[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 9, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S29-S30]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Unanimous Consent Agreement

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that immediately 
following the confirmation vote on the Kazen nomination, the Senate 
recess until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Arkansas.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator 
Cotton and I be allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes, followed by 
Senator Tuberville for up to 10 minutes, prior to the scheduled 
rollcall vote.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


     Congratulating Harding University's NCAA Division II National 
                              Championship

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the Harding 
University football team on winning the 2023 Division II NCAA National 
Championship. The school is proud to call Searcy, AR, home, and we are 
pleased to join all those celebrating this historic, undefeated season.
  Those of us who have ever played football or followed along as fans 
are familiar with the term that describes each team's time with the 
ball as they move down the field: ``drive.'' But drive is also what you 
need to finish a perfect season. The Harding Bisons exemplified it and 
racked up major achievements along the way, including breaking the 
collegiate rushing record with more than 6,000 yards on the ground for 
the season.
  The Bisons' offense tapped into a tried-and-true style of football. 
Its successful run game propelled the team and wore down opponents all 
season long, culminating in a dominating performance in the national 
title game, where it scored 38 unanswered points.

[[Page S30]]

  As a former football player, I remember well how much this sport asks 
of young men. It is more than just a game, and the preparation that 
goes into competing at a high level can be grueling. Intense practices, 
careful film study, strength training, and much more are all key 
ingredients an elite program must get right. Harding did just that, in 
addition to putting on a consistent display of athleticism and skill.
  Winning a national championship has solidified their brotherhood and 
forged a bond the team and its fans will hold on to for years to come. 
The hard work of the players, dedication of Coach Paul Simmons and his 
staff, as well as the enthusiastic support of alumni, fans, and the 
Searcy community, were all critical to making this dream come true.
  Great coaches can get truly the best out of their players, so it is 
easy to see why Coach Simmons was named National Coach of the Year by 
D2Football.com. We applaud his commitment to excellence personally and 
for every individual involved with his team.
  Senator Cotton and I, along with so many Arkansans, are thrilled to 
commemorate Harding's outstanding season. As Bisons players, coaches, 
and fans are painting Searcy black and gold this week to celebrate 
these champions, it truly is a time to honor them.
  I look forward to seeing this program reach even further heights and 
am thankful for how it represents the university, community, and our 
State on and off the football field.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.
  Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I join Senator Boozman today in 
congratulating the Harding University Bisons from Searcy, AR, for 
winning their first ever Division II football championship against the 
Colorado School of Mines Orediggers in a decisive victory--38 to 7.
  Going into last month's game, few could have predicted such a 
decisive outcome. Both teams were undefeated. While Harding had the No. 
2 defense and the No. 3 offense in the country, the Orediggers had the 
No. 3 defense and the No. 2 offense. It was an evenly matched game if 
there has ever been one, but after the first quarter, the Bisons didn't 
let the Orediggers score a single point.
  Time and again, the Harding defense stopped the Orediggers dead in 
their tracks, with Nathaniel Wallace making two out of the Bisons' six 
sacks and linebacker Clark Griffin making six tackles, including two 
for a loss.
  The offense charged just as well as the defense stopped. Harding's 
offense ran for an impressive 502 yards, with running back Blake 
Delacruz rushing 212 yards for a championship record. Braden Jay added 
161 yards on the ground and scored three out of the Bisons' five 
touchdowns, with Jhalen Spicer and quarterback Cole Keylon punching in 
the other two.
  It was a game that players and their families will never forget, and 
it is a game that Harding University and Searcy, AR, also will never 
forget.
  This championship victory is the culmination of years of hard work, 
dreaming, and especially prayer because, for those who don't know, 
Harding University is a small Christian college in the middle of our 
State, and Harding's Christian mission touches every part of the 
university, including the football program. In his pregame speech, 
Coach Paul Simmons told his players that ``the scoreboard doesn't 
matter'' and that the ``great cloud of witnesses'' around them ``just 
want to see you be excellent and do things in a way that really does 
honor God''--a great message from a great coach for a great team before 
a great game.
  With this game, Coach Simmons has led the Bisons to 65 overall wins 
since 2017--the fastest accumulation of victories in Harding 
University's history.
  I want to again congratulate Coach Simmons and his entire team for 
their extraordinary victory last month. I want to congratulate them for 
their even more extraordinary 15-and-0 season, in which they scored an 
average of nearly 47 points per game.
  The Harding Bisons should be proud of their many accomplishments. The 
State of Arkansas certainly is.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama.
  Mr. TUBERVILLE. Mr. President, as a native of the State of Arkansas, 
I would like to add my congratulations to Harding University national 
champions football. Being a former football coach, I know how hard it 
is to achieve any kind of championship, but to win a national 
championship is special. It is special to these young men and coaches, 
and people involved will always remember. So my congratulations go out 
to Harding. I actually played against Harding for 4 years, being in the 
same conference as they were in, back in the seventies. So, man, what 
an honor--I guess the first time--the first ever national championship. 
So, again, congratulations to the Harding Bisons. It is quite an honor.