[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 99 (Thursday, July 11, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1055-E1056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL TENNIS CAMP FOR WOUNDED, ILL, 
                AND INJURED SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN A. DAVIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 11, 2013

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
United States Tennis Association, San Diego District Tennis 
Association, Naval Medical Center San Diego, and Balboa Tennis Club for 
working together on the second annual National Tennis Camp for Wounded, 
Ill, and Injured Service Members and Veterans.
  This remarkable event took place on June 12, 2013 through June 15, 
2013 and brought military heroes together to play tennis while working 
to improve their well-being and overall quality of life.
  I would like to also acknowledge the U.S. Olympic Committee, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and private donors for providing all 
funding for the costs for each participant.
  Since 2009, the Balboa Tennis Club, in collaboration with Naval 
Medical Center San Diego and the San Diego District Tennis Association, 
has provided hundreds of free tennis clinics to more than 400 ill and 
injured service members and veterans from all the military services as 
part of Naval Medical Center San Diego's Balboa Warrior Athlete 
Program.
  The Balboa Warrior Athlete Program's tennis program and tennis camp 
have been recognized nationally and are the model for similar tennis 
programs for ill and injured service members and veterans that have 
been established at other major military medical centers, Warrior 
Transition Units, and VA hospitals across the country.
  The United States Tennis Association and its member organizations 
have a long and proud history of supporting veterans and wounded 
warriors. The USTA Military Outreach mission is to provide sustainable 
world-wide tennis support, training and programming options to 
America's service members, families and veterans. The USTA utilizes its 
existing initiatives and programs to reach, support and provide direct 
services to military families, service members and veterans. The USTA 
has introduced more than 300,000 deployed service members to the 
recreational, therapeutic and social benefits of tennis.

[[Page E1056]]

  These efforts have made a positive impact in the lives of ill and 
injured service members and veterans. Tennis allows them to work on 
eye-hand coordination, balance, endurance, and the ability to transfer 
weight. It also decreases stress and anxiety and helps with re-
integration into the community.
  All the above-mentioned parties who came together to put on a 
successful National Tennis Camp for Wounded, Ill, and Injured Service 
Members and Veterans deserve our thanks and gratitude.