[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 1, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H13360-H13361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRATULATING THE WARNER ROBINS LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 742) congratulating the Warner Robins Little League 
softball team from Warner Robins, Georgia, on winning the 2009 Little 
League Softball World Series.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 742

       Whereas, on August 19, 2009, the Warner Robins Little 
     League softball team from Warner Robins, Georgia, defeated 
     the Crawford Little League softball team from Crawford, 
     Texas, by a score of 14-2 to win the 2009 Little League 
     Softball World Series Championship in Portland, Oregon;
       Whereas the 2009 Warner Robins Little League Softball World 
     Championship team consists of players Carson Carriker, Sierra 
     Stella, Chelsea Whaley, Caitlin Parker, Melissa Cox, Kelly 
     Warner, Sabrina Doucette, Hanna Livingston, Kaylee Albritton, 
     Ashley Killebrew, Avery Lamb, and Sydney Barker;
       Whereas the 2009 Warner Robins Little League Softball World 
     Championship team is led by Manager Emily Whaley, Coach Roger 
     Stella, Coach Patti Carriker, and President Kenneth Hathaway;
       Whereas with this title, the Warner Robins Little League 
     becomes the first little league to have won both a baseball 
     and softball World Series Championship;
       Whereas the championship victory of the Warner Robins 
     Little League softball team sets an example of sportsmanship, 
     dedication, and a ``never give up'' spirit for men and women 
     all across the country; and
       Whereas the achievement of the Warner Robins Little League 
     softball team is the cause of enormous pride for the Nation, 
     the State of Georgia, and the city of Warner Robins: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the Warner Robins Little League softball 
     team from Warner Robins, Georgia, on winning the 2009 Little 
     League Softball World Series Championship; and
       (2) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the House 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the City of 
     Warner Robins and each player, manager, and coach of the 
     Warner Robins Little League softball team.

  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 within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and add any extraneous materials.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to present H. Res. 742 for consideration. This 
resolution congratulates the Warner Robins Little League softball team 
from Warner Robins, Georgia, on winning the 2009 Little League Softball 
World Series.
  The measure before us was introduced by my friend and colleague, 
Representative Jim Marshall of Georgia, on September 14, 2009, and 
favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee on November 18, 2009, 
by unanimous consent. Notably, this measure enjoys the support of over 
sixty Members of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 742 applauds the Warner Robins Little League 
softball team for their championship run during the 2009 Little League 
Softball World Series.
  Led by manager Emily Whaley, coach Roger Stella, coach Patti Carriker 
and president Kenneth Hathaway, this group of talented young women 
clinched their first Little League Softball World Series title and 
helped the Warner Robins Little League become the first Little League 
to have won both the baseball and softball Little League World Series 
championships.
  In the championship game in Portland, Oregon, the Georgia club 
convincingly beat the formidable Crawford Little League softball team 
from Crawford, Texas by a score of 14 to 2. Throughout their 
championship run, these young women demonstrated the type of teamwork, 
camaraderie, and never-say-never spirit necessary to succeed in all 
facets of life.
  I also want to take this opportunity to applaud the Little League 
Softball World Series organizers for orchestrating another successful 
tournament.
  First held in 1974 in Freeport, Long Island, the Little League 
Softball World Series began with four teams from U.S. regions East, 
West, Central and South. Since that inaugural year, 236 teams have 
participated in the Little League Softball World Series, including 
teams from over 25 States and 13 countries world-wide. Today, the 
Little League Softball World Series is a tremendous sporting event that

[[Page H13361]]

continues to instill the values of hard work, dedication, and 
sportsmanship in today's youth.
  In closing, let us, as a body, take this opportunity to congratulate 
the Warner Robins Little League Softball Team for their spectacular 
achievement and also congratulate the organizers of Little League 
Softball World Series for coordinating another resoundingly successful 
tournament.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield at this point to the lead sponsor 
of this resolution, Mr. Marshall of Georgia, for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I don't think it will take me 5 minutes to 
cover this one. The resolution simply congratulates the Warner Robins 
Little League girls softball team on winning the 2009 Little League 
Softball World Series. Their victory follows fairly hard on the heels 
of a victory in 2007 by the Warner Robins Little League boys team in 
the Little League Baseball World Series, and so it's really quite a 
treat that Warner Robins now is the only city in the United States that 
has had teams successful on both the girls side and the boys side as 
Little League world champions.
  I think it's particularly poignant that not only do all members of 
the Georgia delegation cosponsor, as original cosponsors, this bill, 
but many Members of Congress are also cosponsors of this bill. And I 
want to specifically recognize Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She, at the 
time that she signed on to the bill, was suffering from an injury that 
she incurred playing softball in the, I hope to be annual, but it was 
the first annual softball game to raise money for charity among women 
here in the House of Representatives.
  So we're all softball fans, we're baseball fans. We're delighted that 
the Warner Robins girls team was successful this year. We hope they 
have great success in the future in their individual lives. No doubt 
they value their education very highly, and they're focused on school 
as much or more so probably than athletics.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
-Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 2009 Little League 
Softball World Championship team from Warner Robins, Georgia. The 
Warner Robins Little League softball team competed against six other 
teams from the United States and teams from around the world, including 
Italy and Canada. The Warner Robins team went undefeated throughout 
tournament play, and they clinched the championship by defeating the 
team from Crawford, Texas. Congratulations to that team as well.
  These players showed tremendous desire to win and demonstrated true 
sportsmanship while ultimately going on to win the Softball World 
Series. There were many notable achievements on the field because of 
the remarkable efforts by the entire team and leadership of their 
dedicated manager and coaches. This victory was the culmination of 
hundreds of hours of practice and playing and winning many games during 
the regular season.
  The win was of considerable interest to the citizens of Warner 
Robins, Georgia, because it made the community the first with a Little 
League to have won both a baseball and a softball world series 
championship. We should be proud of these young women who showed that 
teamwork and the ``never give up'' spirit can accomplish much, not only 
in the game of softball but also as a winning strategy in life. With so 
much turmoil in the world, it's great to see young women step up and 
achieve such significance. I hope they carry that through the rest of 
their lives and recognize this great moment and the team effort that it 
takes to truly be successful.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers at this time. But 
I continue to reserve.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers, and would 
yield back the balance of our time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I just want to ask Members on 
both sides to support Mr. Marshall in his resolution to congratulate 
the Warner Robins, Georgia, 2009 Little League Softball World Series 
winner from his hometown.
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud 
cosponsor of H. Res. 742, a resolution recognizing the accomplishments 
of the 2009 Warner Robins Little League Softball World Championship 
Team.
  The Little League Softball World Series has long been a competitive 
outlet for our young women, providing them an arena for personal and 
athletic advancement. Their mission states, ``I trust in God. I love my 
country and will respect its laws. I will play fair and strive to win, 
but win or lose I will always do my best.'' No matter what the outcome 
for each team, I am positive that the opportunity to be a part of this 
competition is a valuable experience for every participant and provides 
them with memories that will last a lifetime.
  Today, however, I am pleased to recognize the victorious Warner 
Robins Little League Softball Championship Team as they defeated the 
Crawford, Texas Little League Softball Team to become the World 
Champions on August 19, 2009. This victory distinguishes the Warner 
Robins Little League as the first little league to claim a baseball and 
softball championship.
  On behalf of the 11th Congressional District of Georgia, it is my 
honor to congratulate the players, their coaches, and the managers who 
led them to this success. Your hard work and dedication have not only 
made you winners on the softball field, but will also be instrumental 
to your future successes. The 2009 Warner Robins Little League Softball 
Team is an example to America's youth of the values of teamwork and 
sportsmanship, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 742 
which congratulates the Warner Robins American Little League Softball 
Team from Warner Robins, Georgia, on winning the 2009 Softball World 
Series Championship.
  Although Warner Robins is technically no longer a part the 2nd 
Congressional District of Georgia which I represent, I continue to 
claim the residents of Warner Robins as my constituents as I have 
represented them in previous sessions of Congress.
  All of us in southwest Georgia are proud of this accomplishment. I 
would like to recognize and applaud the commitment to excellence, 
dedication, and determination shown by the players, parents, coaches, 
and managers who worked so diligently to accomplish a worthy goal. The 
city of Warner Robins and the State of Georgia should be commended for 
the outstanding loyalty and support they displayed for their team 
throughout the season.
  The 2009 Champion Warner Robins Little League Softball Team consists 
of Carson Carriker, Sierra Stella, Chelsea Whaley, Caitlin Parker, 
Melissa Cox, Kelly Warner, Sabrina Doucette, Hanna Livingston, Kaylee 
Albritton, Ashley Killebrew, Avery Lamb and Sydney Barker. They were 
successfully managed and coached by Emily Whaley and Roger Stella.
  As most of my colleagues know, Warner Robins Air Force Base is 
located in the city of Warner Robins. I have no doubt that members of 
the Warner Robins Softball team have parents or siblings serving in the 
military. We salute not only the team, but also their family members 
serving proudly in the military.
  On behalf of my constituents in Georgia's Second Congressional 
District, I offer my congratulations on a job well done.
  Mr. LYNCH. I yield back the balance of our time.
  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. 742.
  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.

                          ____________________