[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 22, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H4319-H4320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR GREATER WASHINGTON SOAP BOX 
                                 DERBY

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 113) 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. 113

       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 16, 
     2018, 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

[[Page H4320]]

     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 gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) and the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 113.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 113 authorizes the use of the Capitol 
Grounds for the annual Greater Washington Soap Box Derby in June. The 
mission of the Soap Box Derby is to build knowledge and character in 
our children and to teach them fair and honest competition.
  This American tradition, started in 1934, encourages kids to be 
creative and teaches them problem-solving and engineering skills. I am 
pleased this tradition continues, including in my home State of 
Pennsylvania. Winners from this local competition will join winners of 
other races in competing at the world championship in Akron, Ohio.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this resolution, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I share the enthusiasm of the chairman for the Soap Box 
Derby. I speak in favor of this resolution.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for 
introducing this resolution every Congress on behalf of the Washington 
regional delegation.
  This annual competitive event encourages boys and girls, ages 7 
through 20, to construct, operate, and then race their very own soap 
box vehicles. It has become a great tradition here in the Nation's 
Capital, and it has been going on for over 20 years. It provides a 
terrific opportunity for children to appreciate the workmanship, the 
craftsmanship, the time, the effort that goes into the construction of 
these vehicles, and then they get to enjoy the thrill of the race and 
competition.
  The Greater Washington Soap Box Derby organizers will work with the 
Architect of the Capitol and with the Capitol Police to ensure that the 
appropriate rules and regulations are in place and that the event 
remains free to the public.
  I want to encourage my colleagues to support this legislation and 
then to come out on June 16 to participate in this exciting event.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), my colleague and leader.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Titus, and I thank the chairman 
for bringing the bill to the floor. I rise in strong support.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor every year that I have the 
opportunity to introduce this resolution and to support it on the 
floor.
  I just heard the remarks of the gentlewoman from Nevada. I thank her 
very much for her support, and I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
for his remarks.
  This is the 77th year our region's Soap Box Derby will be a fun and 
educational event that brings families together. It will be held on 
Saturday, June 16, as I am sure has already been said, and you will see 
soap box racers from ages 8 to 17 compete in three divisions: stock, 
super stock, and masters.
  The winner from each one of these divisions, Mr. Speaker, will go on 
to compete at the national All-American Soap Box Derby, held each year 
in Akron, Ohio.
  I was very proud of last year's winners from Maryland's Fifth 
District, 11-year-olds Ian Jameson in the stock class and Ryan Jameson 
in super stock. These twin brothers are from Hollywood, Maryland, the 
county in which I live, which is the most southern county in our State. 
They worked hard on their soap box racers, as did all the other young 
people who participated.
  Ian Jameson went on to win fourth place at the All-American Soap Box 
Derby in Akron. Maryland's Fifth District has been home to several 
Greater Washington Soap Box Derby champions in recent years, including 
the winners from 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2014.
  Is there any doubt in any Member's mind why I am so supportive of the 
Soap Box Derby? We do very well in the derby. Our racers even won 
national championships in 2007 and 2008.
  I feel confident that the Fifth District racers will continue to 
shine this year.
  Soap box derbies have been called the greatest amateur racing event 
in the world. They have a long tradition in our country, and many 
Americans carry fond memories of building soap box racers with their 
parents or other relatives when they were young.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in strong support of this All-
American activity that will happen right here on the Nation's Capitol 
Hill.
  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, as you know, I represent Las Vegas. I am not 
sure we can take bets on the Soap Box Derby in Las Vegas, but I would 
say the odds are in favor of somebody from your district winning if it 
does occur.
  We have no other speakers, and so I just urge my colleagues to vote 
in favor.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 113.
  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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