[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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