[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 5, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3170-H3171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR THE GREATER WASHINGTON SOAP BOX 
                                 DERBY

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 247) 
authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington 
Soap Box Derby.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 247

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR SOAP BOX DERBY RACES.

       (a) In General.--The Greater Washington Soap Box Derby 
     Association (in this resolution referred to as the 
     ``sponsor'') shall be permitted to sponsor a public event, 
     soap box derby races (in this resolution referred to as the 
     ``event''), on the Capitol Grounds.
       (b) Date of Event.--The event shall be held on June 19, 
     2010, or on such other date as the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration 
     of the Senate jointly designate.

     SEC. 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

       (a) In General.--Under conditions to be prescribed by the 
     Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board, the 
     event shall be--
       (1) free of admission charge and open to the public; and
       (2) arranged not to interfere with the needs of Congress.
       (b) Expenses and Liabilities.--The sponsor shall assume 
     full responsibility for all expenses and liabilities incident 
     to all activities associated with the event.

     SEC. 3. EVENT PREPARATIONS.

       Subject to the approval of the Architect of the Capitol, 
     the sponsor is authorized to erect upon the Capitol Grounds 
     such stage, sound amplification devices, and other related 
     structures and equipment as may be required for the event.

     SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.

       The Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board 
     are authorized to make such additional arrangements as may be 
     required to carry out the event.

     SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.

       The Capitol Police Board shall provide for enforcement of 
     the restrictions contained in section 5104(c) of title 40, 
     United States Code, concerning sales, advertisements, 
     displays, and solicitations on the Capitol Grounds, as well 
     as other restrictions applicable to the Capitol Grounds, with 
     respect to the event.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Shuster) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and to include additional material on House 
Concurrent Resolution 247.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  I am delighted to support House Concurrent Resolution 247, which 
authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington 
Soap Box Derby. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Mr. Hoyer, 
who has been such a great and consistent champion for his constituents 
for this event.
  Consistent with all events using the Capitol Grounds, this event is 
open to the public and free of charge. The organizers will work with 
the Capitol Police and the Architect of the Capitol.
  I support Concurrent Resolution 247 and urge passage of the 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as the gentlelady stated, this resolution authorizes the 
use of the Capitol Grounds for the 69th Annual Washington Soap Box 
Derby in June. This event occurs annually on the Capitol Grounds, and I 
know that the majority leader, Mr. Hoyer, has been a tremendous 
supporter of this event every year.
  The Soap Box Derby allows children to really showcase their efforts, 
their dedication, their work, and their creativity as they compete for 
these trophies. The winners of each division are qualified to compete 
in the National Soap Box Derby, which occurs in Akron, Ohio.
  I support passage of this resolution and urge my colleagues to 
support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to point out that 
the Soap Box Derby, of which Mr. Hoyer has been the sponsor for a 
number of years, is an event that has been put on for a number of 
years, and the purpose is to prepare young people from age 8 to 17.
  Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time we have remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman has 18 minutes remaining.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I yield as much time as the leader may 
consume.

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady for yielding me this 
time, and I thank Mr. Shuster for helping bring this bill to the floor 
and thank Ms. Corrine Brown from Florida, who does such an 
extraordinary job.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise as a proud sponsor of this resolution which I 
have worked on for a long period of time. It is a facet of Capitol Hill 
that we have to pass a resolution to approve and allow the Greater 
Washington Soap Box Derby to hold the 69th Annual Greater Washington 
Soap Box Derby on the Capitol grounds on June 19.
  Since 1938, when Norman Rocca beat out 223 other racers to win the 
inaugural Washington race, soapbox derby racing has had a long history 
in our Nation's Capital. Over nearly seven decades, thousands of the 
region's young people have come to Washington to take their place in a 
great race and a great tradition. Whether they were racing down New 
Hampshire Avenue, or at the current site coasting down Capitol Hill, 
the event's essential ingredients have remained the same: homemade, 
gravity-powered cars and the spirit of competition. America's soapbox 
derbies have rightly been called ``the greatest amateur racing event in 
the world.''
  The boys and girls who participate, many of them sponsored by 
community

[[Page H3171]]

groups, police departments or fire departments, don't just gain value 
experience in building and engineering; they learn about the value of 
hard work and fair competition.
  As the Representative from Maryland's Fifth Congressional District, I 
am also proud to point out that my district has been the home to a 
string of soapbox derby champions.
  In 2007, Kacie Rader, a neighbor of mine from Mechanicsville, 
Maryland, won the Greater Washington race and went on to become the 
first Marylander to win the national soapbox derby title, beating out 
550 other local champions.
  In 2008, Courtney Rayle, also from Mechanicsville, won the Greater 
Washington race and also went on to win at the national race in Akron, 
Ohio.
  And finally, last year, her brother Justin Rayle, made it three 
Greater Washington wins in a row for Maryland's Fifth Congressional 
District. This is not fixed, I want to tell you. These are just great 
kids, and we are excited about the soapbox derby.
  June's race will be the continuation of a proud tradition for our 
country and its Capital, and I thank Chairwoman Brown and Ranking 
Member Shuster for their support and help in bringing this resolution 
to the floor.
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the majority leader for his 
leadership on this, and set the record straight. I said you have 
supported this every year; I meant every year you have been in 
Congress. You haven't been around for 69 years.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 
247, introduced by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), which 
authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington 
Soap Box Derby.
  This annual event encourages all boys and girls, ages 8 through 17, 
to construct and operate their own soap box vehicles. The goals of this 
event are to teach children and young adults the basic skills of 
craftsmanship, the spirit of competition, and the perseverance to 
continue a project once it has begun. The event is supported by 
hundreds of volunteers and parents. In the past, the Greater Washington 
Soap Box Derby has produced winners who went on to the national finals. 
Many volunteers donate considerable time supporting the event, and 
providing families with a fun-filled day, which has become a tradition 
in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
  The derby organizers will work with the Architect of the Capitol and 
the Capitol Police to ensure the appropriate rules and regulations are 
in place.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Con. Res. 247.
  Mr. SHUSTER. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 247.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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