[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 186 (Thursday, December 1, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S6944]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 857--CONGRATULATING THE LOS ANGELES FOOTBALL CLUB FOR 
                WINNING THE 2022 MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER CUP

  Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 857

       Whereas, on Saturday, November 5, 2022, the Los Angeles 
     Football Club (referred to in this preamble as ``LAFC'') won 
     the 2022 Major League Soccer (referred to in this preamble as 
     ``MLS'') Cup by defeating the Eastern Conference Champions, 
     the Philadelphia Union;
       Whereas the MLS Cup victory is the first in the 5 seasons 
     of LAFC;
       Whereas, in what is considered to be one of the best MLS 
     Cup matches ever played, LAFC won in front of the LAFC 
     Independent Supporter's Union (commonly known and referred to 
     in this preamble as ``The 3252'') and a sold-out crowd at 
     Banc of California Stadium;
       Whereas the equalizer by Gareth Bale in the 128th minute of 
     the MLS Cup match was the latest goal scored in MLS history 
     and it tied the game at 3-3 and forced a penalty shootout;
       Whereas substitute goalkeeper John McCarthy was named the 
     Most Valuable Player of the MLS Cup after making 2 saves in 
     the penalty shootout, helping LAFC win 3-0 on penalty kicks;
       Whereas, during the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs, LAFC defeated 
     the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Austin Football Club to win 
     the Western Conference title;
       Whereas the Supporters' Shield is an award given to the MLS 
     team with the best regular season record and, during the 2022 
     MLS season, LAFC led the league with 21 wins, 9 losses, and 4 
     draws, earning LAFC the second Supporters' Shield in the 
     history of the team;
       Whereas LAFC became the eighth team in history, and the 
     first team since 2017, to win the MLS Cup and the Supporters' 
     Shield in the same year;
       Whereas The 3252 is a renowned group of supporters that has 
     demonstrated the utmost passion and moral support to LAFC 
     during the 2022 MLS season and each season since the 
     inaugural season of LAFC in 2018;
       Whereas the entire LAFC organization, including co-
     president and general manager John Thorrington and head coach 
     Steve Cherundolo, deserve immense praise for building a 
     championship-caliber team with highly skilled soccer players 
     and staff;
       Whereas the entire ownership team for LAFC, including co-
     managing owners Larry Berg, Brandon Beck, and Bennett 
     Rosenthal, deserve congratulations for the excellence of the 
     franchise;
       Whereas, since its founding in 2014, LAFC has been 
     dedicated to using soccer as a vehicle for change by 
     supporting community efforts to promote education, health and 
     wellness, environmental protection, civic engagement, and 
     more;
       Whereas the entire LAFC roster contributed to the 2022 MLS 
     Cup victory and Supporter's Shield award, including captain 
     Carlos Vela, Kellyn Acosta, Cristian ``Chicho'' Arango, 
     Gareth Bale, Latif Blessing, Denis Bouanga, Giorgio 
     Chiellini, Jose Cifuentes, Maxime Crepeau, Erik Duenas, 
     Franco Escobar, Mamadou Fall, Julian Gaines, Francisco 
     Ginella, Ryan Hollingshead, Sebastien Ibeagha, Cal Jennings, 
     Tony Leone, John McCarthy, Jesus Murillo, Jhegson Mendez, 
     Kwadwo ``Mahala'' Opoku, Nathan Ordaz, Diego ``Chiqui'' 
     Palacios, Tomas Romero, Eddie Segura, Ilie Sanchez, Cristian 
     Tello, Christian Torres, Mohamed Traore, and Danny Trejo; and
       Whereas, since 2014, Los Angeles professional sports teams 
     have won titles in MLS, the National Football League, Major 
     League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the 
     National Hockey League, and the Women's National Basketball 
     Association: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Los Angeles Football Club and fans of 
     the Los Angeles Football Club on winning the 2022 Major 
     League Soccer Cup;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of all the players, 
     coaches, and staff who contributed to the 2022 Major League 
     Soccer Cup victory; and
       (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) the co-managing owners of the Los Angeles Football 
     Club, Larry Berg, Bennett Rosenthal, and Brandon Beck and 
     executive chairman Peter Guber;
       (B) the co-president and chief business officer of the Los 
     Angeles Football Club, Larry Freedman; and
       (C) the co-president and general manager of the Los Angeles 
     Football Club, John Thorrington.

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