[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 206 (Thursday, December 19, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7214-S7215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 461--CONGRATULATING SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC ON WINNING 
                    THE 2019 MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER CUP

  Ms. CANTWELL (for herself and Mrs. Murray) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 461

       Whereas, on November 10, 2019, Seattle Sounders FC won the 
     2019 Major League Soccer Cup;
       Whereas that win on November 10, 2019, is the second Major 
     League Soccer championship won by Seattle Sounders FC in the 
     11 years that Seattle Sounders FC has been in Major League 
     Soccer;
       Whereas Seattle Sounders FC beat the Toronto Football Club 
     3-1 in the 2019 Major League Soccer Cup;
       Whereas Seattle Sounders FC--
       (1) dominated the competition in the regular season, with 
     16 wins and 10 losses;
       (2) qualified for the Major League Soccer Cup Playoffs for 
     an unprecedented 11th straight season; and
       (3) earned the number 2 seed in the Major League Soccer 
     Western Conference;
       Whereas Seattle Sounders FC plays home games at CenturyLink 
     Field in Seattle, Washington, and, on November 10, 2019, 
     69,274 Seattle Sounders FC fans from across the State of 
     Washington packed CenturyLink Field and set the record for 
     the largest crowd at a sporting event in the 17-year history 
     of the stadium;
       Whereas the 2019 roster of Seattle Sounders FC players 
     includes--
       (1) Saad Abdul-Salaam;
       (2) Xavier Arreaga;
       (3) Will Bruin;
       (4) Handwalla Bwana;
       (5) Jonathan Campbell;
       (6) Emanuel Cecchini;
       (7) Jordy Delem;
       (8) Justin Dhillon;
       (9) Stefan Frei;
       (10) Bheem Goyal;
       (11) Joevin Jones;
       (12) Kim Kee-hee;
       (13) Kelvin Leerdam;
       (14) Danny Leyva;
       (15) Nicolas Lodeiro;
       (16) Chad Marshall;
       (17) Bryan Meredith;
       (18) Jordan Morris;
       (19) Trey Muse;
       (20) Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez;
       (21) Victor Rodriguez;
       (22) Cristian Roldan;
       (23) Alex Roldan;
       (24) Raul Ruidiaz;
       (25) Harry Shipp;
       (26) Luis Silva;
       (27) Brad Smith;
       (28) Gustav Svensson;
       (29) Nouhou; and
       (30) Roman Torres;
       Whereas Seattle Sounders FC defender Kelvin Leerdam scored 
     the first goal in the 57th minute of the championship game;
       Whereas Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Victor Rodriguez--
       (1) scored the second goal in the 76th minute; and
       (2) received the 2019 Major League Soccer Cup Most Valuable 
     Player award;
       Whereas Seattle Sounders FC forward Raul Ruidiaz scored the 
     third and final goal in the 90th minute;
       Whereas Seattle Sounders FC forward Jordan Morris--
       (1) scored a career-high 13 goals and a career-high 8 
     assists throughout the 2019 season; and
       (2) received the 2019 Major League Soccer Comeback Player 
     of the Year award after suffering a torn anterior cruciate 
     ligament (ACL) in 2018;
       Whereas Seattle Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer won 
     his second Major League Soccer Cup;
       Whereas the 2019 Seattle Sounders FC coaching and technical 
     staff includes--
       (1) Head Coach Brian Schmetzer;
       (2) Assistant Coach Gonzalo Pineda;
       (3) Assistant Coach Djimi Traore;
       (4) Assistant Coach Preki;
       (5) Club Director of Goalkeeping Tom Dutra;
       (6) General Manager and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey; 
     and
       (7) Vice President of Soccer Chris Henderson;
       Whereas Seattle Sounders FC is owned by Adrian Hanauer, 
     Drew Carey, Jody Allen, and Peter Tomozawa, and the 11 
     families that joined the ownership contingent in 2019, 
     namely--
       (1) Terry Myerson and Katie Myerson;
       (2) Russell Wilson and Ciara;
       (3) Benjamin Haggerty ``Macklemore'' and Tricia Davis;
       (4) Satya Nadella and Anu Nadella;
       (5) Amy Hood and Max Kleinman;
       (6) Joe Belfiore and Kristina Belfiore;
       (7) Soma Somasegar and Akila Somasegar;
       (8) Chee Chew and Christine Chew;
       (9) David Nathanson and Sabina Nathanson;
       (10) Brian McAndrews and Elise Holschuh; and
       (11) Mark Agne and Tomoko Agne;
       Whereas the owners of Seattle Sounders FC have built a 
     culture of success and contributed greatly to Seattle, 
     Washington, and the surrounding region through philanthropy;
       Whereas Seattle Sounders FC has exhibited dedication to 
     positive social impacts by strengthening communities through 
     the RAVE Foundation partnership with organizations in 
     Seattle, Washington, and the surrounding region; and
       Whereas the dedication and hard work of Seattle Sounders FC 
     has inspired and empowered girls, boys, women, and men of all 
     ages: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes Seattle Sounders FC for winning the 2019 
     Major League Soccer Cup;
       (2) applauds the people of Seattle, Washington, and the 
     surrounding region for their enthusiastic support of Seattle 
     Sounders FC;
       (3) supports equity in men's and women's professional 
     sports; and
       (4) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Seattle 
     Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, General Manager and 
     President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey, and Vice President of 
     Soccer Chris Henderson.

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