[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3775-H3776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING LANCE MACKEY ON WINNING 4TH STRAIGHT IDITAROD TRAIL SLED DOG 
                                  RACE

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1189) commending Lance Mackey on winning a record 
4th straight Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1189

       Whereas Lance Mackey was born and raised in Alaska and 
     currently resides in Fairbanks, Alaska;
       Whereas Lance Mackey comes from a long line of successful 
     mushers, including his father Dick and his brother Rick, each 
     of whom has won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race;
       Whereas Lance Mackey is married to his high school 
     sweetheart Tonya, who is also a musher, and has three 
     children: Amanda, Brittney, and Cain and one new grandchild, 
     born on the seventh day of the nine-plus-day Iditarod Trail 
     Sled Dog Race;
       Whereas Lance Mackey and his family run the Comeback Kennel 
     in Fairbanks, Alaska;
       Whereas Lance Mackey was diagnosed with throat cancer in 
     2001, took a year off from sled-dog racing to recover from 
     the disease, and is now cancer-free;
       Whereas the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which has been 
     called the ``Last Great Race on Earth'', is a grueling 1,150-
     mile sled dog race across Alaska's jagged mountain ranges, 
     frozen rivers, dense forests, and windswept tundra;
       Whereas running the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is a year-
     long commitment to training and caring for one's sled dogs;
       Whereas the Yukon Quest is an equally grueling 1,000-mile 
     sled dog race from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon;
       Whereas Lance Mackey is the only 4-time consecutive 
     Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Champion, the only 4-time Yukon 
     Quest Race Champion and the only man to win both the Yukon 
     Quest and Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Races in the same year, 
     which he did in both 2007 and 2008;
       Whereas Lance Mackey, guided by his two lead dogs ``Maple'' 
     and ``Rev'', mushed his team of Alaskan Huskies along the 
     path of the 38th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from its start 
     in Anchorage to the finish line in Nome in just 8 days, 23 
     hours, 59 minutes, and 9 seconds;
       Whereas both ``Maple'' and ``Rev'' exemplify all the 
     essential qualities for good lead dogs, including 
     intelligence, initiative, common sense, and the ability to 
     find a trail in bad conditions;
       Whereas Lance Mackey, who despite retiring ``Larry'', the 
     lead dog with whom Mackey won his first three Iditarod Trail 
     Sled Dog Races, was still able to convincingly win his 4th 
     consecutive Iditarod;
       Whereas the Iditarod Trail, a National Historic Trail, is 
     staffed by thousands of volunteers who monitor and assist all 
     competitors; and
       Whereas each checkpoint along the Iditarod Trail has 
     coordinators, health care professionals, and licensed 
     veterinarians who carefully monitor the health and safety of 
     all dogs and mushers: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends Lance Mackey on his record-breaking 4th 
     consecutive Iditarod victory during the 2010 Iditarod Trail 
     Sled Dog Race;
       (2) applauds each and every musher who was courageous 
     enough to compete in the 2010 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race; 
     and
       (3) expresses appreciation to all volunteers and staff who 
     help make this great Alaskan race possible each and every 
     year.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Luetkemeyer) 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 present House Resolution 1189 for consideration. This 
resolution honors Lance Mackey for his record of four consecutive wins 
at the Iditarod.
  House Resolution 1189 was introduced by my colleague, the gentleman 
from Alaska, Representative Don Young, on March 17, 2010. The measure 
was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which 
ordered the measure reported by unanimous consent on April 14, 2010. 
Notably, House Resolution 1189 enjoys the support of over 80 Members of 
Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, Lance Mackey's ability to win a record fourth 
consecutive Iditarod can truly be characterized as a remarkable 
achievement. As the residents of Alaska well know, the Iditarod takes 
place on 1,150 miles of grueling landscape across the State. 
Competitors race over mountain ranges, through tundra and spruce 
forests and across frozen rivers.
  Mr. Mackey completed this year's race from a start in Anchorage to 
the finish line in Nome in just 8 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes and 9 
seconds, the second-fastest finish in the history of this race.
  In addition, he is the only person ever to be crowned Iditarod Trail 
Sled Dog Race champion four times in a row and the only person to win 
both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod race in the same year, a feat 
that he accomplished in both 2007 and 2008.
  Mr. Mackey's accomplishments have also served as an inspiration to 
the cancer community. In 2001, Mr. Mackey was diagnosed with throat 
cancer. He took a year off from racing in order to battle the disease.
  Thankfully, Mr. Mackey is now considered cancer-free and often speaks 
to a variety of cancer patient groups about his fight and his recovery.
  Mr. Speaker, let us now take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. 
Mackey on his historic victory. I thank the gentleman from Alaska for 
introducing House Resolution 1189. I would also like to thank the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) for his support of this measure.
  I urge my colleagues to support the House Resolution 1189.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, to facilitate matters, I will include 
my remarks in the Record at the conclusion of these proceedings.
  With that, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished 
colleague from Alaska (Mr. Young).
  (Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I thank the chairman and the ranking member.
  This is a resolution recognizing Lance Mackey. I know Lance 
personally. As the chairman mentioned, last March he made Alaskan 
history by being the first person to win four consecutive Iditarod 
races. My friends, that's a little over 4,450 miles across nearly 1,200 
miles of Alaskan wilderness from Willow to Nome.
  His exceptional fast time this year makes him only one of two 
finishers to finish the race in less than 9 days. Remember, this is 
over a thousand miles in less than 9 days. Lance was also the only 
person to have won the Yukon Quest four times, a thousand mile dogsled 
race from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon. In 2007 and 2008, he 
won both the Iditarod and Yukon Quest in the same year within 2 weeks 
of one another, otherwise over 2,000 miles within 2 weeks.
  Lance Mackey was born and raised in Alaska and comes from a long line 
of successful mushers. His father, Dick, helped form the Iditarod race 
in 1973, and I have raced with Dick Mackey when he was there and I was 
a lot younger. His brother, Rick, along with his father, have each won 
the Iditarod race.
  Like both his father and mother, Lance won on his sixth day wearing 
lucky bib number 13. Mackey considers his dogs to be the true 
champions, and his team was guided this year by lead dogs Maple and 
Rev, who had big shoes to fill after the retirement of Larry, who led 
Lance's team during his first three Iditarod wins.

[[Page H3776]]

  In 2001, as it was mentioned, Lance Mackey was diagnosed with throat 
cancer. He continued to run in the 2002 Iditarod with a feeding tube in 
his stomach, but had to pull out of the race halfway through. After 
extensive surgery, radiation treatment, a yearlong break from racing, 
and the loss of an index finger, he is now fully recovered and cancer-
free.
  Lance Mackey is married to his high school sweetheart, Tonya, who is 
also a musher. They have four children: Amanda; Brittney; Alanah; and 
Cain. Together they run the Comeback Kennel in Fox, Alaska.
  Lance Mackey is a real-life hero and an inspiration to thousands of 
Alaskan Americans who religiously follow the Iditarod. I want to 
commend Lance for the great achievement of winning the four straight 
Iditarods. This is a great Alaskan. Thank you, Lance.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1189, 
commending Lance Mackey on winning a record 4th straight Iditarod Trail 
Sled Dog Race. This resolution not only congratulates Mackey on his 
incredible successes but also recognizes the importance of the Iditarod 
race and all of the prestige that it brings to Alaska every year.
  Since the 1970s, the Iditarod Sled Dog Race--frequently referred to 
as the `Last Great Race on Earth'--has attracted the best dog sled 
racers (known as mushers) and dog teams from around the world to 
compete in Alaska. The 1,150 mile Iditarod trail race is famous around 
the world because of its difficulty and because of the incredible 
talent that it attracts every year. The Iditarod's official site 
explains the extreme difficulty of the trail saying that nature 
``throws jagged mountain ranges, frozen river, dense forest, desolate 
tundra, and miles of windswept coast at the mushers and their dog 
teams.
  Add to that temperatures far below zero, winds that can cause a 
complete loss of visibility, the hazards of overflow, long hours of 
darkness and treacherous climbs and slide hills, and you have the 
Iditarod.'' In addition to a very exciting race, the Iditarod race 
every year attracts fans and spectators from around the world and 
creates many important jobs for Alaskans.
  Lance Mackey who won this year's Iditarod race provides an 
inspiration not only to fans of the Iditarod but to all Americans.
  Mackey grew up in a family of dedicated and victorious mushers as 
both his dad and his brother have won the Iditarod race. In 2001, 
Mackey suffered a severe career and life set back when he became sick 
with throat cancer. However, after a year of treatment and away from 
dog sledding, Mackey recovered from his cancer and was able to resume 
his career. Just a few years later he won his first Iditarod race and 
then went on to win three more times for a record four consecutive 
wins.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support this 
resolution. The annual Iditarod race is an amazing event not just for 
Alaska but for the entire country, and Lance Mackey, the champion for 
the last four years, deserves our recognition and congratulations.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman for his thoughtful 
remarks and ask Members on both sides of the aisle to support Mr. Young 
in his resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my 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. 1189.
  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. 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.

                          ____________________