[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6701-6703]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF ITALY UPON THE SUCCESSFUL 
              COMPLETION OF THE 2006 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 697) congratulating the people and 
Government of Italy, the Torino Olympic Organizing Committee, the 
International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, 
the 2006 United States Olympic Team, and all international athletes 
upon the successful completion of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in 
Turin, Italy, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 697

       Whereas from February 17 to February 26, 2006, Turin, 
     Italy, hosted the 2006 Olympic Winter Games;
       Whereas this is the third time Italy has hosted the Olympic 
     Games, with the prior Winter Games having been held in 1956 
     in Cortina d'Ampezzo and the Summer Games having been held in 
     1960 in Rome;
       Whereas the people of Turin and the surrounding Alpine 
     areas have opened their hearts to the world, demonstrated 
     their passions for sports, art, and culture, and strengthened 
     the bonds between the city of Turin and the surrounding 
     Alpine areas;
       Whereas the city of Turin accommodated nearly 2,600 
     athletes, more than 2,700 trainers and escorts, 18,000 
     volunteers, 9,500 members of the media, and nearly 1,000,000 
     spectators at 7 competition sites and 3 Olympic villages;
       Whereas in light of a global terror threat, Italian 
     authorities implemented extraordinary security measures and 
     successfully coordinated the efforts of 10,000 police 
     officers and 2,500 Italian military personnel, providing 
     effective and efficient protection, while also ensuring a 
     secure and stable environment for both athletes and 
     spectators alike;

[[Page 6702]]

       Whereas through the stewardship of the International 
     Olympic Committee and the Torino Olympic Organizing 
     Committee, athletes representing 80 different countries 
     competed in 15 disciplines of winter sport with the spirit of 
     mutual respect and understanding, furthering the Olympic 
     legacy of ``peace between nations, equality, fair play, 
     loyalty and respect'';
       Whereas well over 200 members of the United States Olympic 
     Team participated in the Games and embodied the spirit of 
     this Nation with resolve and determination and won 25 medals, 
     including 9 gold medals;
       Whereas 477 athletes from 39 countries competed for 9 days 
     in March 2006 in Turin at the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games, 
     which were organized in 1948 as a venue for injured World War 
     II veterans to compete, demonstrating not an individual's 
     disability, but rather the individual's achievements in 
     athleticism; and
       Whereas the United States Olympic Team ranked second among 
     all nations in the number of medals won at the 2006 Olympic 
     Winter Games and the United States Paralympic Team ranked 
     seventh among all nations in the number of medals won at the 
     2006 Paralympic Winter Games: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the people and Government of Italy, and 
     specifically the people of Turin and the surrounding Alpine 
     areas, the Torino Olympic Organizing Committee, and the 
     International Olympic Committee on the successful completion 
     of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games;
       (2) congratulates the United States Olympic Committee, the 
     2006 United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams, and all 
     international athletes for their outstanding performances at 
     the 2006 Olympic Winter Games; and
       (3) expresses gratitude to the thousands of volunteers and 
     others who made the 2006 Olympic Winter Games exciting, safe, 
     and successful.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) each will control 20 minutes.


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days 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 Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to request my colleagues' support of House 
Resolution 697, a resolution congratulating the people and the 
Government of Italy, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams, 
and other individuals and committees from around the world on the 
successful completion of the 20th Winter Olympic Games, which were held 
in Turin, Italy.
  ``Passion Lives Here'' was the slogan for the Italian Winter Games. 
The world watched the Games from the opening to the closing ceremonies 
and witnessed the emotion of the event that stems from thousands of 
athletes and trainers from every corner of the globe participating in a 
competition that knows no border or political dispute.
  For North and South Korea to march together for the first time during 
a Winter Olympics opening ceremony, although these two countries are 
still technically at war, the hope for continued progress toward peace 
among many differing nations was clearly evident.
  This is what the spirit of the Olympics means for all of us for a few 
short weeks every 4 years. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, since September 
11, the entire world has been transformed. Now, unprecedented levels of 
security are required to protect Olympic athletes and their teams from 
attacks.
  After all, the Olympic Games were once the target of horrifying 
attacks on athletes by terrorists. This resolution commends our good 
friends and allies, the people and Government of Italy, for their 
extraordinary efforts in protecting the world's athletes during these 
games.

                              {time}  1530

  To implement such an extraordinary security measure while also 
ensuring the fun, passionate Olympic environment is something not many 
countries can do with such successful orchestration.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States Olympic Committee and team should also 
be congratulated for winning 25 medals during these Winter Games, nine 
of them gold, second only to the team's record for the number of medals 
won at the Winter Games that was set during the Salt Lake City games; 
and the United States Paralympic team ranks seventh among all nations 
in the number of medals won during the Paralympic Winter Games.
  I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to each of our medal 
winners who shall forever make the United States proud.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of this resolution and urge all of my 
colleagues to do so as well.
  I would first like to thank my good friend and colleague, Chairman 
Henry Hyde, for sponsoring this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, just a few months ago, Italy hosted the winter Olympic 
Games in Torino. We want to congratulate the people and the government 
of Italy for the great success of these games.
  The Torino Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee, 
and the United States Olympic Committee should be commended for these 
games, which were effectively and successfully organized and 
implemented.
  The slogan of the games, Mr. Speaker, was ``Passion Lives Here,'' 
which was certainly an accurate depiction of the enthusiasm, passion 
and pride the Italian people have not only for sports but also for 
their wonderful culture and heritage. The welcoming attitude they 
displayed to citizens of over 80 nations of the world who sent Olympic 
athletes and guests was outstanding.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to commend those involved with the security 
aspect of the games. As we all know, this kind of world gathering 
unfortunately presents potential terrorist opportunities. The Italian 
government and security officials performed magnificently. The venue 
was stable and secure for athletes, officials and spectators.
  These games have many memorable moments and many new records were 
made, but, for me, the highlight of the Torino Winter Games came when a 
26-year-old American speed skater, Joey Cheek, announced that he would 
donate his $40,000 in bonus money to an organization called Right to 
Play, which helps children in poverty-stricken, war-torn countries in 
Africa. Joey also encouraged Olympic sponsors to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, Joey did not stop there. Just 2 days ago, tens of 
thousands of us rallied on the National Mall to call attention to the 
sickening and outrageous genocide occurring as we speak in Darfur, 
Sudan. It was my great pleasure to stand side by side with Joey Cheek 
at this rally where we both spoke to prod the international community 
not to forget the people of Darfur and to act to stop this genocide.
  Joey Cheek's actions on behalf of the people of Africa, both at the 
Olympics and on the Mall, typify the true Olympic spirit.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Italy for keeping this Olympic spirit 
alive. These Torino games rekindled the spirit for another 4 years. It 
is important that, just as we have seen in these Italian games, the 
Olympics best demonstrate the spirit of competition and the spirit of 
selflessness that Joey Cheek and other athletes have typified.
  This was the third time Italy has hosted the Olympic games, and 
judging by the welcoming attitude and success of the Torino games, we 
look forward to future Olympic events in Italy.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I also have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 697, as amended.
  The question was taken.

[[Page 6703]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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