S. Con. Res. 45 was reported from the Oversight Committee on November 
8, 2007, by voice vote. Mr. Speaker, the Ed Block Courage Award 
Foundation is a Baltimore, Maryland based local charity that formulated 
the Courage House National Support Network for Kids. The Courage House 
represents a partnership effort between the Foundation, National 
Football League Charities, the Professional Football Athletic Trainers 
Society, the National Football League Players Association, National 
Football League Films, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and National 
Football League Alumni. This partnership promotes the prevention of 
child abuse by raising awareness of the epidemic and assisting agencies 
who provide for the care and treatment of abused children.
  The Ed Block Courage Award Foundation honors recipients from the 
National Football League who have been chosen by their teammates as 
exemplifying sportsmanship and courage. Currently, the Ed Block Courage 
Awards event is heralded as one of the most prestigious in the National 
Football League.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague Senator Cardin for seeking to 
commend the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation and urge the swift 
passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of S. Con. Res. 
45 because there is in fact nothing, nothing more despicable than those 
who prey upon children. Whether that abuse is physical, psychological 
or sexual, this crime destroys lives, harms families, and all too often 
is perpetrated with a cruelty that is unreported and unseen.
  I support the work of this foundation and its recognition that the 
National Football League players can off the field make a real 
contribution to making America a better, safer place.

                              {time}  1800

  Whether it is John Elway or Joe Montana or any of the other past 
recipients of this award, they have in fact worked long and hard, not 
for millions of dollars or thousands of dollars, but for the good of 
the young people who are our future in this country. Therefore, I too 
join my colleague and urge the House to unanimously support this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of S. Con. Res. 45, which 
commends the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation for its work to prevent 
child abuse.
  Mr. Speaker, there is nothing sadder in this country than the specter 
of children being abused by adults. Whether it's physical, 
psychological or sexual abuse, these crimes destroy lives, harm 
families and, all too often, perpetuate cruelty and crime for 
generations.
  The award, named for the longtime head athletic trainer of the 
Baltimore Colts, recognizes the NFL player whose off-the-field efforts 
have done the most in that year to raise awareness of this often hidden 
crime. Past winners include Dan Marino, Tedy Bruschi, Joe Klecko, John 
Elway, Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott.
  Mr. Speaker, we thank Baltimore for crabcakes and Billie Holliday and 
Camden Yards and Cal Ripken. And today, we thank Charm City for this.
  The award was the vision of Sam Lamantia Jr., a Baltimore hair 
stylist.
  The courage award concept was initiated by Ernie Accorsi, a longtime 
NFL executive who served as general manager in Baltimore in the early 
1980s. Larry Harris, then assistant sports editor of the Baltimore 
Evening Sun, had the idea to name the award for Block, a forward-
thinking, innovative trainer who had a lifelong passion for preventing 
and addressing child abuse.
  The NFL's athletic trainers worked to take the award to a national 
level.
  Today, it represents a cooperative effort of the foundation, the NFL, 
the NFL Players Association, the NFL Alumni Association, NFL films, the 
Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society and the Pro Football 
Hall of Fame. Pete Rozelle, the league's late commissioner, was among 
its biggest supporters.
  The foundation has helped open Courage Houses, sanctuaries for abused 
children, in 14 NFL cities. Its annual awards ceremony attracts 
speakers from the highest levels of the sport.
  It's been a great partnership, Mr. Speaker, between pro football and 
the Ed Block Foundation, and it is worthy of our commendation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Capuano). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House 
suspend the rules and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution, S. 
Con. Res. 45.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate concurrent resolution was concurred 
in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________