[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 1316-1318]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING THE FLORIDA GATORS FOR WINNING THE NATIONAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL 
                              CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 39) commending the University of Florida Gators 
for their victory in the 2006 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and for 
winning the national college football championship, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H. Res. 39

       Whereas, on January 8, 2007, the University of Florida 
     Gators won the 2006 Bowl Championship Series national title 
     with a stunning 41-14 defeat over the Ohio State University 
     Buckeyes;
       Whereas the University of Florida is one of the premier 
     academic institutions in the State of Florida;
       Whereas the University of Florida football program 
     celebrated its 100th Anniversary this season;
       Whereas the University of Florida Gators captured the South 
     Eastern Conference (SEC) Championship title on December 2, 
     2006;
       Whereas the University of Florida won the NCAA Championship 
     title in basketball in April 2006;
       Whereas the University of Florida is the first Division I 
     school to hold the national championship title in both 
     football and men's basketball concurrently;
       Whereas Florida football Head Coach Urban Meyer is only the 
     7th coach to win a national championship in his first two 
     seasons as a Division I college football coach;
       Whereas senior quarterback Chris Leak was the Most Valuable 
     Player of the BCS national championship game;
       Whereas the Florida defense held Ohio State to only 82 
     yards of offense, the lowest ever for a BCS game;
       Whereas the University of Florida student athletes are 
     among the most talented in the Nation;
       Whereas University of Florida fans worldwide supported and 
     encouraged the Gators throughout the football season;
       Whereas J. Bernard Machen, President of the University of 
     Florida, and Athletic Director Jeremy N. Foley have shown 
     great leadership in bringing success and glory to the 
     University of Florida; and
       Whereas the University of Florida students, faculty, 
     alumni, and all Gator fans are deeply committed to bringing 
     pride to the University of Florida and the entire State of 
     Florida: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the Florida Gators for their victory in the 
     2006 Bowl Championship Series and for winning the national 
     college football championship;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
     students, and staff whose hard work and dedication helped the 
     University of Florida Gators win the championship; and

[[Page 1317]]

       (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to University of Florida 
     President J. Bernard Machen, football Head Coach Urban Meyer, 
     and Athletic Director Jeremy N. Foley for appropriate 
     display.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Payne) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Let me begin by thanking my colleague, Congresswoman Wasserman 
Schultz, for introducing this resolution, and also to congratulate her 
and her fellow alumni for the Gators' win last week in the 2006 Bowl 
Championship Series.
  A week ago Monday marked the University of Florida's second national 
football championship when they defeated Ohio State University 
Buckeyes. College football fans, student athletes and the general 
public were treated to an exciting national championship game, an end 
to the college football season.
  I want to extend my congratulations to head coach Urban Meyer, 
athletic director Jeremy N. Foley, University of Florida president J. 
Bernard Machen, and Florida's student athletes for attaining the 
unprecedented achievement of holding concurrent Division I national 
championships in football and men's basketball.
  I also want to extend my congratulations to the Ohio State University 
Buckeyes and their student athletes for a great season. Ohio State won 
all of their games during the regular season and produced the 2006 
Heisman trophy winner, Troy Smith. Winning concurrent championships has 
brought national acclaim to the University of Florida, and I know the 
fans of the university will remember this very special moment for many 
years to come.
  It takes a great deal to assemble a world-class football team. It 
takes dedication of the young men who are playing on the team. It takes 
support from the alumni. It takes patient and accomplished coaching. It 
takes support from the community. A winning football team can bring an 
entire community together. It brings pride to the individuals on the 
team, but it brings joint pride to the community in general.
  And so although many people say why is so much emphasis put on 
sports, I think that it is one of the tools that brings us together 
that has the esprit de corps that makes America great. As a former, 
simply, high school coach, I know the hard work and the time and effort 
and the sacrifice, really, that it takes for the players, that it takes 
for the coaches being away from their families, their children, away on 
weekends. It is a real sacrifice. And so I once again commend the 
university and once again say, to have the number one football and 
number one basketball team in the country in the same year is a great 
achievement.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KELLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as 
I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 39, 
recognizing the achievements of the University of Florida Gators. Last 
week, the University of Florida won the Division I-A college football 
national championship with a decisive 41-14 victory over the Ohio State 
Buckeyes.
  As a Floridian, I am very honored to be recognizing the Gators' 
accomplishments, and I would be remiss if I did not offer my 
condolences to our distinguished minority leader, Mr. Boehner, and to 
my former colleague on the Education Committee, the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Tiberi).
  The University of Florida's victory in the BCS championship game 
capped a remarkable 13-1 season and win of the Southeastern Conference 
Championship. This national championship is the Gators' second, with 
their first occurring a decade ago in 1996. The University of Florida 
also won the 2006 NCAA Division I men's college basketball national 
championship. Florida is the first university to hold both of these 
titles at the same time.
  I hold up the cover of Sports Illustrated this week showing our MVP, 
Chris Leak, quarterback of the Florida Gators with the title ``Gator 
Raid.'' It points out that there was history in Gainesville with the 
first simultaneously men's basketball and football titles in 1 year. 
There is a lot of pride all of us have from the State of Florida, 
understandably.
  In addition to these athletic achievements, the University of Florida 
is consistently recognized as one of the country's best public 
universities. I would like to extend recognition to Dr. Bernard Machen, 
president of the University of Florida; Mr. Jeremy Foley, the athletic 
director; head football coach Urban Meyer; and the many other members 
of the university community that contribute to the institution's 
academic and athletic excellence.
  I also extend my congratulations to the University of Florida, in 
particular its football team, for this latest national championship, 
and also to the University of Florida fans worldwide who have supported 
the Gators, the good times and bad.
  I thank my colleague from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) for 
bringing this resolution forward. I also want to thank the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Stearns), who represents the University of Florida.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join us in recognizing this 
achievement and supporting House Resolution 39.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. I appreciate the gentleman's support for this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, as we indicated, the unique victory in that very 
important game tied in with the fact that their men's basketball team 
exceeded themselves in the Final Four and won the championship game of 
the NCAA college men's basketball, combined with this outstanding 
effort for the football team shows that the University of Florida, in 
addition to having great academic programs, preparing young Americans 
for the future, dealing with the current challenges to keep America 
strong, to keep America on the cutting edge, to keep America ahead for 
technology and for other technological advances, we really are very 
pleased that this university stands head and shoulders.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. KELLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns), who represents the 
University of Florida.
  Mr. STEARNS. I thank my distinguished colleague from Florida. My 
colleagues, I also rise to praise the University of Florida, the 
Gators, for not only winning their second football national title but 
on their many off-the-field accomplishments as well.
  With their 41-14 victory over the Ohio State Buckeyes, as mentioned 
earlier, the Gators became the first Division I school to hold a 
national championship in men's basketball and football at the same 
time.
  Coming into this game, many of the experts did not give the Gators 
any chance of defeating the previously undefeated Buckeyes. However, 
once they took the field, the Gators were not intimidated. In fact, the 
Gators held their own and held Ohio State to only 82 yards of total 
offense, the fewest number of yards in BCS history.
  Notwithstanding this event, as my colleague on the other side 
mentioned, Ohio State had a very great season; and I congratulate and 
commend this wonderful football team and its coach and all its players 
for a very successful season.
  My colleagues, the Florida Gators are excellent representatives of 
both the university and I believe the great State of Florida in their 
tenacity, spirit, and their willingness to try to succeed. I take great 
pride in representing the University of Florida and congratulate Coach 
Urban Meyer and the entire university on this great accomplishment.
  The university's accomplishments extend beyond the field or on the

[[Page 1318]]

courts in the sports arena. UF boasts a 91 percent graduation rate 
among its athletes, including all of its sports, making it only one of 
four programs in the National All-Sports Top 10 to achieve a graduation 
success rates that is above 90 percent. Furthermore, in 2002-2003, UF 
placed a record 193 student athletes on the SEC academic honor roll, 
marking six consecutive years UF placed 100 or more UF student athletes 
on the SEC Honor Roll.
  The University of Florida's accomplishments go well beyond athletics. 
It is ranked fifth among Kiplinger's Top 100 Public Colleges. UF's 
faculty are among the best and most decorated in the world, winning 
awards such as the Fields Medal, two Pulitzer Prizes, NASA's top award 
for research, and the Smithsonian Institution's conservation award.
  University of Florida is also the first university in the world to be 
designated a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for its 
agriculture faculty's commitment to environmental and wildlife 
management.
  Enrolling almost 50,000 students annually, UF is home to 16 colleges 
and more than 150 research centers and institutes. During the 2005-2006 
school year, UF was awarded $519 million in sponsored research. This 
research includes diverse areas such as health care and citrus 
production, including the world's largest citrus research center.
  My colleagues, one example of this innovative research is 
veterinarian Julie Levy, who is one of the worldwide leaders of 
research into a revolutionary, humane drug option for spaying and 
neutering cats and dogs. As it is now, the only way to permanently 
sterilize these animals is surgically. What if this process were as 
simple as a vaccine? Dr. Levy, at the University of Florida, is working 
on this research project today.
  On both the field and in the classroom, the students, faculty, and 
administration of the University of Florida are champions. I am honored 
that this world-class university is in my congressional district and I 
look forward to many great things in the future.
  As they say at the university, Go Gators!
  Mr. KELLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 39, to congratulate the University of Florida football team 
on winning the 2006 national championship.
  As a University of Florida graduate born in Gator country, that is 
Gainesville, Florida, I could not be happier with the outcome of the 
championship game.
  Very few people believed the Gators deserved to beat Ohio State or to 
get in the championship game, let alone beating Ohio State, a great 
team. But the SEC did beat the Big 10. They certainly proved the 
critics wrong.
  I also would like to congratulate the University of Florida for 
becoming the first institution in Division I history to hold both the 
NCAA men's basketball championship and the football championship 
simultaneously. And, who knows, there may be another basketball 
championship in the waning. Right now we are number one.
  This achievement, of course, is very historic. Madam Speaker, I hope 
my colleagues will join me in congratulating a great coach, Urban 
Meyer, and the fine young men from the University of Florida. And 
congratulations to Gators everywhere. It is great to be a Florida 
Gator. Go Gators!
  Mr. KELLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume, and I will close by saying that after the winning the 
national championship in football and basketball, the baseball team has 
to be feeling some pressure right now down in Gainesville.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I urge my 
colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H. Res. 39.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I would thank all of the speakers who 
participated. I think it is really a great achievement, and I want to 
commend the sponsor of this resolution, Representative Wasserman 
Schultz, for her outstanding leadership and how much she has done to 
support that great athletic institution. I would wish the Gators 
success in the future as they have done in the past.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 
legislative days to insert materials relevant to H. Res. 39, and the 
previous bill, H. Con. Res. 31.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 39, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those voting have responded in the affirmative.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam 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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