[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 16, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7468-H7469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING NATIONAL SPELLING BEE CHAMPION, FINALISTS, AND
PARTICIPANTS
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 1494) congratulating the champion, finalists, and
all other participants in the 83rd Annual Scripps National Spelling
Bee, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1494
Whereas the Scripps National Spelling Bee is the largest
and longest-running educational promotion in the United
States, and is administered by the E.W. Scripps Company of
Cincinnati, Ohio;
Whereas the Scripps National Spelling Bee promotes
educational excellence by encouraging students to improve
their spelling, expand their vocabularies, learn new
concepts, and develop a mastery of the English language;
Whereas the 83rd Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee was
held in Washington, DC, from June 2 through June 4, 2010;
Whereas 273 spellers from across the United States,
American Samoa, the Bahamas, Canada, China, Department of
Defense Schools in Europe, Ghana, Guam, Jamaica, Japan, New
Zealand, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and the United States
Virgin Islands all competed for the title;
Whereas these students had previously qualified for the
contest by winning locally sponsored spelling bees and all
have shown a strong knowledge of the English language;
Whereas Anamika Veeramani, a 14-year-old resident of North
Royalton, Ohio, and an 8th grade student at Incarnate Word
Academy, achieved the distinct honor of becoming the 83rd
Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee champion;
Whereas Ms. Veeramani, after finishing in 5th place in the
2009 National Spelling Bee, earned her right to compete in
2010 by winning the Plain Dealer Cuyahoga County Scripps
Spelling Bee on March 6, 2010, for the second consecutive
year;
Whereas Ms. Veeramani won the competition in the 9th round
by correctly spelling ``stromuhr'', defined as a tool that
measures the speed of blood through an artery;
Whereas Adrian Gunawan of Arlington Heights, Illinois,
Elizabeth Platz of Shelbina, Missouri, and Shantanu Srivatsa
of West Fargo, North Dakota, are recognized for tying for
second place at the 83rd Annual Scripps National Spelling
Bee;
Whereas Mr. Gunawan, Ms. Platz, and Mr. Srivatsa advanced
to the 8th round of the competition by correctly spelling
``netsuke'', ``gnocchi'', and ``infundibuliform'',
respectively;
Whereas Laura Newcombe of Toronto, Canada, Lanson Tang of
Potomac, Maryland, Joanna Ye of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and
Andrew Grose of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, are recognized for
advancing to the 7th round of the 83rd Annual Scripps
National Spelling Bee, thereby tying for 5th place in the
competition; and
Whereas all the competitors are deserving of
congratulations for their hard work and poise demonstrated in
this difficult competition: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates all the contestants of the 83rd Annual
Scripps National Spelling Bee; and
(2) recognizes the dedication and achievement of
competition winner Anamika Veeramani and the other finalists
Adrian Gunawan, Elizabeth Platz, Shantanu Srivatsa, Laura
Newcombe, Lanson Tang, Joanna Ye, and Andrew Grose.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from California
(Mr. Bilbray) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.
General Leave
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
There was no objection.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I now yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H. Res. 1494, a resolution congratulating the
champion, finalists, and all other participants in the 83rd annual
Scripps National Spelling Bee.
H. Res. 1494 was introduced by our colleague, the gentlewoman from
Ohio, Representative Betty Sutton, on June 30, 2010. It was referred to
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it to
be reported favorably by unanimous consent on September 23, 2010. The
measure enjoys the support of over 50 Members of the House.
Mr. Speaker, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is a 2-day competition
held in May or early June each year here in Washington, D.C. Students
from around the country and around the world compete in local and
regional spelling bees for a chance to take part in this highly
competitive event.
The participants compete for prizes, including scholarships, savings
bonds, reference materials and cash; but this and other spelling bees
serve the greater purpose of encouraging students to improve their
vocabularies, spelling, and appropriate grammar usage. As the largest
and longest running educational promotion in the country, the
competition gets national coverage on cable and network television,
further promoting its educational ideals to millions of viewers.
This year's winner was Anamika Veeramani, an eighth grade student at
Incarnate Word Academy in Parma Heights, Ohio, who won the bee with the
word ``stromuhr,'' defined as a tool that measures the speed of blood
through an artery. And I dare Members of Congress to try to spell the
word.
Mr. Speaker, let us now take a moment to congratulate this remarkable
young student and all of the other participants in the 83rd annual
Scripps National Spelling Bee through the passage of H. Res. 1494. I
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
[[Page H7469]]
I rise today in support of H. Res. 1494, and ask for support of the
bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may
consume to our colleague from Ohio, the sponsor of the bill,
Representative Betty Sutton.
Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Anamika Veeramani of
North Royalton, Ohio. Anamika is a resident of the 13th Congressional
District of Ohio, which I am so honored to represent. Anamika won the
83rd Scripps National Spelling Bee championship on Friday, June 4,
2010, and she brings back to Ohio the first national spelling bee title
since 1964.
{time} 1530
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the largest and longest-running
educational promotion in the United States and is administered by the
E.W. Scripps Company located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Anamika put in the hard work necessary to achieve this great
accomplishment. By working hard, students learn that anything is
possible, including spelling difficult and complex words. She won the
Plain Dealer Cuyahoga County Scripps Spelling Bee on March 6 for the
second year in the row. By winning the spelling bee in northeast Ohio,
Anamika advanced to the national competition here in Washington, D.C.
To win the title, Anamika correctly spelled the name of a tool that
measures the speed of blood through an artery called ``stromuhr.''
With opportunities like the Scripps National Spelling Bee, children
are given the chance to learn and succeed and build the confidence that
they need moving forward. By winning the bee, she won $30,000 and a
trophy from Scripps, a $5,000 scholarship from Sigma Phi Epsilon
Educational Foundation, a $2,500 savings bond from Merriam-Webster, and
more than $3,500 worth of reference material from Encyclopedia
Britannica and Merriam-Webster.
These winnings will help her reach for her dream of attending college
and one day becoming a cardiovascular surgeon, and perhaps she will
have a head start on her colleagues, knowing how to clearly say and
spell ``stromuhr.'' With the kind of hard work and dedication she
showed in this competition, anything is within her reach. I would like
to congratulate Anamika on this terrific achievement.
I would also like to recognize all the finalists, Adrian Gunawan,
Elizabeth Platz, Shantanu Srivatsa, Laura Newcombe, Lanson Tang, Joanna
Ye, and Andrew Grose. And congratulations are due to all the students
who participated in the spelling bee.
I want to applaud also all of the teachers, parents, and students for
their commitment to this great program.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the participants in
the Scripps National Spelling Bee and to particularly congratulate my
constituent, Mr. Lanson Tang of Potomac, Maryland, who tied for fifth
place in the competition.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee is the nation's oldest educational
promotion, now in its 83rd year. Through spelling, students increase
their vocabularies and improve English usage, skills that will stay
with them throughout their lives.
I congratulate all the participants, especially my constituent,
Lanson Tang, a homeschooled student from Potomac, Maryland. Lanson made
it to the seventh of nine rounds in the competition, correctly spelling
words like ``rhabdomyoma,'' ``obelisk,'' and ``flabellum.'' He has made
our community proud. I also want to thank the Fourth Presbyterian
School in Potomac for hosting the Montgomery County Regional Spelling
Bee for the second year in a row this year.
All of the spellers this year should be proud of their outstanding
accomplishments. I urge my colleagues to join me in extending
congratulations to these terrific students.
Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in
supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1494, as
amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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