[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 123 (Wednesday, July 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S4898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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  TRIBUTE TO MONIQUE LAMOREAUX-MORANDO AND JOCELYNE LAMOREAUX-DAVIDSON

 Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I want to congratulate the newest 
recipients of the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award, 
who are being honored in their hometown of Grand Forks today. They are 
Monique Lamoureux-Morando and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, better known 
as the Lamoureux Twins.
  Before the rest of the world knew them, these identical twins made a 
name for themselves in North Dakota. Those of us with children their 
same age who competed with them on soccer and hockey teams were well 
aware of their talents.
  Monique and Jocelyne grew up in a hockey family. Their father was a 
goaltender for the University of North Dakota team, and they joined 
their four older brothers in learning the sport at an early age. Girls' 
hockey was not well developed in the 1990s, so they played on boys' 
teams, leading one of those teams to a State championship when they 
were 12 years old.
  While playing hockey at Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep School in Minnesota, 
they were named to the U.S. Four Nations team as high school juniors in 
2006. Three years later in 2009, the hockey world became more aware of 
these twin powerhouses from North Dakota. While playing collegiate 
hockey for the University of Minnesota, they made the World 
Championship team that won the Gold Medal in Finland. They then 
transferred to the University of North Dakota to finish their college 
hockey careers and that December were named to the 2010 Olympic team.
  They have played on three Winter Olympics women's hockey teams, the 
first two in Vancouver, Canada, in 2010 and Sochi, Russia, in 2014, 
where the U.S. team won Silver Medals against Canada. It was on 
February 18, 2018, in PyeongChang, South Korea, when the sisters were 
at the center of what is considered one of the greatest moments in U.S. 
Olympic history.
  With 21 seconds remaining in regulation play, Monique scored the 
tying goal--again against the Canadian women. Jocelyn then sealed the 
win in the sixth round of the tie-breaking shootout. Her now famous 
``Oops, I did it again'' shot scored the goal and brought the women's 
Olympic Gold Medal home to the United States for the first time in 20 
years.
  After 14 years as members of Team USA hockey, in February they 
retired from their golden careers. While on Team USA, Monique skated in 
135 games and scored 143 points, and Jocelyne skated in 137 games and 
scored 138 points. From 2009 to 2018, they played in every major 
International Ice Hockey Federation event. They have brought home an 
impressive number of medals, including one Olympic Gold, two Olympic 
Silver, six World Championship Gold and one World Championship Silver. 
They made history in North Dakota in 2014 for being the first State 
athletes to win multiple Olympic medals.
  The Lamoureux Twins have been widely praised by teammates and coaches 
for their perseverance and adaptability. Often noted when describing 
them are their work ethic, focus, grit, determination, attention to 
detail, class, respect, and integrity. They have been called humble, 
tough, and generous. They have a clear sense of right and wrong and are 
always challenging each other to be better. One sportswriter described 
the Lamoureux Twins as ``having work ethics that would put a combustion 
engine to shame.''
  These young women have been witness to and instrumental in the growth 
of women's hockey on and off the ice. Today, with women's hockey much 
more prominent than it was 20 years ago, they sponsor and conduct 
hockey camps to better train girls and women players. In 2017, they 
were among those on the U.S. national team who threatened a boycott 
before the Women's World Championship to highlight the need for better 
financial support and benefits for women team players.
  Today, Monique and Jocelyne live in Grand Forks with their husbands 
and young families. They published a book, ``Dare to Make History,'' 
earlier this year, and they have established a charitable foundation to 
support underprivileged children through education and by promoting 
gender equality and internet access for low income families.
  The North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award was established 
in 1961. It recognizes North Dakotans who have been influenced by the 
State in achieving national recognition in their fields of endeavor, 
thereby reflecting credit and honor upon North Dakota and its citizens. 
It was named after President Theodore Roosevelt, who credited his time 
living in North Dakota for influencing his success later in life. We 
can only imagine what his reaction would be to the accomplishments of 
Monique and Jocelyne. As only the 45th and 46th recipients, at age 32, 
they are the youngest to be honored with this highest award given by 
the State, and they have a lifetime ahead of themselves for even more 
impressive achievements.
  Mr. President, on behalf of the citizens of North Dakota, I 
congratulate Monique Lamoureux-Morando and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson 
on receiving the North Dakota Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award 
today. You are true champions.

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