[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22758]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE WAIPIO LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE 
                 2008 LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform be discharged from further 
consideration of House Resolution 1436 and ask for its immediate 
consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1436

       Whereas, on August 24, 2008, the Waipio Little League 
     baseball team from Waipio, Hawaii, defeated the Matamoros 
     Little League team of Tamaulipas, Mexico, by a score of 12 to 
     3, to become the 2008 Little League Champions in the 2008 
     Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pennsylvania;
       Whereas the Waipio Little League team went undefeated 
     through the 2008 Little League World Series defeating--
       (1) Shelton National Little League team of Shelton, 
     Connecticut, by 3 to 1;
       (2) Citrus Park Little League team of Tampa, Florida, 10 to 
     2;
       (3) Canyon Lake Little League team of Rapid City, South 
     Dakota, 6 to 4;
       (4) Mill Creek Little League team of Mill Creek, 
     Washington, 9 to 4;
       (5) South Lake Charles Little League team of Lake Charles, 
     Louisiana, 7 to 5; and
       (6) Matamoros Little League team of Tamaulipas, Mexico, 12 
     to 3;
       Whereas the first 12 runs scored by the Waipio Little 
     League team were the most by one team in a World Series title 
     game since 1998;
       Whereas the winning margin by the Waipio Little League team 
     was the largest ever by a United States team over an 
     international opponent in the title game;
       Whereas the 2008 Championship is the fourth World 
     Championship title in a row for the United States;
       Whereas, on August 23, 2008, the Waipio Little League team 
     won the United States Championship in a come-from-behind 
     victory, scoring six runs in the sixth and final inning to 
     win by 7 to 5;
       Whereas they displayed the perseverance, persistence, 
     determination, and never-give-up attitude of true champions 
     and set an example for men, women, and children all across 
     the United States;
       Whereas the 2008 Waipio Little League World Champions are 
     Iolana Akau, Jedd Andrade, Christian Donahue, Caleb Duhay, 
     Ulumano Farm, Kainoa Fong, Trevor Ling, Keelen Obedoza, Khade 
     Paris, Tanner Tokunaga, Jordan Ulep, Pikai Winchester, 
     Matthew Yap, manager Timo Donahue, and coaches Kiha Akau and 
     Gregg Tsukawa;
       Whereas the Waipio Little League team was successful 
     because of solid coaching and execution of fundamentals and 
     discipline;
       Whereas the World Series victories of the Waipio Little 
     League baseball team exemplifies the sportsmanship, hard 
     work, and dedication of its players, coaches, and families; 
     and
       Whereas the achievement of the Waipio Little League team is 
     the cause of enormous pride for the Nation, the State of 
     Hawaii, and the community of Waipio: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the Waipio Little League baseball team on 
     being 2008 Little League World Champions;
       (2) commends the team's families, coaches, and community 
     for their support and dedication to enabling the success of 
     the team on and off the field; and
       (3) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the House 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the City and 
     County of Honolulu and to each player, manager, and coach of 
     the Waipio Little League baseball team for appropriate 
     display.

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 1436, a 
resolution to congratulate the Waipio Little League Team from the State 
of Hawaii for winning the 2008 Little League World Series.
  On August 24, 2008, the Waipio Little League baseball team won the 
Little League World Championship. Waipio defeated the Matamoros Little 
League team of Tamaulipas, Mexico, 12-3. This is the most runs scored 
by one team in a World Series title game since 1998. Waipio's victory 
by nine runs is also the largest winning margin by a US team over an 
international opponent in the title game,
  To get to the Little League World Series, Wapio went undefeated 
through the season. They went 3-0 in pool play, defeating teams from 
Connecticut, Florida and South Dakota. On August 20, 2008, Waipio won 
the United States Semifinal by defeating Mill Creek Little League, from 
Mill Creek, Washington. Then on August 23, 2008, they won the United 
States Championship by defeating South Lake Charles Little League, of 
Lake Charles, Louisiana. During this game, the team was down 5-1, but 
persevered and came back in the sixth and final inning by scoring six 
runs, to win the game 7-5.
  I would like to congratulate each member of the team and recognize 
their spirit and determination that got them so far: Iolana Akau, Jedd 
Andrade, Christian Donahue, Caleb Duhay, Ulumano Farm, Kainoa Fong, 
Trevor Ling, Keelen Obedoza, Khade Paris, Tanner Tokunaga, Jordan Ulep, 
Pikai Winchester, Matthew Yap, Manager Timo Donahue, Coach Kiha Akau, 
and Coach Gregg Tsukawa.
  Just as important, this resolution commends the team's families, 
coaches, and community for their support and dedication to enabling the 
success of the team on and off the field. Without this support, the 
team could not have traveled such a tremendously triumphant road.
  I would like to thank Chairman Henry Waxman and Ranking Member Tom 
Davis for the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's support in 
advancing this resolution. I would also like to thank Representative 
Mazie Hirono, Representative Eni Faleomavaega and Representative 
Madeleine Bordallo for their unflagging support and also that of 
Representative John Peterson, whose district hosts the Little League 
WorId Series.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Waipio Little League 
Baseball team and their accomplishments and ask for your support of H. 
Res. 1436.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________