[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 15 (Tuesday, February 2, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H432-H433]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JIMMIE JOHNSON

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 957) honoring Jimmie Johnson, 2009 NASCAR Sprint 
Cup Champion.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 957

       Whereas Jimmie Kenneth Johnson, born in El Cajon, 
     California, and a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, 
     successfully defended his Sprint Cup Championships from 2006, 
     2007, and 2008;
       Whereas Jimmie Johnson becomes the first driver in NASCAR 
     history to win the Sprint Cup Championship in 4 consecutive 
     seasons, surpassing the previous record of 3 straight by Cale 
     Yarborough;
       Whereas Jimmie Johnson's #48 Lowe's Chevrolet is backed by 
     the finest team in motorsports, including Crew Chief Chad 
     Knaus, Team Owner Rick Hendrick, and Car Owner, and racing 
     legend Jeff Gordon;
       Whereas Jimmie Johnson's life story is the embodiment of 
     the American dream, rising from humble roots to the pinnacle 
     of his profession;
       Whereas Jimmie Johnson and his wife Chandra founded the 
     Jimmie Johnson Foundation to provide assistance to 
     disadvantaged children in pursuit of their dreams;
       Whereas Jimmie Johnson, now regarded as perhaps the 
     greatest driver in the sport's history, is universally 
     regarded as humble and gracious, unaffected by the enormity 
     of his achievements; and
       Whereas Jimmie Kenneth Johnson's remarkable contributions 
     to NASCAR and the communities of El Cajon, California, and 
     Charlotte, North Carolina: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the 
     historic achievements of Jimmie Kenneth Johnson and the #48 
     Lowe's Chevrolet team.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Towns) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 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 New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TOWNS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am proud to present House Resolution 957 for consideration.
  This resolution honors Jimmie Kenneth Johnson and the No. 48 Lowe's 
Chevrolet team for winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship in 2006, 
2007, 2008, and 2009.
  H. Res. 957 was introduced by my colleague, Representative Patrick 
McHenry of North Carolina, on December 8, 2009, and favorably reported 
out of the House Oversight Committee by a voice vote on January 27, 
2010. In addition, H. Res. 957 enjoys the support of more than 60 
Members of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution congratulates Jimmie Johnson for winning 
a historic fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. By 
winning the 2009 championship, Mr. Johnson becomes the first driver in 
history to win the Sprint Cup Championship four consecutive times, 
breaking Cale Yarborough's previous record of three straight 
championships.
  In true American fashion, Mr. Johnson, a native of El Cajon, 
California, and a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, rose from 
humble roots to the pinnacle of the NASCAR world. This year Mr. Johnson 
accomplished something no other driver in NASCAR history has 
accomplished. Not only has he won the last four NASCAR Sprint Cup 
Championships but has done so with unwavering poise, class, and 
humility.
  To put Mr. Johnson's unprecedented achievement in context, only 
NASCAR legends Lee Petty, Richard Petty, David Pearson, Cale 
Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Jeff Gordon have 
won more than two NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships in their career. 
Furthermore, Mr. Johnson's most recent NASCAR Sprint Cup series 
championship ties him with teammate Jeff Gordon on the list of all-time 
champions.
  Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I failed to take this opportunity 
to also congratulate all of the people who helped Mr. Johnson, of 
course, win. Mr. Johnson's success would not have been possible without 
the help of crew chief Chad Knaus, team owner Rick Hendrick, and, of 
course, car owner and racing legend Jeff Gordon, and the countless 
other team members who helped Mr. Johnson win the last four NASCAR 
Sprint Cup Championships.
  Beyond his impressive accomplishments on the race track, Mr. Johnson 
has never forgotten his humble beginnings and continues to give back to 
the community, and I think that is so important.
  In 2006, Mr. Johnson and his wife, Chandra, founded the Jimmie 
Johnson Foundation, which is dedicated to assisting children, families, 
and communities in need throughout the United States. The foundation 
helps build places to play and places to live, saves lives through 
blood collection and adding individuals to the National Bone Marrow 
Program registry, and helps grant the wishes of children and adults who 
are in need. Since its inception nearly 4 years ago, the Jimmie Johnson 
Foundation has contributed more than $2 million to various 
organizations.
  Mr. Speaker, for his racing accomplishments and his charitable 
efforts, let us, as a body, take this opportunity to congratulate 
Jimmie Johnson, the Associated Press Male Athlete of 2009, and of 
course the Lowe's Chevrolet team, for winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup 
Championship in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 957. And I say 
to the gentleman from North Carolina, this is a great thing. And, of 
course, sometimes we do not pay tribute to people that need to have 
tribute paid to them, but this is a person that has accomplished great 
things, and I am happy my colleague (Mr. McHenry) has recommended that 
we recognize this effort.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. I thank the chairman for his kind words.
  Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution honoring the 
accomplishments of Jimmie Johnson, the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion. 
Now, this is a politically charged issue for my district because I 
represent a number of drivers and a number of NASCAR teams; and to 
honor any one of them, well, it's tough. It's like baseball in certain 
areas of the country or football or college football or college 
basketball in North Carolina. But NASCAR teams are real and potent in 
my district.
  But this is a special resolution because Jimmie Johnson has achieved 
something no one else in NASCAR history has achieved, and that is four 
straight championships. He is with a great team, with a great crew 
chief, Chad Knaus. Powered by Hendrick Motor Sports and Chevrolet, the 
No. 48 Lowe's Chevy has done something unique in NASCAR history.
  Jimmie Johnson started out in very humble roots in El Cajon, 
California; and now he resides in my home State

[[Page H433]]

of North Carolina. He grew up in a working-class suburb, the son of a 
bulldozer operator and school bus driver who raised Jimmie Johnson and 
his two younger brothers in a modest home and made financial sacrifices 
to give their sons the best opportunity to pursue their passions; and 
for Jimmie, that was racing.
  His love of speed was evident even from the time he was just a young 
child. He began his racing career on 50cc motorcycles when he was just 
5 years old. From there, he moved up to four-wheelers where he found 
his true calling with four wheels--not two--and moved into his 2002 
rookie season in NASCAR at the top level of the series. And he became 
the first rookie to sweep both races at one track, and that was done at 
Dover International Speedway in 2002. He also became the first rookie 
ever to lead in the point standings; and to date, that remains the 
case. He is still the only one in their rookie season to lead the point 
standing.
  And he is named the Male Athlete of 2009 by the Associated Press, the 
2009 Sprint Cup Series Driver of the Year, and was contender for Driver 
of the Decade for the 2000s.
  In 2006, together with his wife, Chandra, he founded the Jimmie 
Johnson Foundation to assist children, families, and communities in 
need throughout the United States.
  Jimmie rose from humble roots and achieved the pinnacle of success. 
Now he is on for the Drive for Five. He wants five in a row. His story 
is truly an embodiment of the American Dream. Jimmie Johnson and the 
No. 48 Lowe's Chevy have made history by being a part of the Nation's 
number one spectator sport.
  NASCAR represents the best of American professional sports, 
especially in my region. They're unmatched by the loyalty of their fans 
and participation by Fortune 500 companies more so than any other 
sport. And with the iconic Daytona 500 quickly approaching in just over 
a week's time, please join me in honoring Jimmie Johnson for his seven 
wins, 16 top fives, 24 top tens, an unmatched Race for the Chase. In 
the final 10 races of 2009, he had an average Chase finish of 6.8, 
which is absolutely amazing considering the competition they currently 
have in NASCAR.
  And we pay honor to Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus, and the whole crew of 
the No. 48 Chevrolet sponsored by Lowe's.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, again, I encourage my friends on both sides 
of the aisle to join me in congratulating Jimmie Johnson and the Lowe's 
Chevrolet team on the impressive accomplishment through the passage of 
House Resolution 957, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 957.
  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. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  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.

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