[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

[[Page H3108]]

       (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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