[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11450-11452]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITH REGARD TO UNITED 
 STATES NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM AND ITS HISTORIC PERFORMANCE IN THE 2002 
                       FIFA WORLD CUP TOURNAMENT

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Government Reform be discharged from further consideration of the 
resolution (H. Res. 445) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives with regard to the United States National Soccer Team 
and its historic performance in the 2002 FIFA World Cup tournament, and 
ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, as 
a matter of fact, I will not object, but I ask the gentleman from 
Oklahoma to explain this resolution.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States National Soccer Team is a perfect 
example of the American dream. Rising above low expectations and 
defeating the dire predictions of sportswriters and pundits, our soccer 
team shot and scored their way to the quarter finals of the 2002 World 
Cup.
  Like so many other underdogs, the U.S. team proved that, with hard 
work and determination, success can be achieved and odds can be 
overcome.
  The irony in the American victory is the fact that our team defeated 
Portugal and Mexico, countries where soccer is extremely popular. 
President Bush put it best when he congratulated our players, saying, 
``The country is really proud of the team. A lot of people that don't 
know anything about soccer, like me, are all excited and pulling for 
you.''
  The performance by the American soccer team this year has been our 
most successful ever since competing for the World Cup. It is the first 
time the United States team has made it all the way to the quarter 
finals since 1930.
  Most great performances come under the direction of great leaders, 
and this is no exception. The resolution before the House today 
recognizes Bruce Arena, the head coach of the U.S. team, and all of the 
players for their dedication to excellence. Coach Arena has been 
successful on many levels: collegiate, professional, and now 
international. Before coaching the U.S. team, he led the soccer team 
right here in Washington, D.C., to two professional league titles. Now 
he has achieved worldwide notoriety with a well-deserving group of 
soccer players.
  Mr. Speaker, sports brings out the best in so many people. The values 
of determination and willpower manifest themselves in the thrill of 
competition and good old-fashioned physical fitness. Soccer is no 
exception. Americans learned what it means to ``strike'' and to 
``head'' while once again unifying in a patriotic display, which is 
immensely important to our Nation right now.

[[Page 11451]]

  Lastly, this resolution commends the United States Soccer Federation 
and the United States Soccer Foundation, children playing soccer across 
the country, and the soccer moms and dads who make it all possible; and 
I can relate to that because I am one.
  It is my hope that soccer players in cities, towns, and communities 
all over this great land of ours will continue to witness role models 
winning games around the world. The 1 to 0 loss to Germany last Friday 
was a very close game. Coach Arena went into the day with a positive 
attitude, saying, ``We know we represent the greatest country in all 
the world. We are going to give the kind of effort you and all America 
will be proud of,'' just as our lady soccer players did about 2\1/2\ 
years ago, back in 1999, gave an effort that we all were extremely 
proud of.
  Mr. Speaker, America is indeed proud. The House today congratulates 
our team on their performance and the spectacular accomplishment of 
making the quarter finals. The United States National Soccer Team 
represents yet another good thing about America; and, for that, we as 
Americans are grateful.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Continuing my reservation of objection, Mr. 
Speaker, I agree with the gentleman from Oklahoma that the play of the 
U.S. Soccer Team was exemplary.
  As a matter of fact, he makes the point that, traditionally, the 
United States has not been thought of as a world competitor in the 
soccer arena, but I think we have reached another level. We have 
crossed that hurdle. Now all of the world recognizes and understands 
that we have come to the point as a Nation where our athletes can 
compete in practically any sport and endeavor.
  Such is true in the case of soccer, so I certainly would want to add 
my commendation to the team. I commend the gentleman from Oklahoma for 
his resolution and agree with him.
  Continuing to reserve my right to object, I yield to the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Boehlert).
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of today's resolution 
honoring the tremendous achievement of the United States Men's Soccer 
Team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup games. As this team of players, their 
coaches, and staff gathered together and set out for the games in Korea 
and Japan, they faced many challenges. They were flying thousands of 
miles to play the world's best teams in unfamiliar stadiums and to 
endure the harsh glare of skeptical sportswriters. It is fair to say 
that those skeptics have changed their minds.
  In the opening match against Portugal, our American team dominated 
the game and walked off with a three to two win under their belt. 
Critics thought it was a fluke. Coach Bruce Arena and his team were 
about to prove them wrong.
  The U.S. team went on to a draw with Korea and then a qualification 
for round two, despite an outcome that placed them behind Poland. No 
one was ignoring Team USA anymore.
  June 17 the U.S. team defeated the Mexicans in an outstanding showing 
in a final showing of 2-0. Our neighbors to the south were headed back 
to North America, and the U.S. soccer team was moving onward.
  I joined over 200 people here on Capitol Hill to watch the U.S. play 
Germany on June 21 in the early morning hours. I know I was not the 
only one on the edge of my seat throughout that heated match. What a 
game.
  Soccer fans across this great country have been rewarded for their 
dedication to this sport. In a Nation filled with wonderful sports 
teams and opportunities, it was fantastic to see our citizens come 
together to support a national team that has sometimes been overlooked.
  I have always considered myself to be one of the luckiest Members of 
Congress, the Hall of Fame representative, because I get to represent 
the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the Boxing Hall of Fame in 
Canastota, the Long Distance Hall of Fame in Utica and the magnificent 
new Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, all in the heartland of New York. 
The folks in Oneonta sparked my interest in soccer and got me so 
enthused that I helped found the Congressional Soccer Caucus.
  As a representative for the Hall of Fame and the co-chair of the 
Caucus, I would like to encourage continued support for soccer 
everywhere. Youth soccer programs across the Nation offer opportunities 
to millions of children from all backgrounds of every ability level to 
come together and learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship. We 
need to take full advantage of increased public awareness for soccer 
that this World Cup has offered. Let us continue to promote youth 
programs so that we might watch young soccer stars work their way to 
the top in future World Cups.
  How can anyone who claims to be a sports fan ever forget the 
thrilling U.S. women's World Cup championship team of 1991? It hardly 
seems possible that a decade has passed since that dramatic moment in 
U.S. sports history. That was then. This is here and now.
  I would again like to extend congratulations to the men's U.S. World 
Cup team and their supporters. I look forward to seeing several of 
these talented young men as future inductees in the Soccer Hall of Fame 
in Oneonta, New York, and I look forward to our continued success in 
men's and women's USA soccer.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, further reserving my right to 
object, I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan).
  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 445 introduced by the 
distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts) expresses the sense 
of the United States with regard to the United States national soccer 
team and its outstanding performance in the 2002 World Cup tournament.
  Mr. Speaker, the U.S. soccer team's performance in the 2002 World Cup 
was the most successful in the history of our Nation's participation in 
the tournament. The American team surprised the world by reaching the 
quarter final round, indicating that it has become a leading competitor 
in international soccer.
  I wish to recognize Bruce Arena, the head coach of the United States 
soccer team, and every player on that team for their dedication to 
excellence and for representing our country with such integrity on and 
off the soccer field. I congratulate the US soccer team for its 
historic performance in the 2002 World Cup. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I 
urge the adoption of House Resolution 445.
  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for 
H. Res. 445, a resolution that praises the United States National 
Soccer Team for their outstanding performance in the 2002 World Cup 
tournament. I want to commend U.S. Coach Bruce Arena and assistant 
Coach Dave Sarachen for their superb leadership and tactical brilliance 
in guiding the U.S. team to the quarterfinals of the World Cup. This 
was the result of tiring work by players and coaches alike and this 
World Cup will go down in history as the year U.S. soccer arrived on 
the world stage. The incredible performance of the U.S. soccer team has 
generated enormous enthusiasm and pride in this country and our 
player's can hold their heads high as they proved to the world that 
they can compete at the highest levels with the best soccer teams in 
the world.
  The U.S. team played brilliant, inspired soccer throughout the World 
Cup and were able to defeat two of the top ten teams (Portugal and 
Mexico) in the world--a feat that no one would have predicted before 
the tournament started. U.S. sports fans also passionately responded to 
the great performance of our soccer team as sports bars were jam-packed 
with soccer enthusiasts and with ESPN receiving record viewership 
ratings in its television broadcasts of the U.S. World Cup matches. So 
let me once again congratulate the U.S. Soccer team for their 
phenomenal performance as the entire country is proud of what our 
players and coaches accomplished. The future of soccer is bright in 
this country and we can expect great things to come from U.S. soccer in 
the years to come.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, over the last several weeks, 
the US Mens's Soccer Team has exceeded worldwide expectations by 
earning a quarterfinal match-up with Germany resulting from a first-
round win over Portugal, a tie against host team South Korea, and a 
second-round win over Mexico.
  With its 2-0 victory over Mexico on June 17th, the 2002 Team tied the 
men's national team marks for the most wins at a World Cup and most 
goals scored in a World Cup. The

[[Page 11452]]

only other US team to equal this level of success was the 1930 team 
that reached the semifinals at the inaugural FIFA (``FEEFA'') World Cup 
in Uruguay.
  This year's win also marked the first time the US won a single-
elimination game in World Cup History, and was the US's first World Cup 
shutout since its historic 1-0 upset of England at the 1950 World Cup 
in Brazil.
  Much of the team's success can be credited to head coach Bruce Arena, 
a resident of the 11th Congressional District of Virginia. Throughout 
his distinguished career, Arena has led teams to numerous championships 
at the collegiate and professional levels, and now should be commended 
for his success on the international stage.
  With 18 seasons as the head coach at the University of Virginia and 
three more in Major League Soccer with the DC United, Arena spent 21 
seasons at the highest level of club soccer in the United States. 
During his 18-year career as head coach of the University of Virginia 
Men's Soccer Team, Arena led his team to 5 NCAA Division One 
championships, and went on to lead the Under-23 National Team for 44 
games through the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
  To commend their success and wish them good luck, President Bush 
called Coach Arena and the Team in Korea at 11 am last Monday, June 17, 
informing the Team of the American public's excitement over their 
success. Coach Arena, in response, informed the President that the Team 
would give a performance that all Americans would be proud of.
  Mr. Speaker, our men's soccer team did just that. Enthusiasm over the 
team's strong finish has been evident in communities across America, 
with standing room only crowds at early morning games packing 
restaurants and other locales on game days. The team's rise mirrors the 
sports' growth over the past several decades, and I'm proud that the 
leader of this pack resides in my congressional district. They've made 
us very proud.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of 
objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 445

       Whereas the performance of the United States National 
     Soccer Team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup is the most successful 
     in the history of our participation in the tournament;
       Whereas the United States National Team surprised the world 
     by advancing out of the first round of play and reaching the 
     quarterfinals;
       Whereas by reaching the quarterfinals the United States 
     signaled that it has become a leading competitor in 
     international soccer;
       Whereas the 3 goals scored in the first game victory were 
     the most ever scored in 1 game by a United States men's team 
     in the World Cup;
       Whereas the United States National Team advanced out of 
     group play into the second round of the World Cup for just 
     the third time;
       Whereas the 2 to 0 win in the second round was the first 
     time the United States National Team has won a game in a 
     ``knock-out'' round of the World Cup;
       Whereas this win marks the first time since 1930 that a 
     United States team has advanced to the quarterfinals of the 
     World Cup;
       Whereas the Team's achievement reflects the explosive 
     growth in popularity of soccer in the United States;
       Whereas the United States National Team's performance 
     symbolizes the emerging role of soccer for young Americans in 
     sports and society; and
       Whereas the United States National Team's performance 
     speaks to parents about the importance of athletic 
     participation for building character and confidence in their 
     children: Now, therefore, be it

       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the United States National Soccer Team 
     for its historic performance in the 2002 World Cup;
       (2) recognizes Bruce Arena, the head coach of the United 
     States Team, and every player on the Team for their 
     dedication to excellence; and
       (3) commends the United States Soccer Federation and 
     coaches and parents of young soccer players around the 
     country for their role in the success of soccer in the United 
     States.


                   Amendment Offered by Mr. Sullivan

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mr. Sullivan:
       Page 3, beginning line 1, strike ``United States Soccer 
     Federation'' and insert ``United States Soccer Federation, 
     the United States Soccer Foundation,''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment offered by 
the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan).
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________