[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 208 (Thursday, December 2, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING JOHN KARRAS AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CYNTHIA AXNE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 2, 2021

  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the co-founder of 
RAGBRAI John Karras as Iowan of the Week. RAGBRAI is the world's 
oldest, largest, and longest recreational bicycling tour event, and it 
is a beloved Iowa tradition. John, who was a feature writer for the Des 
Moines Register, took his first ride across Iowa with some friends in 
1973. They chronicled their journey, and that trip sparked the 
inspiration for what is now known as RAGBRAI--an acronym for the 
Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
  John died on November 10, 2021, but the bicycle ride he helped create 
will continue in Iowa in 2022 and for many more years. RAGBRAI attracts 
15,000 people to Iowa every summer, and allows visitors to see the 
state's beautiful cities, towns, counties, and countryside while riding 
their bikes an average of 468 miles between the Missouri and 
Mississippi rivers.
  RAGBRAI generates more than $364.8 million annually for the State of 
Iowa. The week-long event also brings in nearly $25 million in direct 
spending, which means towns that are lucky enough to have RAGBRAI ride 
through see upwards of $3 million a day in tourism spending. That money 
means so much to the Iowa towns that host RAGBRAI each year, and to the 
vendors that help support the bicycle ride.
  The ride does more than raise money for our great state. It brings 
bicyclists from all over Iowa, the nation, and the world together to 
share their love of their favorite sport and pastime. It has created 
friendly rivalries between news organizations as they compete to see 
who can eat pies the fastest, and good laughs for everyone as the 
bicyclists have come up with some memorably humorous team names 
throughout the years.
  I've had the pleasure of riding RAGBRAI and can honestly say there's 
no experience quite like it. I loved spending time in rural areas along 
the route, meeting Iowans and out-of-state riders to hear their 
stories, and the physical challenge of a cross-state ride. You have to 
push yourself through the unpredictable weather of an Iowa summer and 
the hilly landscape, but you're rewarded with seeing and experiencing 
the state's beauty from a unique perspective. RAGBRAI is a great way to 
connect with family, friends, and strangers alike while making memories 
that last a lifetime. John leaves a lasting legacy through the creation 
of this iconic event.
  John certainly didn't know what RAGBRAI would grow into when he took 
his first bicycle ride across the state, but I am so thankful he went 
out anyway and tried something new. Iowa summers would not be the same 
without this phenomenal tradition and John will be missed by everyone 
who knows and loves RAGBRAI. It is my pleasure to honor John Karras as 
Iowan of the Week.

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