[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 97 (Monday, June 5, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H2726-H2727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AUTHORIZING THE USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR GREATER WASHINGTON SOAP BOX
DERBY
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 43) 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. 43
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 17,
2023, 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
(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
[[Page H2727]]
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 gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Edwards) and the gentlewoman from the District of
Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.
General Leave
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
insert extraneous material into the Record on H. Con. Res. 43.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 43 authorizes the use of the Capitol
Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby later this month.
Every year, we authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for this
event.
The national All-American Soap Box Derby has been running since 1934
and provides opportunities for young people to demonstrate their
innovation and ingenuity through a family-friendly competition--
something we need much more of this day and age.
The Greater Washington Soap Box Derby is one of many local races that
will qualify winning competitors for participation in the national Soap
Box Derby .
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this resolution, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, today we are considering H. Con. Res. 43, to authorize
the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box
Derby.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Hoyer for introducing this
resolution. The Greater Washington Soap Box Derby is an annual
competitive event that encourages children, ages 9 through 16, to
construct and race their own soapbox vehicles on the Capitol Grounds.
This event has become a great tradition in the District of Columbia
metropolitan area over the last few decades. It provides a terrific
opportunity for children to appreciate the work necessary to build the
vehicles and enjoy the thrill of competition.
The Greater Washington Soap Box Derby organizers will work with the
Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police to ensure the
appropriate rules and regulations are in place and that the event
remains free to the public.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the District of
Columbia for her steadfast support of this event and her extraordinary
representation of the District of Columbia. I thank the gentleman from
North Carolina for his consideration in bringing this forward.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution. It authorizes an
event that I am proud to support every year: the Greater Washington
Soap Box Derby.
The soapbox derby brings people together from across the Greater
Washington metro area, encouraging kids, families, and communities to
compete in a fun and educational race.
Mr. Speaker, this is my 30th year introducing this resolution. I am
pleased to say that every year it has passed unanimously.
This is the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby's 80th year. The race
will be held on June 17 and will see soapbox racers, ages 8 to 17,
compete in three divisions: Stock, Super Stock, and Masters. The winner
from each division will have a chance to compete at the national All-
American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio.
Soapbox derbies have been called the greatest amateur racing event in
the world. Whether that is absolute fact, it is very close. They have
become a staple of the American experience all over our country. They
teach sportsmanship, engineering, manufacturing, leadership skills, and
so many other skills, as well.
Oftentimes, racers are sponsored by local civic groups, service
organizations, and police or fire departments with members coming out
to cheer their local hometown participants.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to sponsor this resolution today that will
authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds, which is essential for this
soapbox derby to proceed.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud that several Greater Washington Soap Box
Derby champions have come from Maryland's Fifth District, including the
winners from 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2018. I am sure
all of you are saying, well, it is no surprise that Hoyer supports this
resolution on an annual basis. His guys do pretty well. Our racers even
won a national championship in 2007 and 2008.
I am excited to see how the Fifth District racers do this year, and
to see their colorful and creative soapbox designs.
Mr. Speaker, I hope every Member will join me in supporting this
worthy event. I invite them to join me in cheering on the Greater
Washington soapbox racers on June 17.
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res.
43, and I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1715 I11Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, the Greater Washington Soap
Box Derby is a time-honored tradition that provides an opportunity to
promote fair and honest competition amongst the children in the Greater
Washington area.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On June 5, 2023, page H2727, in the third column, the following
appeared: Mr. Speaker, the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby is a
time-honored tradition that provides an opportunity to
The online version has been corrected to read: Mr. EDWARDS. Mr.
Speaker, the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby is a time-honored
tradition that provides an opportunity to
========================= END NOTE =========================
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this resolution, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res.
43, Authorizing the Use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater
Washington Soap Box Derby.
The Greater Washington Soap Box Derby Association shall be permitted
to sponsor a public event, soap box derby races, on the Capitol
Grounds.
The event shall be held on June 17, 2023, or on another designated
date, whereby the sponsor shall assume full responsibility for all
expenses and liabilities associated with the event.
The event shall be free of admission charge and open to the public;
and arranged not to interfere with the needs of Congress.
The Soap Box Derby is a youth soapbox car racing program which has
been run in the United States since 1933.
It is also an event we support in my district by way of the Greater
Houston Soap Box Derby (GHSBD) which is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3)
non-profit, Texas corporation organized for charitable and educational
purposes.
I support the expansion of this event and all those who are dedicated
to having a race program that is safe, fun, fair, professionally run,
and that reaches out to all youth.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 43.
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On June 5, 2023, page H2727, in the third column, the following
appeared: the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H.
Con. Res. 43, as amended.
The online version has been corrected to read: the rules and
agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 43.
========================= END NOTE =========================
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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