[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 111 (Wednesday, July 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H8546-H8547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     ENCOURAGING SELECTION OF CHICAGO AS THE 2016 OLYMPIC HOST CITY

  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 538) supporting Olympic Day on June 
23, 2009, and encouraging the International Olympic Committee to select 
Chicago, Illinois, as the host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic 
Games, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 538

       Whereas Olympic Day, June 23, 2009, celebrated the Olympic 
     ideal of developing peace through sport;
       Whereas June 23 marks the anniversary of the founding of 
     the modern Olympic movement, the date on which the Congress 
     of Paris approved the proposal of Pierre de Coubertin to 
     found the modern Olympics;
       Whereas for more than 100 years, the Olympic movement has 
     built a more peaceful and better world by educating young 
     people through amateur athletics, by bringing together 
     athletes from many countries in friendly competition, and by 
     forging new relationships bound by friendship, solidarity, 
     and fair play;
       Whereas the United States and Chicago, Illinois, advocate 
     the ideals of the Olympic movement;
       Whereas hundreds of local governments from across the 
     United States are joining together to show their support for 
     bringing the Olympic Games to Chicago, Illinois, in 2016;
       Whereas Olympic Day will encourage the development of 
     Olympic and Paralympic Sport in the United States;
       Whereas Olympic Day encourages the participation of youth 
     of the United States in Olympic and Paralympic sport;
       Whereas Olympic Day will encourage the teaching of Olympic 
     history, health, arts, and culture among the youth of the 
     United States;
       Whereas Olympic Day will encourage the youth of the United 
     States to support the Olympic movement and the selection of 
     Chicago, Illinois, as the host city for the 2016 Olympic and 
     Paralympic Games; and
       Whereas enthusiasm for Olympic and Paralympic sport is at 
     an all-time high: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports Olympic Day and the goals that Olympic Day 
     pursues; and
       (2) encourages the International Olympic Committee to 
     select Chicago, Illinois, as the host city for the 2016 
     Olympic and Paralympic Games.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Klein) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) each 
will control 20 minutes
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
legislation and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking the gentlelady from Illinois 
(Ms. Schakowsky) for introducing this resolution supporting Olympic Day 
and encouraging the International Olympic Committee to select Chicago 
as the host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games.
  H. Res. 538 provides an opportunity for the House to celebrate the 
Olympic ideal of peace through sport and to recognize Olympic Day, the 
founding anniversary of the modern Olympic games. For over a century, 
the modern Olympic games have brought together athletes from all around 
the world and in the process has helped forge countless relationships 
found by friendship, solidarity and fair play.
  Olympic Day promotes the Olympic ideal by encouraging the teaching of 
Olympic history, health, arts, culture to students across the country. 
It also encourages a new generation of American athletes to take part 
in Olympic and Paralympic sports.
  As we support the ideals of Olympic Day, it is only fitting that we 
also urge the International Olympic Committee to support the City of 
Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games. Last year, 
the IOC named Chicago one of the finalist cities to host the games, and 
the winning city will be selected this October.
  Hosting the 2016 games would bring significant benefits to Chicago, 
one of our Nation's truly world-class cities, and would provide an 
excellent opportunity for American athletes to compete in the summer 
Olympic and Paralympic games in front of a home crowd for the first 
time since 1996.
  I congratulate the gentlelady from Illinois for her tireless efforts, 
along with the other members of the delegation, to promote their city's 
bid to host the 2016 summer games and to urge my colleagues to support 
this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I rise in support of H. Res. 538, supporting Olympic Day and 
encouraging the International Olympic Committee to select Chicago, 
Illinois, as the host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games, 
and I congratulate my good friend and colleague Ms. Schakowsky for 
sponsoring this, bringing it to the floor today. I think it sends a 
very clear message of the solidarity that we have that this be the 
venue for the 2016 Olympic games.
  Last month, the world observed the 61st annual Olympic Day, a 
celebration commemorating the creation of the International Olympic 
Committee. Olympic Day was first observed in 1948, 54 years after the 
founding of the International Olympic Committee. As the only annual, 
worldwide event of the Olympic movement, Olympic Day is a fitting 
tribute to the ideals of the Olympic charter.
  These are: ``to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the 
educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental 
ethical principles,'' and ``to place sport at the service of the 
harmonious development of man,'' and I would add woman, ``with a view 
to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of 
human dignity.''
  The theme of this year's Olympic Day is ``Move, Learn and Discover,'' 
and it was celebrated last month with the 22nd annual Olympic Day run 
sponsored in various locations around the world by over 150 national 
Olympic committees.
  This resolution also encourages the selection of Chicago, Illinois, 
as the host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games.
  Selected in April of 2007 as the United States bid city for the 
summer Olympics in 2016, Chicago is a thriving example of our Nation's 
heartland, its urban vitality, and its remarkable diversity.
  The contributions of international sport to personal fitness and 
international understanding deserve our recognition, and I thank again 
my distinguished colleague from Illinois for introducing this 
resolution which deserves our unanimous support.
  I reserve the balance of our time.
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlelady from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), one of the sponsors of the 
bill and a great fan of Chicago and who is ready to go.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 538, a 
bipartisan resolution I introduced to express the support of the House 
of Representatives for the City of Chicago's bid to host the summer 
Olympics in 2016.

[[Page H8547]]

  Mr. Speaker, in the summer of 2016, athletes from all over the world 
will come together to compete in a modern Olympiad, a series of games 
that has represented peace and hope since it first began more than 100 
years ago. In April 2007, Chicago was selected by the United States 
Olympic Committee as the one and only United States bid city; and on 
June 4, 2008, the International Olympic Committee named Chicago as one 
of the four finalists to host the 31st Olympiad, and I can't think of 
any better place to host these games.
  On the edge of the Great Lakes, Chicago boasts a magnificent skyline 
and a diverse population that prides itself not only on its history but 
on what will be achieved in the future. Chicago has overcome adversity 
to rise up as the crown jewel of the Midwest, embracing hard work and 
hospitality as cornerstone values.
  The United States and the White House have each taken unprecedented 
steps to express support for the 2016 Olympics to be hosted in Chicago. 
Mayor Richard Daley has organized an incredible group of civic and 
political and business leaders in support of our bid, and it is my hope 
that my colleagues in the House will join in this cause by supporting 
this important resolution.
  The bipartisan resolution recognizes June 23 as Olympic Day and 
supports the City of Chicago's bid to host the 2016 summer Olympics. I 
realize that that day has passed, but I think that when we join 
together to support this resolution, we'll be expressing our support 
for our great City of Chicago, and I strongly urge my colleagues to 
support it.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus).
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I'm just standing to commend my colleague, 
Congresswoman Schakowsky, for this great effort and just reaffirm the 
fact that this is true bipartisan support from the Illinois delegation 
and, more importantly, not just bipartisan but the entire Illinois 
delegation, both up State and down State. Sometimes our State, which is 
very large, like many other States, and so we have our differences 
regionally, but this is one where we're truly united, and we've signed 
a letter in support.
  We see the benefits to show off not just the State of Illinois but 
really the great City of Chicago, the city that does work, and we 
invite the world community there and the rest of the State during this. 
And we hope that we're very successful in landing eventually the 
Olympics, and it will be great for the country. It will be great for 
the State of Illinois, and it will be great for the City of Chicago.
  So I want to commend my colleague.
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Jackson).
  (Mr. JACKSON of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. 
Res. 538, a resolution supporting Chicago, my hometown's bid to host 
the summer Olympics and Paralympics in 2016, and to congratulate 
Congresswoman Schakowsky for rallying the Congress behind this 
important effort.
  Chicago, with its diverse culture and international flair, is an 
ideal host for these games. Since the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893, 
the city and its people have been internationally recognized for 
hosting magnificent events on a global stage. With world-class museums, 
outstanding restaurants, numerous accommodations and stadiums, the city 
would provide a resounding welcome, hearty embrace and ideal 
environment to host Olympic athletes and visitors from around the 
world.
  Chicagoans are also known for their passion for sports: the world-
famous Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Blackhawks, the 
Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox.
  Furthermore, the Olympic games will bring many needed jobs, economic 
opportunities, and infrastructure investments to our Nation.
  Chicago 2016 has worked with more than 75 community groups to ensure 
that opportunities in construction, procurement and jobs will be shared 
by everybody. The games will create the equivalent of 315,000 full-time 
jobs for at least 1 year and generate $7 billion in wages.
  Chicago's bid uses existing facilities, the lakefront and parks so no 
residents will be displaced as a result of construction related to the 
games. The new permanent venues that are proposed will serve 
communities after the games, providing sports facilities, pools, tennis 
courts and recreational spaces in our parks and on our lakefront.
  The International Olympic Committee will make a decision on October 
3. I can't think of a better way to demonstrate the House's support for 
Chicago's bid and America's bid than voting for this resolution.

                              {time}  1715

  I urge all my colleagues to vote ``aye,'' and I thank the gentleman 
for yielding.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 538 and 
in strong support for Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics.
  On June 23, 2009, we will celebrate Olympic Day and recognize one 
hundred years since the International Olympic Committee was created. 
Olympic Day encourages universal participation in athletic activities 
and demonstrates global unity in support of the Olympic Games.
  Furthermore, I would like to encourage the International Olympic 
Committee to select Chicago, Illinois, as the host city for the 2016 
Olympic and Paralympic Games.
  The 2016 Olympic Games will feature athletes from across the globe, 
coming together with respect for their teammates and competitors alike.
  The city of big shoulders is ready to welcome the Olympics with big 
open arms. As the host city of the 1893 World Columbian Exposition and 
the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, Chicago has a long tradition 
of showcasing America's greatness, peace, and understanding to the 
world.
  Daniel Burnham, the famous Chicago architect of the World Columbian 
Exposition in Chicago and Union Station here in Washington, once said, 
``make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood . . . 
make big plans, aim high in hope and work.''
  To this day, Chicago embodies this principle. That's one of the many 
reasons Chicago would be the ideal city in which to hold the Olympic 
and Paralympic games, marking the century-old tradition of the modern 
Olympic movement.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution and show their 
support for the 2016 Olympics in Chicago!
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers, so 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time as well.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Klein) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 538.
  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. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. 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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