[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H1263-H1267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATING THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 110) congratulating the National Football League 
champion Pittsburgh Steelers for winning Super Bowl XLIII and becoming 
the most successful franchise in NFL history with their record 6th 
Super Bowl title.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 110

       Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII by 
     defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27 to 23 in Tampa, Florida, 
     on February 1, 2009, winning their second Super Bowl 
     championship in 4 years;
       Whereas with this victory the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise 
     has set a new National Football League standard for most 
     Super Bowl victories with their record 6th Super Bowl 
     championship;
       Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers went 15-4 against the 
     hardest-ranked 2008-2009 schedule in the NFL and defeated the 
     San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and Arizona Cardinals 
     during their record-setting post season run;
       Whereas linebacker James Harrison returned a goal line 
     interception 100 yards for the longest play in Super Bowl 
     history;
       Whereas quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went 21-30 for 256 
     yards and led the team down the field for the 19th and most 
     important 4th quarter comeback of his career;
       Whereas wide receiver Santonio Holmes won the Super Bowl 
     MVP award with a 9-catch, 131-yard performance, including the 
     game-winning touchdown in the corner of the endzone with 35 
     seconds left in the game;
       Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers new ``Steel Curtain'' 
     defense, including stars James Harrison, Ryan Clark, Troy 
     Polamalu, James Farrior, Ike Taylor, Larry Foote, Casey 
     Hampton, LaMarr Woodley, Brett Keisel, Deshea Townsend, and 
     Aaron Smith were ranked first in the NFL in overall team 
     defense for the 2008-2009 season;
       Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers defense during the 2008-
     2009 season allowed the least points scored, lowest average 
     passing yards per game, and the least overall yards per game 
     in the entire NFL;
       Whereas head coach Mike Tomlin is the youngest coach to win 
     a Super Bowl championship and has continued in the legendary 
     tradition of head coaches Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher by 
     bringing a Super Bowl championship to Pittsburgh;
       Whereas linebacker James Harrison was named the NFL 
     Defensive Player of the Year for the 2008-2009 season;
       Whereas team owner Dan Rooney and team President Art Rooney 
     II, the son and grandson, respectively, of Pittsburgh 
     Steelers founder Art Rooney, have remarkable loyalty to 
     Steelers fans and the City of Pittsburgh, and have assembled 
     an exceptional team of players, coaches, and staff that made 
     achieving a championship possible;
       Whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers fan base, known as 
     ``Steeler Nation'', was ranked in August 2008 by ESPN.com as 
     the best in the NFL, citing their current streak of 299 
     consecutive sold out games going back to the 1972 season; and
       Whereas, for 76 years, the people of the City of Pittsburgh 
     have seen themselves in the grit, tenacity, and success of 
     the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise, and they proudly join the 
     team in celebrating their NFL record 6th Super Bowl 
     championship: Now therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates 
     the National Football League Champion Pittsburgh Steelers for 
     winning Super Bowl XLIII and setting a new championship 
     standard for the entire NFL.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. 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 Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I now yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As chairman of the House Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post 
Office, and the District of Columbia, and on behalf of the House 
Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I'm pleased to join my 
colleagues from the State of Pennsylvania, even though this may be a 
little painful for me as a New England Patriots fan, but I do heartily 
join them in congratulating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 
consideration of House Res. 110, which provides for the recognition of 
the National Football League's champion Pittsburgh Steelers for winning 
Super Bowl XLIII and for becoming, indeed, the most successful 
franchise in NFL history by capturing their sixth Super Bowl title. I 
also want to take this opportunity to welcome our new ranking member, 
Mr. Chaffetz from Utah, in his new role as ranking member of the 
committee.
  House Resolution 110 was introduced by Representative Mike Doyle of 
Pennsylvania, of Pittsburgh, on February 3, 2009, and currently has the 
support of over 60 Members in cosponsorship, including myself. Also 
through the courtesy of Chairman Towns, the measure has been considered 
and approved by the Oversight Committee

[[Page H1264]]

and now comes to the House floor as a means of highlighting the 
Steelers' successful 2008-2009 NFL season and their Super Bowl victory.
  Mr. Speaker, the Pittsburgh Steelers stand as one of sporting 
history's greatest franchise stories. Founded back in 1933 during the 
heyday of Pittsburgh's steel-producing era by the legendary Art Rooney, 
or who many refer to as ``The Chief,'' the Steelers are the fifth 
oldest NFL franchise. And as a result of their remarkable win against 
the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers are now the 
most successful NFL team with six Super Bowl rings.
  Led by Coach Mike Tomlin, the youngest coach to capture the coveted 
Lombardi trophy, the Steelers road to Super Bowl XLIII was lined with 
its fair share of advancements and challenges as the Steelers moved 
through the hardest ranked 2008-2009 NFL schedule, a road that I must 
mention, came through Foxboro, Massachusetts, the home of my beloved 
New England Patriots. And that road ended in Tampa Bay, Florida, with 
the unforgettable game winning touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger 
to Santonio Holmes in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter.
  For this accomplishment, Mr. Speaker, we stand to commend the 
Pittsburgh Steelers, their franchise, their organization, the players, 
coaches and the Rooney family, and of course, the supportive fans that 
make up the ``Steeler Nation,'' on a job well done. As the city of 
Pittsburgh and its surrounding countryside continue to celebrate its 
250th anniversary, I'm certain that the Steelers win in Super Bowl 
XLIII only adds to the occasion of such a historical landmark.
  In closing, I urge adoption of House Resolution 110.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 110, congratulating 
the Pittsburgh Steelers for winning Super Bowl XLIII and becoming the 
most successful franchise in NFL history with their record sixth Super 
Bowl title.
  Mr. Speaker, the Steelers 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in 
Tampa, Florida, on February 1, 2009, marked a truly historic moment in 
NFL history in several ways. The victory marked the sixth Super Bowl 
win for the Steelers, giving them more Super Bowl titles than any other 
team in the history of the National Football League. It also gave rise 
to a new nickname for the storied franchise that has many nicknames, 
``Sixburgh.''
  This is the first Super Bowl win for Coach Mike Tomlin, who became 
the youngest coach in NFL history to win the championship game. In only 
his second season as the Steelers head coach, he joins the ranks of 
other legendary Steelers coaches, Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher.
  This epic win came against a dangerous and surprising underdog. This 
is the first appearance in franchise history for the Arizona Cardinals. 
The unlikely Super Bowl contender shook off their reputation as being 
one of the most dysfunctional teams in the NFL. The Cardinals soared 
through the NFC playoffs, which ended with a convincing win over the 
heavily fortified Philadelphia Eagles.
  In a game marked by miraculous receptions and tremendous plays, who 
could forget one of the most exciting, and longest, plays in Super Bowl 
history? With Arizona on the Pittsburgh 2 yard line, poised to take a 
14-10 lead with 18 seconds left in the first half, Pittsburgh 
linebacker, James Harrison, the NFL's defensive MVP, picked off Kurt 
Warner's pass at the Pittsburgh goal line. Harrison rumbled and 
stumbled 100 yards for a Steelers touchdown and a 17-7 half-time lead.
  While Pittsburgh largely outplayed Arizona for most of the game, the 
hopes of the Cardinals fans took flight when Kurt Warner hit receiver 
Larry Fitzgerald for a 64-yard touchdown pass putting the Cardinals up 
23-20 with 2:37 left in the game. But those hopes came crashing to the 
ground when Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, engineered a 78-
yard drive culminating in a touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes, who made 
a stunning, acrobatic catch with 35 seconds left to give the Steelers 
the lead and, after a stalled Cardinals drive, their historic sixth 
Lombardi trophy.
  Regardless of who you were rooting for, this was widely regarded as 
one of the greatest Super Bowl games in recent memory, and the fans at 
home agreed. According to Nielsen Media Research data, the game had 
151.6 million viewers, which made it the most-viewed program in 
television history.
  With that, I would like to congratulate the owners of the Steelers, 
the great Rooney family, my colleague, Mr. Rooney, from Florida, the 
coaches and players as well as ``Steeler Nation'' and the legions of 
Terrible Towel waving fans in Pittsburgh and across the country.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, at this point, I would like to yield to the 
chief sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from Pittsburgh, Mike 
Doyle, for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I was hoping that I would get 6 minutes, 1 
minute for each Super Bowl. But we will settle for 5. I can't tell you 
how courageous it is to hear my good friend and colleague, Mr. Lynch, a 
New England Patriot fan, have to stand up here on the House floor and 
say such wonderful things about the Pittsburgh Steelers. I'm sure this 
is going to hurt him back home in his district. And Steve, I appreciate 
those gracious words.
  This was a gritty team. In the beginning of the season, not too many 
people picked the Pittsburgh Steelers to be in the Super Bowl. We were 
said to have the toughest schedule in the NFL. And there was some talk 
that we might not even win our division. Cleveland was seen as the up-
and-coming team in our division, and with the schedule, things just 
didn't look like they were going to fall in place with the Steelers.
  We had a young coach, Mike Tomlin, 36 years old. He has only been 
head coach for a couple of years. And Pittsburgh just wasn't one of the 
teams mentioned when you talked about who is going be in the Super 
Bowl. But this was a gritty team, emblematic of the people they play 
for, the people of the city of Pittsburgh. And they finished the season 
with a 12-4 record.
  When you look at the four toughest schedules in the NFL, three of 
those four teams didn't finish with winning records. Only one did, the 
Pittsburgh Steelers. And they did it behind the Nation's best defense, 
the number one defense in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers. We went on 
to beat the San Diego Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens to get into the 
Super Bowl. And then one of the most exciting games I have ever seen in 
my lifetime, and I have watched lots of Steeler football, and I want to 
compliment the Arizona Cardinals, that team played a great game. I 
don't think many people mentioned the Arizona Cardinals when it came to 
who was going to be in the Super Bowl either. And they deserve a lot of 
credit for the way they played that game and how hard they fought.
  Pittsburgh really dominated them for quite some time, and they came 
back in the fourth quarter. And for a while, it looked like we didn't 
know what hit us. But then, as Ben Roethlisberger has done 18 other 
times in his career, he took the Steelers down on a final drive to win 
the ball game with just 35 seconds left as Santonio Holmes made a catch 
that was ballerina like in the way he was able to keep his two feet in 
bounds. And when we first saw it on television, it looked like he was 
out of bounds. But the replay clearly showed that he had caught that 
ball. So Pittsburgh now has been in seven Super Bowls. We have won six 
of them.
  As someone who has been born and raised in Pittsburgh, my 
grandparents, when they came from Ireland and Italy, they ended up in 
the little town of Pittsburgh. We've been there ever since. I can tell 
you that this is a blue collar team, a team that plays with grit, 
determination and character. And that character is emblematic of the 
ownership of the Steelers, the Rooney family. There isn't a better 
family in football. And the Steelers played because of the way the 
Rooney family has set the standard for that. We are privileged in the 
House of Representatives to have the grandson of the founder of the 
Pittsburgh Steelers here, and one of my chief cosponsors of the bill.
  So along with the entire Pennsylvania delegation, my colleagues, Tim 
Murphy and Jason Altmire, we want

[[Page H1265]]

to congratulate the Rooney family. We want to congratulate the people 
of the city of Pittsburgh. This team epitomizes the tough, resilient 
spirit of the city of Pittsburgh in southwestern Pennsylvania. I'm 
proud to represent these folks. And I hope my colleagues will join me 
in recognizing six-time Super Bowl champs, the Pittsburgh Steelers, on 
the occasion of this latest victory.
  Mr. Speaker, do I have any time left?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Pennsylvania has 1\1/2\ 
minutes remaining.
  Mr. DOYLE. I normally don't yield to people from cities that have 
sore losers. But my good friend, Mr. Stupak, who represents the Green 
Bay Packers, has asked for some time to dispute the resolution. And I 
guess in the spirit of camaraderie, I will yield him some time.
  Mr. STUPAK. I thank the gentleman for yielding and thank him for his 
friendship.
  As you know, I have been to Pittsburgh. We went to the new stadium in 
Pittsburgh when the Steelers played. When they opened up the new 
stadium, we were there. I congratulate the Pittsburgh Steelers on their 
sixth Super Bowl ring and their championship this year. But the last 
part of your resolution, and every football fan knows, that the 
standard for the entire NFL for championships is the Green Bay Packers 
with 13, with 13.

                              {time}  1400

  So I would ask the gentleman, you don't want to lower the standard, 
obviously, that we should recognize the fact that the standard for 
championships, as your resolution says, in the entire NFL belongs to 
the Green Bay Packers, and not to my other nice team, the Pittsburgh 
Steelers.
  So I just want to make note of it that I think all of us being 
football fans recognize the fact that the standard for NFL 
championships is with the Green Bay Packers.
  Mr. DOYLE. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, I would just say to my 
good friend from Green Bay, I feel your pain. I understand what it's 
like to be on the losing end. You know, Pittsburgh went through 40 
years of teams that didn't have winning records, so we understand how 
it feels to be a Green Bay fan.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my distinguished 
colleague from the State of Florida (Mr. Rooney).
  Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, thank you to Congressman Doyle for 
sponsoring this bill. You know, it's not really in our family's 
disposition to sort of brag on itself, but given the opportunity that I 
have as a new Member of this Congress and the accomplishments that 
we've had, I'll do so briefly.
  Our old quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, called my grandfather, Art 
Rooney, a good king. But for 40 years, Mike, as you said, the 
Pittsburgh Steelers never won. And then the chief, who founded the team 
in 1933, saw his team win four Super Bowls in the 1970s, before he died 
in 1988. Now, we have two more in the last couple of years, and that's 
six, more than any team ever. I know my grandfather is up there in 
heaven looking down, smiling, smoking a cigar. I miss him every day, 
and I love him very much.
  Michael, Dan, and my cousin, Artie, have done a great job carrying 
his torch, but the other owners in my family who are part of this team, 
my Uncle Art, who scouted all those players you saw play in the 1970s 
that won four Lombardi trophies, my Uncle Tim of New York, my Uncle 
John of Philadelphia, my dad, Pat Rooney, Sr. of Florida, and the 
McGinleys, all ``North Siders'' of Pittsburgh, but all make up the 
ownership of the Pittsburgh Steelers and play a role in who the Rooneys 
are and how they conduct business.
  Instilled by my grandfather, the secret of the success of the 
Pittsburgh Steelers and the Rooney family is, quite simply, patience, 
humility, faith, trust in our coaches and our players, but most 
importantly, defense. Defense.
  I want to say congratulations to our coaches, Mike Tomlin and Dick 
LeBeau, who should be in the Hall of Fame, our front office, our 
players, Glades Central High School MVP Santonio Holmes, James 
Harrison, with the longest touchdown in Super Bowl history. But most of 
all to Steeler Nation, get ready for Number 7 in 2009.
  Go Steelers.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 2 
minutes to Mr. Scott of Virginia.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
the Pittsburgh Steelers on their historic sixth Super Bowl victory. In 
a game that was exciting down to the last minute, the Steelers defeated 
the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, February 1, 
2009.
  Now, I want to deliver a special note of congratulations to the head 
coach of the team, Mike Tomlin. Coach Tomlin is a native of the Third 
Congressional District of Virginia. He's a product of the Newport News 
public schools, graduating from Denbigh High School in 1990. Mike was a 
3-year starter at the College of William and Mary football team, and 
graduated from the college in 1994.
  Mike's dedication to coaching at the professional level places him in 
the pantheon of great coaches that the Steelers have had over the last 
53 years, including Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher.
  But what many people do not know about Coach Tomlin is that his 
dedication to coaching comes from the impact that coaches and other 
role models have had in his life. His biggest role model was his 
stepfather, who came into his life at the age of six and, according to 
Tomlin, taught him what it was to be a man. In describing the impact 
his father had on him, Mike said, and I quote, ``I had big dreams when 
I was a child. But without my dad, those dreams might not have come 
true. He brought stability to my life. He made my world a safe place in 
which to think, to learn, and yes, to dream. I would not be coaching 
the Steelers in the Super Bowl today if it weren't for the man who 
walked into my life when I was a young boy and became my dad.''
  Mike has never forgotten the impact his father had on him and has 
dedicated himself to be that kind of role model, both to his immediate 
family, and in the community.
  And now, Madam Speaker, I include the following article entitled 
``Coach Makes a Difference for Many on the Peninsula; Those who know 
him say Mike Tomlin relishes his status as a role model'' for the 
Record to highlight the work that Mike has done in his hometown 
community. It was published in the Daily Press on February 1.
  I'd like to once again congratulate Coach Tomlin and the entire 
Pittsburgh Steelers team on their historic victory.

Coach Makes a Difference for Many on Peninsula--Those Who Know Him Say 
            Mike Tomlin Relishes His Status as a Role Model

                           (By Dave Fairbank)

       Larry Orie watched Mike Tomlin grow up. Saw him play youth 
     sports. Attended his football games at Denbigh High and later 
     at William and Mary.
       A close friend of Tomlin's parents since high school, Orie 
     followed Tomlin's coaching career when he reached the 
     National Football League. He attended games and visited 
     Tomlin at professional coaching stops in Tampa, Minnesota and 
     now as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
       ``What I find about him is he's the same all the time,'' 
     said Orie, a retired Newport News fire chief. ``He's 
     constant. He wants to give back to the community. He's a role 
     model, even for older folks like me. * * * He definitely 
     wants to be a role model for the community, especially for 
     where he came from.''
       That's why Orie, in his capacity as vice president for 
     membership of the 100 Black Men of the Virginia Peninsula, 
     recommended that the organization recognize Tomlin during its 
     annual gala in April.
       ``Larry said, `This is a great guy,' '' chapter President 
     Everett Browning said. ``He's not just a football coach. This 
     is a person we want our kids to know about and model their 
     lives after.''
       Tomlin--who will attempt to become the youngest head coach 
     to win a Super Bowl today, when the Steelers face the Arizona 
     Cardinals--was the first sports figure selected as Role Model 
     of the Year in the 16 years of the local chapter of 100 Black 
     Men, the national organization dedicated to improving the 
     lives and opportunities of young blacks.
       The group usually honors business, political and community 
     leaders, all of whom have longer resumes than the 36-year-old 
     Tomlin. In the past, it has recognized such figures as former 
     Gov. Doug Wilder, U.S. Rep. Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott Jr. and 
     Hampton University President William Harvey.
       After spending time around Tomlin on that April day, 
     Browning was convinced that the group had chosen wisely. What 
     sold Browning wasn't Tomlin's demeanor and message

[[Page H1266]]

     the night of the affair but an appearance that morning.
       Tomlin spoke to more than 100 high school and middle school 
     students at the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center in 
     downtown Newport News, where Browning said the coach was 
     sincere, humble and inspirational.
       ``He said, `Twenty years ago, I was you guys, sitting down 
     in the audience,' '' Browning remembered. ``A high school 
     student, listening to people trying to tell me about life and 
     the things you need to do to be successful. Let me tell you, 
     what people are telling you is the truth.''
       Browning said of Tomlin, ``He said he lived his life by the 
     code of being a hard worker, of being true to one's self and 
     realizing if you want to get ahead, you have to make 
     sacrifices. I was just elated to hear him say those things to 
     the students.''
       Tomlin doesn't need a black-tie gala or a proclamation in 
     his honor to return to the Peninsula, either.
       He took a couple of days' vacation time this past summer 
     and drove from Pittsburgh to attend the Peninsula All-Star 
     Football Camp, the annual affair staged by Hampton native and 
     NFL Players Association communications director Carl Francis.
       ``I was shocked, but I wasn't shocked,'' Francis said, ``if 
     you know what I mean.''
       Tomlin didn't simply put in an appearance and stand in the 
     shade, sipping Gatorade. He was on the field at Christopher 
     Newport University, bouncing around, working up a sweat, 
     coaching kids and chattering endlessly.
       ``You could see he was excited to be around kids and talk 
     football,'' said Bethel High coach Jeff Nelson, who also 
     worked the camp. ``Sometimes you see a head coach of a big-
     time program or an NFL team in a setting like that, and you 
     get the feeling that they're above everybody. With him, he 
     was like one of the kids, running around and coaching. Kids 
     feed off that.''
       Francis said, ``I am tremendously grateful to Mike for what 
     he's done for me and our camp. His humility and generosity 
     are genuine. He's a caring person. There is no armor on 
     Mike.''
       Francis' football camp is part of his work with the Hampton 
     Roads Youth Foundation. He remembered that almost two years 
     ago, he had a conversation with Tomlin--shortly after Tomlin 
     became Steelers head coach--about the camp and about lining 
     up speakers for the foundation's annual pre-camp banquet.
       ``I was using him as a sounding board,'' Francis said. ``I 
     didn't ask him to do anything, and he said, `Carl, why don't 
     I just do it?'
       ``I was like, `Mike, look, you're a new head coach. You've 
     got a million things on your plate. He said, `No, no, no. 
     Let's get it done. Just tell me when and where, and I'll be 
     there.' ''
       Tomlin makes an impression, whether it's speaking to kids 
     in a community center or in the NFL, where he has led the 
     Steelers to the playoffs in both his years as a head coach.
       ``I think he's very important,'' Francis said.
       ``I don't know that our area really understands the 
     magnitude of what he's doing and how he's perceived.
       ``If you listen to people around the National Football 
     League, all the way up to the commissioner's office, they'll 
     tell you that he's made a tremendous impact around the 
     league. His maturity and his ability to communicate with 
     people is remarkable.''
       Tomlin, a father of three, has expanded his charitable work 
     to the Pittsburgh area.
       He has participated in charity events there and is a member 
     of the group All Pro Dad, an organization with deep NFL ties 
     that helps men become better fathers.
       ``Most of the kids looking up to athletes think that 
     there's a possibility that they can get there,'' Orie said, 
     ``but there's a lot more that don't get there than do. But 
     having Mike as another alternative--it's just like Mr. Obama 
     being the president now--a kid can look up and say, `I can do 
     that.'
       ``He's a good role model because everyone that aspires to 
     be an athlete is not going to be one, and he's an example 
     that you don't have to be one to have a good life and have an 
     impact on people.''

  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to my distinguished 
colleague from the State of Pennsylvania (Mr. Tim Murphy).
  Mr. TIM MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend, 
Mike Doyle from Pittsburgh, for introducing this resolution and helping 
the Nation know once again what this towel means.
  The six pack, Six-burgh, six Lombardi trophies, six Super Bowl wins, 
six Super Bowl rings, the only team to have achieved that landmark 
status.
  The incredible Super Bowl XLIII champions, from Roethlisberger to 
Polamalu to Holmes to Miller to Ward to Harrison, a super team that 
brings pride to Pittsburgh, to Pennsylvania and professional football.
  But there is a back story here that needs to be told. How is it that 
the Steelers are able to do so much? After all, other cities have great 
teams and great talent. What happens here with this team that unites 
them so closely with the city and its fans, it's also the Steeler 
Nation.
  First, has to be their attitude about winning, the attitude about 
pushing themselves harder each week, of playing not just the 60 minutes 
on the field till the last second ticks off the clock, but playing hard 
in their practice and being part of the community. It's about that 
drive to do better each time; knowing that the line for excellence 
keeps moving up, whatever or wherever it is, you've got to get there. 
Period. And that's what they do.
  Second, it's about trust and loyalty. This is a team that raises 
loyalty and trust to a whole new standard. Three coaches only in the 
last 30 years; the Rooney family owning the team from the start, that 
not only stays loyal to their hometown of Pittsburgh, where it works to 
make the town better for their charitable work and quiet leadership. 
The players trust the coaches and the owners to do the right thing and 
the best thing. The fans in the city trust the team, and the loyalty 
shows every Sunday in football season when the black and gold terrible 
towel waves proudly at every stadium for every game, wherever the 
Steeler Nation is.
  Third, know this: The Steelers aren't just a team, and it's not just 
a game. They represent the people and our hearts. They aren't some 
players on the field that we passively watch. We are there on the field 
with them, and they are with us. During that couple of hours every 
autumn Sunday, we can dream and we know that all together, we can make 
dreams come true. This ain't fantasy football. It's the real thing. 
It's what we believe in. It's what we expect. It's what we all do. And 
that's why they win.
  In the 1970s, Pittsburgh was feeling the pains of the steel industry 
hurting. But the Steelers were winning. The steel mills were closing 
down, but the Steelers were winning. The steel jobs were disappearing, 
but the Steelers were winning. When Pittsburgh was struggling the most, 
the Steelers were winning the most. Four Super Bowls in the 1970s. We 
saw and we believed that no matter what, we could still work together 
and make it, the 11 players on the field and the 12th player all over 
the country.
  And here we are again, a fifth Super Bowl just a few years ago and a 
sixth a few weeks ago. Again, we may be struggling in our town, in our 
Nation, but the Steelers find a way to win. The Nation may be hoping we 
can, but the Steelers Nation know we can and we do. The talent and 
tenacity of tens of thousands of Terrible Towel wielding fans make it 
happen.
  And the way the Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII was the way we win, 
fourth quarter, behind in the score, but with an on-the-money throw, a 
long reach, a fingertip catch and by the tip of the toes, a touchdown 
that puts them ahead. And that's how they win, and they do it with 
class.
  This is not just the Pittsburgh Steelers. They're the Steelers that 
are symbolic of our Nation. Being behind doesn't mean you give up. 
Losing a game doesn't mean you slink off in the sunset and write off 
the season. Like our Nation, we will keep at it and fight, time and 
time over again until we win. That's when we play as a team, all with 
the same goal and determination. We can, we do, we will. Not just 
champions for the City of Pittsburgh, but for our Nation. Taking a page 
from their playbook, we will all come from behind, we will all be 
stronger, better smarter and, as a Nation, just like the Pittsburgh 
Steelers, we will win.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my distinguished 
colleague from the State of Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson).
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Growing up in Steeler country, I have 
long viewed the franchise the golden standard of the NFL. Now in their 
sixth Super Bowl title the entire world knows what we in central and 
western Pennsylvania have known for some time, the Steelers are the 
greatest professional football franchise of all time.
  From the ownership to the coaching staff, the players, the fans, the 
Steelers organization continues to impress me, both on and off the 
field. Their commitment to enriching the lives of western 
Pennsylvania's youth and their partnership with the community is as 
strong today as it was in 1933 when Arthur J. Rooney first founded the 
team.

[[Page H1267]]

  To the Rooney family and the team, Coach Tomlin, who I may add is the 
youngest head coach in history to win a world championship, my good 
friend from Florida and classmate Tom Rooney, on behalf of the Fifth 
District of Pennsylvania, congratulations, and thank you for everything 
that you do for central and western Pennsylvania.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, we continue to reserve.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my distinguished 
colleague from the State of Illinois (Mr. Kirk).
  Mr. KIRK. I might just ask the leadership why we're debating this 
resolution, taking time away from serious debate on the hidden stimulus 
bill. Why, as the economy tanks, congressional leaders are voting to 
borrow $2 trillion, but we're debating National Engineers Week and a 
football resolution.
  Now I watched the game and it was a good game, but it's not our core 
mission. We should be debating the $2 billion appropriation for, 
``neighborhood stabilization'' available to organizations currently 
under criminal scrutiny like ACORN, a new wellness fund or a government 
medical effectiveness board now with powers to override decisions of 
you and your doctor.
  When we take up resolutions like this, it's because we are trying to 
distract Members and the American people from knowing what they cannot 
read in the stimulus bill. We can debate the Super Bowl, but you know, 
the results are not in doubt. What we ought to be debating is should we 
borrow $2 trillion on behalf of the American people and does anyone 
have that cash.
  We debate Engineer Week instead of asking the Fed when you 
``monetize'' debt, doesn't that really mean you're printing money?
  It's resolutions like this that weaken the reputation of the U.S. 
House.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. DeGette). The time of the gentleman has 
expired.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Illinois an 
additional minute.
  Mr. KIRK. It's resolutions like this that weaken the image of this 
Congress as a serious legislative body. Let's take another look at 
resolutions like these for what they really are, distractions so that 
we do not see what is currently happening behind closed doors on the 
stimulus bill, the growing debt of our country, and decisions by 
Federal officials to begin printing money.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how many more speakers the 
gentleman has?
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. None.
  Mr. LYNCH. We will reserve the balance of our time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the 
passage of H.R. 110, and yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Again, I ask that all Members support the underlying 
Resolution 110, congratulating the Pittsburgh Steelers on their Super 
Bowl championship.
  I yield back.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 110.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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