[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 13199-13202]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING DETROIT PISTONS ON WINNING THE 2004 NATIONAL BASKETBALL 
                        ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 679) congratulating the Detroit 
Pistons on winning the 2004 National Basketball Association 
championship.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 679

       Whereas on June 15, 2004, the Detroit Pistons defeated the 
     Los Angeles Lakers to win the 2004 National Basketball 
     Association (NBA) Championship;
       Whereas the Pistons defeated the Milwaukee Bucks four games 
     to one in the first round of the playoffs;
       Whereas the Pistons defeated the defending Eastern 
     Conference Champion New Jersey Nets four games to three in 
     the hard fought Eastern Conference Semifinals;
       Whereas the Pistons defeated the Indiana Pacers, the number 
     one seeded team in the Eastern Conference, four games to two 
     in the Eastern Conference Finals;
       Whereas the Pistons defeated the Lakers four games to one 
     in the NBA Finals, winning their first NBA Championship since 
     1990 and becoming the first Eastern Conference team to win 
     the championship since 1998;
       Whereas the gritty offense of the Pistons was lead by 
     Richard Hamilton, who averaged more than 21.5 points and 4.2 
     per assists per game throughout the NBA playoffs;
       Whereas Rasheed Wallace overcame a foot injury to provide 
     26 points and 13 rebounds in the crucial game four victory;
       Whereas Ben Wallace, a two-time NBA defensive player of the 
     year and three-time member of the NBA All-Defensive First 
     Team, brought the working-class mind-set to the Pistons and 
     symbolizes the Pistons stifling defense;
       Whereas Tayshaun Prince played tenacious defense and 
     prevented Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant from being an 
     effective scorer against the Pistons;
       Whereas Chauncey Billups was voted the Most Valuable Player 
     of the Finals for his outstanding performance throughout the 
     NBA playoffs, averaging 21 points and 5.2 assists while only 
     committing 2.6 turnovers per game;
       Whereas Head Coach Larry Brown did an outstanding job 
     preparing the Pistons for victory over an exceptional Lakers 
     team and became the first head coach to win both the NBA and 
     National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Basketball 
     Championships;
       Whereas former Piston and current President of Basketball 
     Operations Joe Dumars, Coach Brown, and assistant coaches 
     John Kuester, Mike Woodson, Dave Hanners, Herb Brown, and 
     Igor Stefan Kokoskov have provided strong leadership and 
     solid coaching, resulting in a basketball team in which 
     teamwork and hard work are the rule and not the exception;
       Whereas Pistons fans have shown undying support for their 
     team, leading the league in attendance in a year where 
     attendance records were broken throughout the NBA;
       Whereas the Pistons exemplify what can be achieved by a 
     talented group of players working together for a common goal;
       Whereas the Pistons have shown that basketball remains a 
     team sport and have reminded fans that the game is still a 
     team game with fundamentals at its heart and soul;
       Whereas sportswriter Eric Neel wrote of the Pistons, ``Once 
     upon a time, there was a shared ball on offense and a shared 
     responsibility on defense. In their Game 5 victory, as in the 
     previous four games, it was that time all over again. We've 
     got retro jerseys and throwback sneaks, now we've got a world 
     champion from back in the day, to go with them.'';
       Whereas the success of the Pistons is a result of 
     contributions from the entire roster of players, including 
     Chauncey Billups, Elden Campbell, Darvin Ham, Richard 
     Hamilton, Lindsey Hunter, Mike James, Darko Milicic, Mehmet 
     Okur, Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, and 
     Corliss Williamson; and
       Whereas the Pistons displayed tremendous strength, ability, 
     and perseverance during the 2003-2004 season, attributes that 
     are reflective of the hardworking people of the metropolitan 
     Detroit region and the State of Michigan, and have epitomized 
     the team slogan ``Goin' to work. Every night.'': Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the Detroit Pistons for winning the 2004 
     National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship and for 
     their outstanding performance during the entire 2003-2004 
     season; and
       (2) recognizes the achievements of all the players, 
     coaches, and staff of the Pistons, who were instrumental in 
     helping the Pistons win a third NBA Championship.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Mrs. Miller) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  June 15, 2004, is a date to be remembered throughout the metropolitan 
Detroit area and the entire great State of Michigan. On this Tuesday 
night, the underdog Detroit Pistons ended a phenomenal season by 
defeating the Los

[[Page 13200]]

Angeles Lakers 100-87 to win the 2004 NBA championship four games to 
one.
  Heading into the series, the Lakers were the overwhelming favorites 
to defeat the Pistons, but the Pistons possessed one defining 
characteristic which did not show up on paper: they were a group of 
dedicated teammates working toward a common goal.

                              {time}  1515

  This team, under the great leadership of Coach Larry Brown, showed 
unprecedented teamwork and desire. And it was a beautiful thing to 
watch.
  The Pistons are really fitting representatives for the people of 
Southeast Michigan. They might not be media superstars. They might not 
have the Hollywood elite watching them from their courtside, but they 
have a blue-collar work ethic and they thrive on great teamwork. And 
when everything is working against them and their backs are up against 
the wall, they rise to the occasion. The Pistons proved that strong 
defense and selfless play can deliver overwhelming victory.
  Mr. Speaker, the ``Bad Boys'' of Detroit are back; and the people of 
Michigan are proud to call this team our own. The Pistons motto is 
``Going to work.'' Their spirit and their desire is a reflection of 
Michigan. This attitude is not pretty. It is not flashy. It is gritty. 
It leads to scraped elbows, bloody noses. But most importantly, it 
conceives a desire to get the job done.
  Team president Joe Dumars, a great champion as a Pistons player 
himself, took control of the team when a championship was really only a 
dream. He brought in players who display the same work ethic as he was 
known for as a player. He hired coaches who understand the role of 
individuals within a team and who could get these players to perform to 
their full potential, and despite the critics, the results speak for 
themselves. Well done Joey D.
  Mr. Speaker, prior to the championship series, people around the 
Nation were not giving the Detroit Pistons a chance. But as the series 
progressed, it became apparent who was the best team in the NBA.
  Finals MVP Chauncey Billups was scoring and passing with the heart of 
a champion. Rip Hamilton ran circles around defenders. Ben Wallace 
defended and rebounded like a man possessed. Fear the 'fro, NBA. 
Rasheed Wallace provided veteran leadership and intimidation like no 
one else. Tayshaun Prince scored and defended with an elegance that 
seemed effortless.
  And when the Detroit bench was called to duty, the players answered 
the call. Each and every player knew that as a team, they would be 
successful, they knew that the work would not be done until the final 
buzzer.
  Mr. Speaker, the entire team showed what teamwork and hard work can 
do, and Larry Brown was the perfect coach. No coach in sports is more 
respected than Larry Brown, and I can speak for all Pistons fans in 
hoping that he will call himself a Detroit Piston for many years to 
come.
  And, finally, Mr. Speaker, we cannot honor the Pistons without 
mentioning their owner, Bill Davidson. He is a great man who is 
renowned for his generosity in his charitable works, not just in 
Michigan or in Southeast Michigan, but throughout our entire Nation 
and, in fact, the world. His players are a reflection of him, hard 
working, selfless, and they care about their communities. I 
congratulate and thank Mr. Davidson.
  So, Mr. Speaker, the House solutes the Detroit Pistons for winning 
the 2004 NBA championship, and after the fireworks have gone off and 
the parades are over, one team stands above all the rest, the Detroit 
Pistons.
  I encourage all Members to agree to House Resolution 679.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to take the time today to congratulate the 
Detroit Pistons on their inspiring run through the NBA season and 
playoffs and on their first NBA as championship since 1990.
  Behind the leadership of the legendary Head Coach Larry Brown, the 
Pistons displayed a sense of purpose and energy often missing in the 
NBA game today.
  On the court a trio of stars and an excellent supporting cast led the 
team brilliantly. Despite suffering a broken bone in his face, Richard 
Hamilton led the Pistons offensively all season and played his best 
basketball of the season in the playoffs, when he averaged 21.5 points 
per game.
  The Pistons' vaunted defense was led all season by two-time NBA 
defensive player of the year, winner Ben Wallace, who brought a no-
nonsense style to the Pistons.
  Though one of the league's best teams last year, team finally came 
into championship form in mid-season this year when a trade brought 
forward Rasheed Wallace to the team. Mr. Wallace's veteran experience 
was the final piece needed as the Pistons stormed through the regular 
season and the playoffs.
  In the finals, the Pistons were regarded as the heavy underdog to the 
Los Angeles Lakers. However, once again, the Pistons bucked these 
seemingly insurmountable odds and won the championship series in games. 
This was basketball at its best.
  In closing, I join my colleague. I too want to congratulate the 
Pistons for their spectacular season, and I look forward to watching 
them bring the same sort of excitement to basketball again next year. 
It was basketball, good basketball, wonderful basketball.
  I have a lot of relatives living in Detroit, and they were rooting 
for the Pistons, and I was rooting with them for the Pistons. Go 
Pistons, go.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Unfortunately, I missed the last game because we were here voting, 
but I was at game 4, where I had my thundersticks. Go Pistons.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to 
congratulate the Detroit Pistons on winning this year's National 
Basketball Association championship. It has been 14 long years since 
the Pistons last brought the Larry O'Brien championship trophy home, 
but their hard won victory of defeating the Lakers is the epitome of 
the teamwork at its absolute best. If ever a championship fits the 
personality of a community, this one does.
  The Pistons entered this year's NBA tournament as the definitive dark 
horse. While Detroit's stifling defensive was universally acknowledged, 
few outside of the Detroit Metro area and the Piston fan diaspora 
thought the Pistons' gritty offense and stifling defense could beat the 
defending Eastern Conference Champion New Jersey Nets. However, the 
Pistons, like they did all year, proved their critics wrong. 
Demonstrating the strength and determination that would become their 
hallmark in the series against the Lakers, the Pistons came back to win 
the series against the Nets after a triple overtime loss in Game 5 as 
well as a heart breaking loss to the Lakers in game 2 of the Finals. 
Indeed, the Pistons' ability to rebound after stunning losses have 
gained the admiration of America.
  This team was about true sportsmanship and selflessness. Every Piston 
could vie for the Most Valuable Player award because each of them 
played with remarkable fortitude and consistence. Whether Detroit won 
because of the stepped up play of Richard ``Rip'' Hamilton (averaging 
over 21.5 points and 4.2 assists per game throughout the post-season), 
Ben Wallace's season-long hard nosed defensive leadership (averaging a 
double-double in points scored, with 10.3 per game, and rebounds, with 
14.3 per game), Chauncey Billups's post-season play against the Lakers 
(averaging 21 points and 5.2 assists for the Pistons despite being 
guarded by two future Hall of Famers, Gary Payton and Kobe Bryant), or 
the tremendous Pistons bench. They are a true model of what can be 
achieved with team work: success.
  I am particularly excited that the city of Detroit won this 
championship at this time. Mr. Speaker, during the past few years the 
Metro Detroit area has lost tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs, 
some of which will never come back to this great city. The Detroit 
Pistons winning this championship has brought back hope and a sense of 
optimism that Detroit desperately needs. Specifically, the team's 
motto, ``Goin' to work. Every night,'' exemplifies the strength and 
tenacity both of the Pistons and of the great citizens of Detroit.

[[Page 13201]]

  The moral of this championship is that you never know what you can 
achieve until you try. Go Pistons.
  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Detroit 
Pistons. Tuesday night, playing at the Palace of Auburn Hills in my 
district, the Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to win the 2004 
NBA championship.
  From top to bottom, the Pistons were a model of teamwork and 
dedication. Owner Bill Davidson provided the foundation for the 
Pistons' championship and has been a positive member of the Detroit and 
southeast Michigan community for years. President of Basketball 
Operations Joe Dumars built this team and coach Larry Brown molded the 
Piston players into a cohesive, team-first group.
  This has been a very exciting season for the people of Michigan. They 
have embraced the Pistons, as millions outside of Michigan have. Fans 
identified with this team. The Pistons represented core American values 
of hard work, persevering through difficult times, and sharing both 
success and failures with family and loved ones.
  I want to thank the Pistons and everyone in their organization for 
giving us from Michigan a team to be proud of.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I am very glad to join my Michigan 
colleagues in congratulating the Detroit Pistons on winning the 2004 
National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship. This is truly a 
remarkable achievement and the entire city of Detroit and the State of 
Michigan are very proud. I have had the pleasure of representing the 
city of Auburn Hills, location of The Palace, home of the Detroit 
Pistons. I have also been lucky enough to see firsthand the Detroit 
Pistons in action there.
  On June 15, 2004, the Pistons defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to win 
the title. This amazing accomplishment came from a great team comprised 
of players Chauncey Billups, Elden Campbell, Darvin Ham, Richard 
Hamilton, Lindsey Hunter, Mike James, Darko Milicic, Mehmet Okur, 
Tayshaun Prince, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, and Corliss Williamson.
  I am especially proud of Pistons Forward Darvin Ham who is a Saginaw, 
Michigan native. His mother is Wilmer Jones-Ham, the mayor of Saginaw. 
Darvin played high school basketball at and graduated from Saginaw High 
School. He went on to play college basketball at Texas Tech University 
where he helped lead the Red Raiders to a 1996 NCAA Sweet 16 
appearance. Darvin played an integral role with the team and is highly 
deserving of the championship ring he will now wear.
  Darvin and the rest of the Pistons who many had said could not 
compete with the Lakers are truly representative of Saginaw and the 
entire State of Michigan. Their hard work and never-say-die attitude 
will hopefully bring them more championships in the very near future. 
Once again, I congratulate the Detroit Pistons for winning the 2004 NBA 
Championship.

              [From the Saginaw (MI) News, June 16, 2004]

                       ``Mama Ham'' Cheers Darvin

                           (By Greg Mancina)

       ``Mama Ham'' was doing a jig early this morning while 
     waiting for her World Champion son, Darvin, to come back out 
     of the Detroit Pistons locker room in The Palace of Auburn 
     Hills.
       ``I'm trying to keep my composure, but it's hard,'' 
     admitted Wilmer Jones Ham, called ``Mama Ham'' by the Pistons 
     players.
       ``The winning spirit of victory is in the air.''
       That winning spirit came from a 100-87 shellacking of 
     Shaquille O'Neal's Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday that gave the 
     Pistons their third NBA title and Darvin Ham his first 
     championship ring after what many national pundits are 
     calling the biggest upset in NBA Finals history.
       The Pistons were low-down underdogs to the powerful L.A. 
     Lakers, and its star-studded roster, bench and crowd. But 
     something happened on the way to their coronation--a better 
     team showed up, one that included Saginaw's Darvin Ham.
       ``I'm just trying to soak it all in,'' said Ham, who 
     finally emerged from the locker room and popped into the 
     team's post-game dinner in an upstairs dining room at the 
     Palace at about 2:30 a.m. ``We did it, baby!''
       And Darvin Ham knew it all along.
       ``I knew back in February we had a championship quality 
     ballclub,'' he said.
       Now the rest of the world knows it, too.
       ``Don't nobody play D like this, never, ever, not for the 
     long periods of time that we keep our defensive pressure 
     consistent at that high of a level,'' Ham explained. ``It is 
     nothing like anything that's come along in the NBA.''
       ``Larry Brown preached defense, rebound, share the ball, 
     defense, rebound, share the ball, defense, rebound, share the 
     ball, and it rings true. That's why he won a championship in 
     college and in the NBA.
       ``It's not rocket science, it's a simple formula, but I 
     wish I could bottle it up and create a championship wine 
     cellar so I can pop it open whenever I want.''
       Adding to Ham's championship experience was sharing it with 
     his family, his mother, and the more than 250 extended family 
     members who somehow found a way into the Palace for Game 5.
       ``God allowed me to give birth to a World Championship 
     basketball player,'' Wilmer Jones Ham said. ``Isn't that 
     something?''
       Wilmer Jones Ham, the mayor of Saginaw who Darvin says 
     ``has a bigger name than I do,'' attended her first 
     basketball game in its entirety since a fainting spell during 
     a City Council meeting last month.
       The mayor went to Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Sunday, but 
     could only stay until halftime ``by doctor's orders.''
       But Tuesday was different. Tuesday was close-out day for 
     the Pistons and there was no way Ham was going to miss what 
     turned into the title-clinching victory.
       ``Guess what? I stayed the whole time and I'm wringing with 
     sweat,'' Wilmer Jones Ham said. ``My heart has been beating, 
     it's never stopped fluttering.''
       ``I would sit down and put a cold rag to my head, saying to 
     myself `exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale.'''
       The mayor sat in the first row along the baseline by a 
     basket and near enough to the Pistons' bench that they kept 
     asking ``You alright Mama Ham? You alright?''
       ``She got to see the important (game),'' Darvin Ham said. 
     ``It's been incredible.''
       The family atmosphere also permeates the team, said Darvin 
     Ham, who said that in all of his NBA stops he's never 
     experienced anything like the camaraderie he's had with this 
     team.
       ``Joe Dumars created an environment where it's easy to come 
     to work, and you look forward to seeing your teammates,'' 
     Darvin Ham said.
       And right on cue, the Palace turned into a hug-fest after 
     the victory.
       ``Everybody is holding onto Darvin, hugging him,'' Wilmer 
     Jones Ham said.
       ``This just shows you that hard work pays off,'' she 
     explained. ``They can be an example for all young people--you 
     don't give up, you don't throw in the towel.''
       Darvin Ham is practically the poster child of not throwing 
     in the towel.
       A reserve player on his Saginaw High School basketball 
     team, Ham worked through junior college to latch onto a 
     scholarship at Texas Tech.
       Then he turned his reputation as a defender and ``banger'' 
     into a profession, first playing in one of basketball's minor 
     leagues before signing an NBA free agent contract with the 
     Denver Nuggets.
       He played for five more teams before finally landing in 
     Detroit in September of last year.
       Darvin Ham came to the Pistons as a defensive specialist 
     and used his work ethic and infectious personality to catch 
     the attention of coach Larry Brown, who also gave Mama Ham a 
     hug after the final horn.
       Ham earned extended playing time in early-season games, and 
     two starting assignments, based on his work ethic and defense 
     in practice, an attitude Brown was trying to instill in the 
     rest of his team.
       ``I earned my minutes and recognition through the practice 
     floor,'' he said.
       ``Darv is such a good-hearted person and they told me he is 
     the joy of the team,'' Mama Ham said. ``He's the mover and 
     the shaker, `Hey, we can do it. We can work through it.'''
       In 370 career NBA games, Ham's averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 
     rebounds in 13.3 minutes per game, and he's had to bang a lot 
     of bodies in practice to earn those minutes. In Detroit this 
     season, he averaged 1.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 54 games.
       ``It's just being focused and competing,'' Darvin Ham said. 
     ``Everybody matters. We all pushed . . . Darko (Milicic) 
     pushed our big guys every day in practice. That's stuff not 
     written about in the papers and people don't get to see it. 
     The thing I love the most is they recognize that around 
     here.''
       The fans will recognize that over the next few days when 
     Ham and his teammates have a slate of parties, parades and 
     rallies planned beginning Thursday morning.
       ``I'm not sleeping until Labor Day,'' Darvin Ham said.
       Greg Mancina is a sports writer for The Saginaw News. You 
     may contact him at 776-9670.

  Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the Detroit Pistons 
and their Coach, Larry Brown, for winning the 2004 National Basketball 
Association Championship, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers, four games 
to one.
  Congratulations for Most Valuable Player Chauncey Billups, Richard 
``Rip'' Hamilton who was the high scorer for the Pistons in game five 
with 21 points, leading rebounder Ben ``Fear the Fro'' Wallace with 22 
rebounds, Tayshaun Prince with his great defense against Kobe Bryant, 
and Rasheed Wallace who helped neutralize Shaquille O'Neal and scored 
11 points.
  The Detroit team displayed unstoppable teamwork, determination and 
perseverance to bring this championship to Detroit. I credit former 
Detroit ``Bad Boy'' and President of the

[[Page 13202]]

Detroit Pistons' organization, Joe Dumars for assembling this team. He 
traded Grant Hill for Ben Wallace and acquired Rasheed Wallace in a 
trade in February. Dumars was on the Detroit Pistons' Championship 
teams in 1989 and 1990.
  The Las Vegas betting lines had the Pistons the 6-1 underdogs going 
into the finals against the Lakers. I suppose a lot of people lost a 
lot of money after this team pulled off the biggest upset in NBA finals 
history.
  This is a great year for Pistons' owner Bill Davidson whose Detroit 
Shock won the WNBA Championship last season, Tampa Bay Lightning won 
the Stanley Cup this season and now the Detroit Pistons winning the NBA 
Championship.
  This team believed in themselves and the Detroit fans knew they could 
win it all. Go Pistons--National Basketball Association World Champions 
2004.
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Detroit 
Pistons on winning the 2004 National Basketball Association 
Championship. After only five games, the Detroit Pistons won their 
third NBA title June 15, with a 100-87 victory over the heavily favored 
Los Angeles Lakers. The Pistons showed great strength under pressure 
and proved that desire, perseverance and teamwork could triumph over 
talent, experience and individual play. I applaud their hard work and 
their championship.
  I would like to offer my personal congratulations to Chauncey 
Billups, Ben Wallace, Mike James, Darvin Ham, Lindsey Hunter, Mehmet 
Okur, Taysharun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, Darko Milicic, Richard 
Hamilton, Corliss Williamson and Elden Campbell.
  Furthermore, I also want to congratulate Pistons owner William 
Davidson, team executives Tom Wilson and Joe Dumars and Coach Larry 
Brown. Their vision has once again returned the Larry O' Brien Trophy 
home to Detroit where it rightfully belongs.
  The Detroit Pistons has made Metro Detroit and the State of Michigan 
proud. Their teamwork has taught Michiganders that you do not need 
stars to win a championship, you need unity. Once again, I congratulate 
the Detroit Pistons and their leaders on winning the 2004 NBA 
Championship.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 679 congratulating the Detroit Pistons on winning the 2004 
National Basketball Association championship on June 15, 2004. We must 
always recognize honor where honor is due. The Pistons' win against the 
Lakers in the 5th game of the series this year is admirable and 
therefore, must be honored.
  This commemoration will go a long way. In celebrating this win, we 
congratulate the players. They are more than just athletes, but they 
are also role models, fathers, brothers, sons, and husbands. Under the 
leadership of Coach Larry Brown these players came together to form the 
most outstanding team of 2004.
  Indeed, the Pistons are outstanding off the court as well. We must 
acknowledge the Pistons' work in the Detroit community. From 
establishing 4 reading and learning centers, holding an essay contest, 
and running book drives and clothing drives for needy children in the 
winter, the team shows that it is committed to giving back to the 
community that gives so much to them.
  And certainly the citizens of Detroit must be commended for their 
support of the Pistons. At Pistons' games, the love of team abounds. 
Families, friends, and fans pack bleachers at every game and show the 
Pistons what love is all about. This year the Pistons and the citizens 
of Detroit are reaping the rewards of hard work. In Texas, we recognize 
when hard work pays off. Today, we ask that Washington do the same.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 679.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________