[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 18986-18988]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING LANCE ARMSTRONG ON RECORD-SETTING VICTORY IN 2004 TOUR 
                               DE FRANCE

  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 761) congratulating Lance Armstrong on his record-
setting victory in the 2004 Tour de France.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 761

       Whereas Lance Armstrong has proven himself to be the 
     premier cyclist in the world with his most recent Tour de 
     France victory;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong's victory on July 25, 2004 makes 
     him the only cyclist in history to win the Tour de France 6 
     times;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong displayed incredible perseverance, 
     determination, and leadership on a course that included the 
     mountainous terrain of the Pyrenees and the Alps, 
     cobblestones, crashes among competitors, and inclement French 
     weather on his way to winning his 6th Tour de France;
       Whereas in 1997, Lance Armstrong defeated choriocarcinoma, 
     an aggressive form of testicular cancer that had spread 
     throughout his abdomen, lungs, and brain, and after treatment 
     has remained cancer-free for the past 7 years;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong is the first cancer survivor to win 
     the Tour de France;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong's courage and resolution to 
     overcome cancer have made him a role model to cancer patients 
     and their families around the world, and his efforts through 
     the Lance Armstrong Foundation have helped to advance cancer 
     research, diagnosis, and treatment, and after-treatment 
     services;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong is the world's most recognizable 
     face of cycling, which is not only a sport, but a healthy 
     fitness activity, a pollution-free transportation 
     alternative, and a metaphor for life;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong continues to represent his hometown 
     of Austin, his home state of Texas, and the United States 
     with unparalleled distinction;
       Whereas Lance Armstrong serves as an inspiration to 
     children and adults throughout the world, teaching people 
     that they can overcome incredible odds and achieve their 
     loftiest goals through hard work, determination, and belief 
     in themselves; and
       Whereas Lance Armstrong's accomplishments as an athlete, 
     teammate, cancer survivor, and advocate have made him an 
     inspiration to millions of people around the world: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates Lance Armstrong on his historic victory 
     in the 2004 Tour de France;
       (2) commends the unwavering commitment to cancer awareness 
     and survivorship demonstrated by Lance Armstrong; and
       (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Lance 
     Armstrong.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Ose) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose).


                             General Leave

  Mr. OSE. 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 H. Res. 761, the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today the House celebrates flat out the greatest cyclist 
who ever lived. Lance Armstrong won his record sixth Tour de France 
title in July, and for that reason, we honor his successes on the House 
floor today.
  He broke the record of five straight tours held by himself and 
Spain's Miguel Indurain who won the race from 1991 through 1995.

                              {time}  1445

  No one had ever even won six Tour de France races, let alone six 
straight.
  With his victory, Lance Armstrong further cemented his place as one 
of sports' greatest individual athletes. His incredible accomplishment 
of six straight grueling Tour de France wins can be ranked among any of 
sports' greatest feats; Joe Dimaggio's 56-game hitting streak and Cal 
Ripken's 2,632 consecutive games played; Edwin Moses' 107 straight 
hurdles finals wins in track; Wayne Gretzky's 51-game scoring streak in 
hockey; Bobby Bonds' soon-to-break Henry Aaron's record.
  These are all amazing accomplishments, and by virtue of his victory, 
Lance Armstrong quite simply joins those people as an athlete for the 
ages. Perhaps more amazing than being the world's greatest cyclist is 
the fact that Lance is living, period. Eight years ago, he overcame a 
deadly form of cancer.
  Lance has been a stellar athlete since his youth, playing soccer and 
cycling, but after high school, he focused solely on cycling. From 1991 
through 1996, Lance won 13 bike races, including the U.S. National 
Amateur Championship in 1991 and the World Championships in 1993. By 
1996, Armstrong was the top ranked cyclist in the world. But during 
1996, after a victory at the Tour Dupont in North Carolina, he began to 
feel fatigued and more discomfort than usual, even after an exhausting 
race. Later that year, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
  Some of Lance's doctors at the time gave him only a 40 percent chance 
of surviving. And interestingly enough, he is quoted in his book as 
saying he thought they were being kind. Lance underwent three major 
operations. He endured chemotherapy to fight off the disease that had 
spread to his abdomen, his lungs and his brain. And remarkably, with 
the help of our scientists and medicine, the treatments were 
successful. Within a short year of being diagnosed with cancer, he was 
pronounced cancer free.
  As a survivor, Lance became one of the world's most influential 
cancer research advocates. You and I probably

[[Page 18987]]

see him on TV every now and then. He founded the Lance Armstrong 
Foundation to promote cancer research and awareness. He also wrote the 
best selling book, It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life. It 
tells the full story of how his early successes were interrupted by 
cancer, how he survived cancer and how he eventually returned to racing 
and won his first Tour de France in 1999.
  Mr. Speaker, now that Lance has won his sixth straight race at the 
Tour de France, I strongly urge adoption of this measure. We all 
congratulate Lance for the most recent of his six incredible wins on 
the world's greatest cycling stage and for his fervent advocacy of 
cancer research. I urge my colleagues to adopt this resolution. Today, 
it is not Vive la France; today, it is Vive la Lance.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am here today to honor a survivor, a role model, a 
real-life American hero and, yes, a proud citizen of the capital city 
of the Lone Star State of Texas.
  The name Lance Armstrong simultaneously strikes fear in the hearts of 
competitors, hope in the hearts of cancer victims, inspiration for 
survivors around the world and pride in the hearts of Americans 
everywhere.
  After winning his sixth consecutive Tour de France, the most of any 
cyclist in the history of this event, we have special reason to 
celebrate today with this resolution. For the more than 10 million 
Americans living with cancer, as survivors, Lance Armstrong is a true 
champion in a very personal and particularly meaningful way.
  I believe that we are defined not by our setbacks but by our 
relentless determination to overcome them. Lance Armstrong offers 
particular evidence of the importance of that approach. I remember 
watching in awe as Lance crossed the finish line after winning the 
first Tour de France, overcoming a grueling battle with cancer and a 
grueling Tour de France. I was overcome with not just the importance of 
that moment but with the importance of everything that Lance had 
accomplished in getting to that point.
  While his accomplishments on his bike ensure him a place in history, 
his work as a public health champion right here in the United States 
Capital, in Austin and throughout the country have assured him a place 
in the hearts of many who battle cancer and the families and friends 
who love them. To meet the challenge, to strive to succeed whether in 
the Tour de France or the fight against cancer, Lance's work shows us 
the power of personal perseverance.
  After an early career, Lance was stricken with a carcinoma, a life-
threatening advanced form of testicular cancer that spread to his lungs 
and brain. While his own recuperation was still not finished, he began 
to worry about the impact of the disease on others. The drive and 
determination that the world got to see on display during the Tour de 
France was evident to cancer patients and survivors before he wore the 
yellow jersey on the streets of Paris.
  That spirit led him to create the Lance Armstrong Foundation, an 
organization that has raised millions for cancer research, diagnosis, 
treatment and after-treatment services. Sales of the group's 
distinctive yellow wristbands, wristbands that I have seen around the 
country, with Lance's motto, ``Live Strong,'' can be seen as evidence 
of the support not only for Lance but for all of those who battle 
cancer.
  Not satisfied with being the best cyclist to beat cancer, Lance set 
out with the goal of being the best cyclist, period. Five years later, 
he has shown the world again and again, again and again, that 
determination, character and perseverance accomplish just that. His 
accomplishments remind us that for more people there should be life 
after cancer, and it should be meaningful.
  This proud Texan and cancer survivor, public health advocate, 
Olympian and, now, six time Tour de France champion has captivated the 
imagination and won the hearts of my homestate of Texas, our Nation and 
the world. I believe it is fair to say that nowhere is the enthusiasm 
greater than in Austin, where you see yellow bikes everywhere. You see 
yellow jerseys. You see yellow signs, and that yellow, when it comes to 
the Tour de France, is a sign of the courage of Lance Armstrong with 
this historic victory.
  Nothing has been more fun for me, Mr. Speaker, in the last few 
months, than riding down Congress Avenue toward the Texas state capitol 
with Lance Armstrong, Mayor Will Wynn and a group of Austin police 
officers as some 70,000 of Lance's fans gathered to cheer and share in 
this victory for our community.
  We can honor Lance's victory by not only this resolution but by 
supporting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 
Comprehensive Cancer Control system, which is supported by the Lance 
Armstrong Foundation. This CCC system is a coordinated approach to 
reducing cancer incidents, morbidity and mortality through prevention, 
early detection, treatment and rehabilitation.
  According to the Centers for Disease Control, implementation of this 
approach would help to prevent new cases of cancer, detect cancer 
early, increase public education and awareness about cancer control, 
utilize state-of-the-art cancer treatments, provide appropriate 
rehabilitation and support in cancer care and use limited resources for 
cancer control more efficiently, eliminating duplication of efforts. 
There is little doubt why the Lance Armstrong Foundation supports this 
approach, and I hope Congress can do as well.
  We can also honor Lance's victory by recommitting ourselves and 
increasing funding for transportation enhancements. As a member of the 
Congressional Bike Caucus, a bipartisan effort aimed at encouraging 
cycling, I believe that we have an excellent opportunity through the 
transportation legislation that is pending to honor Lance once again. 
We have a great Lance Armstrong cross-town bikeway underway in Austin, 
but it needs to be connected to trails throughout the community. I am 
pleased the House has recently approved $9 million to do that in east 
Austin in this transportation bill.
  One day we will have the ability for people in central Texas to 
commute by bike from downtown all the way to the Dell Diamond out in 
Round Rock and the many trails around the area, similar to ones we have 
here in the Washington, D.C., area, can be in the capital city of the 
State of Texas.
  Well, it is not just that Lance Armstrong has faced difficult 
circumstances with cancer, he also outlines in his own book the 
challenges he faced as a cyclist on highways and byways in Texas. 
Through the efforts not only of Lance but of the Texas Bicycle 
Coalition and particularly its very effective leader and executive 
director, Robin Stallings, we are doing much to promote increased use 
of cycling in Texas for all, bike to work, bike to school and safe 
programs going to school. Even if it is just going down to get a gallon 
of milk or a recreational ride, we can do much more with cycling and to 
honor Lance by continuing to promote cycling as a wise transportation 
alternative. We must stay committed to transportation enhancement 
funding that will allow us to do that and ensure that we have many more 
people who aspire to the athletic ability of Lance Armstrong but also 
that, for all the rest of us, there are cycling alternatives as well.
  We have gained inspiration from his work, from the work of the Lance 
Armstrong Foundation, and I am honored to author this resolution that 
reflects the House of Representatives' recognition of Armstrong's many 
accomplishments, both on and off the bicycle.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar).
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join in commending Lance 
Armstrong on his 6th consecutive victory in the Tour de France. I know 
that the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) recognizes the 
extraordinary accomplishment that winning the Tour de France 
represents.

[[Page 18988]]

  This is the world's greatest athletic endurance contest. No 
comparison. It would be like compressing the National Football League's 
16 games into 3 weeks, a game a day. I do not think there are any who 
could sustain the enormous output of energy required by even the least 
of the 192 riders who begin each year's Tour de France.
  To win a stage is a great accomplishment. To win the tour is 
extraordinary. Only five have won five tours. Only two have won five 
tours consecutively. And only one has won the Tour de France six times 
consecutively, and that is our America's Lance Armstrong.
  Over 13 million people this year watched in person the Tour de 
France. It is the greatest citizens sporting event. No one pays to be 
on the sidelines, to be in attendance at the Tour de France. There are 
no tickets. There is no reserved seating. There is no special place. 
There is no charge. And yet a million people watched the time trial on 
Alpe d'Huez in which the riders in 9\1/2\ miles climb 5,000 feet with 
21 switchbacks in a race against the clock and which is in itself 
probably the most challenging sports event in the history of athletics.
  Lance Armstrong, after already riding over 2,000 miles, came within 1 
second of the all-time record time trial climb on Alpe d'Huez, but that 
was enough to put him in the record books to solidify his position. As 
a leader, as an athlete, but, as he would like to be known, as a cancer 
survivor, he is quick to point out that while all of his 
accomplishments in the field of cycling are extraordinary, his greatest 
claim is as a cancer survivor.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow on the heels of my friend, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) and join in celebrating the 
amazing athletic accomplishments of Lance Armstrong.
  As my colleague mentioned, it is not just one person's struggle 
against the finest athletes in the world on bicycles, or the most 
challenging terrain; it was a signal event in terms of concentration 
and endurance to be able to win this an unprecedented sixth time in a 
row. It was also one person's struggle in terms of recovering in a 
battle against cancer to become perhaps the preeminent athlete in the 
world.
  Finally, the point I would make is that Lance Armstrong helps us put 
a human face on the mode of transportation by cycling. It is not just 
the most efficient mode of urban transportation ever developed, it is 
something that is making a difference in the lives and livelihood of 
people around the country. It is a $6 billion industry. Over 33 million 
Americans rode their bikes last month, and about half a million get to 
work every day commuting by bicycle.
  Last, but by no means least, at a time when we are deeply concerned 
about an epidemic of childhood obesity, cycling is a simple, common-
sense way for young people to become physically fit, while they help 
protect our environment and learn lifelong health skills.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and I 
urge Members to support this legislation. Lance Armstrong is a true 
American hero, and he has proved it not only with his initial victory 
but five times over.
  I urge passage of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Linder). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Ose) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 761.
  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.

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