[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.

                          ____________________