[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 13986-13987]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     COMMENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON WOMEN'S SOFTBALL TEAM

  Mr. BROWN. I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. Res. 168, submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 168) commending the University of 
     Washington women's softball team for winning the 2009 NCAA 
     Women's College World Series.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the 
University of Washington softball team on their 2009 NCAA National 
Championship.
  On June 2, led by National Player of the Year Danielle Lawrie and 
head coach Heather Tarr, the Huskies earned their first title in a 
thrilling 3-2 victory over the University of Florida.
  The win caps an amazing 51-12 season that saw the team capture the 
hearts and minds of the entire region. Facing challenges and setbacks 
throughout the season, the team found the courage and determination 
needed to break through to highest achievement in college softball.
  Following the game, National Player of the Year Danielle Lawrie added 
to her already lengthy resume when she was selected as the Most 
Outstanding Player of the College World Series. She was joined on this 
year's First-Team All-America team by teammate Ashley Charters who 
closes out her Husky career with her third All-America selection.
  However, it was not individuals who won this championship; it was a 
team. The commitment and passion of each and every player has turned 
the University of Washington into one of the most feared softball teams 
in the Nation. This season marks the 16th straight postseason 
appearance by the Huskies. Competing in the indisputably toughest 
conference in America, the Pac-10, the University of Washington has 
steadily climbed into the ranks of softball's elite.
  At a time when budget shortfalls are forcing universities across the 
Nation to eliminate athletic programs, the University of Washington 
softball team stands as a testament to the role of athletics in our 
schools. These are not superstars headed to lucrative paychecks; they 
are committed student-athletes who dedicate themselves every day on the 
field and in the classroom. I reserve special praise for the league-
leading seven Huskies named to the Pac-10 All-Academic team: Morgan 
Stuart, Amanda Fleischman, Alyson McWherter, Ashlyn Watson, Ashley 
Charters, Marnie Koziol and Alicia Blake.
  Congratulations once more to our newest national champions, the 
University of Washington Huskies. Go Dawgs!
  Mr. BROWN. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, 
with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to 
the resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 168) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 168

       Whereas on June 2, 2009, for the first time in university 
     history, the University of Washington Women Huskies won the 
     National Collegiate Athletic Association (``NCAA'') national 
     softball championship game with a 3-2 victory over the 
     University of Florida Gators;
       Whereas University of Washington pitcher Danielle Lawrie 
     was named the Women's College World Series Most Valuable 
     Player and the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the 
     Year;
       Whereas the Huskies finished the 2009 season with an 
     impressive record of 51-12;
       Whereas the members of the 2009 University of Washington 
     softball team are excellent representatives of a university 
     that is 1 of the premier academic institutions in Washington 
     State, producing many outstanding student-athletes and other 
     leaders; and
       Whereas the members of the women's softball team have 
     brought great honor to themselves, their families, the 
     University of Washington, and the State of Washington: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the University of Washington softball 
     team for winning the 2009 Women's College World Series;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
     students, and staff whose hard work and dedication helped the 
     University of Washington win the championship; and
       (3) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) Mark A. Emmert, president of the University of 
     Washington;

[[Page 13987]]

       (B) Scott Woodward, director of athletics of the University 
     of Washington; and
       (C) Heather Tarr, head coach of the University of 
     Washington softball team.

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