[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 60 (Monday, April 8, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H3107-H3109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR GREATER WASHINGTON SOAP BOX
DERBY
Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 19) 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. 19
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 15,
2019, 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
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(2) arranged not to interfere with the needs of Congress.
(b) Expenses and Liabilities.--The sponsor shall assume
full responsibility for all 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 gentlewoman from
Minnesota (Mrs. Craig) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Meadows) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Minnesota.
General Leave
Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 19.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Minnesota?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 19 authorizing the use
of the Capitol Grounds for the 2019 Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.
This year's derby marks the 78th running of this event in the
District.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the gentleman
from Maryland, Mr. Steny Hoyer, who has been such a champion for this
event for his constituents.
The Soap Box Derby allows children to develop leadership skills and
highlight their creativity, dedication, and commitment to their
communities.
Not only are these youngsters competing for a trophy and the glory of
being the fastest car down the course, but the winners of each division
qualify to compete in the National Soap Box Derby at the Derby Downs
track in Akron, Ohio.
As with all events using the Capitol Grounds, this event is open to
the public and free of charge. Its organizers will coordinate with the
Capitol Police and the Architect of the Capitol.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support passage of this resolution and urge
my colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 19 that indeed
authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the annual Greater
Washington Soap Box Derby on June the 15th.
Now, Mr. Speaker, I am being very clear: had I not risen in support
of this, the gentleman from Maryland would have given me what for, not
today, not tomorrow, but from now until the end of time. So I recognize
the gentleman from Maryland's unyielding support for this particular
effort and I join him in that. I certainly also recognize his desire to
really support the youth that get involved in this.
I have been one of the few Members of Congress, other than the
gentleman I just referred to, to actually witness these races.
We don't have those, Mr. Speaker, in North Carolina. I live in the
mountains. If you start a soap box derby up there, we would end up in
Atlanta, Georgia, by the time we were finished.
I can tell you we are very pleased to help. The mission of the Soap
Box Derby is to build knowledge and character and to teach fair and
honest competition. Indeed, it does exactly that.
As the gentlewoman has expressed, it has been around since 1934.
Carrying on this time-honored tradition allows children to
demonstrate their dedication and creativity.
Winners from this local competition will actually go on to other
races and compete, hopefully, at the world championship in Akron, Ohio.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs.
Craig) for yielding and I thank my friend, Mr. Meadows, for his
comments, for his support of this effort, which is, as he said and as
Congresswoman Craig said, very much about giving young people a sense
of competition, a sense of accomplishment, a sense of creating a
vehicle through their own hands and their own work and their own
efforts. So this is a very good effort for us and for young people.
One of my favorite events of the year is the Soap Box Derby.
I am speaking, of course, from experience in terms of our district,
which I am going to talk about.
This resolution that has been called up today, along with other
members of the region's Congressional delegation, Representatives
Connolly, Beyer, and Wexton from Virginia, and David Trone, John
Sarbanes, and Anthony Brown from Maryland, and, of course, the
Representative of the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton, who
is a big supporter of this, authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds
for the derby.
Now, Mr. Speaker, this is my 28th year sponsoring the Soap Box Derby
resolution, and I am pleased that it has passed every year unanimously.
This is the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby's 78th year.
It will be held on, as has been said, June 15, and we will see soap
box racers from ages 8 to 17 compete in three divisions: stock, super
stock, and masters.
The winners from each division, as has been said, will each have a
chance to compete at the National All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron,
Ohio.
Soap box derbies have been called the greatest amateur racing event
in the world.
In America, we have a long tradition of families participating, and
many adults carry fond memories with them throughout their lives of
having built soap box racers with their parents or other relatives
during their childhood.
Soap box derbies are educational, teaching children about
sportsmanship, engineering, manufacturing, and leadership.
Many of the racers are sponsored by civic groups, police and fire
departments, and service organizations, with members coming out to
cheer on their participants.
Several greater Washington soap box champions, as it will not
surprise you, I am sure, Mr. Speaker, have come from Maryland's Fifth
District in recent years, including the winners from 2007, 2008, 2009,
2012, 2013, 2014, and last year, 2018.
So we are really into this and we have some very, very talented young
people who are excited about participating, and obviously do well.
Our racers, Mr. Speaker, even won the National Championship in both
2007 and 2008. So the Soap Box Derby is a big deal in the Fifth
Congressional District.
Last year, Tyler Jameson from Hollywood, Maryland, won the stock
division. His brother Ryan Jameson won ``Best Decorated'' soap box
racer in the super stock division. It was decorated as a Maryland flag,
which we love very, very much.
Aspen Tomasello from Waldorf, Maryland, which I represent, won in
super stock and then went on to win third place at the National All-
American Soap Box Derby race in Akron.
Kenny Tomasello, her brother, prevailed in the masters division and
took fifth place in Akron.
I have a lot of confidence in our Fifth District folks, and, Mr.
Speaker, you can imagine I would be in a lot of trouble if this
resolution didn't pass allowing them to compete in this wonderful
event.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the organizers of the Greater Washington
Soap Box Derby as well as the cosponsors of this resolution, and in
particular, Congresswoman Craig and Congressman Meadows for their
support and help in getting this passed.
Mr. Speaker, it is a fun event, but it is also a great event to teach
young people values and participation and competition.
[[Page H3109]]
{time} 1700
Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate my support for this
particular resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I was very jovial early on, but I want to get serious
for just a moment. On this floor, you will see passionate debate,
oftentimes, that is divided by this center aisle. Yet, on this
particular issue and others like them, the Boys and Girls Club and
other things that actually minister to the needs of children in our
Nation, the gentleman from Maryland is not only an advocate, he is a
champion.
I want to recognize that this day and thank the gentleman from
Maryland for his leadership, not only on this but on a number of things
that affect our youth in this great country.
Today, we are unanimous in support of promoting that future
generation, and I thank the gentleman for his leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs. Craig) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 19.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mrs. CRAIG. 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, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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