[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18355-18358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING GOLF LEGEND JUAN ANTONIO ``CHI CHI'' RODRIGUEZ

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1430) honoring and saluting golf legend Juan 
Antonio ``Chi Chi'' Rodriguez for his commitment to Latino youth 
programs of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1430

       Whereas Juan Antonio ``Chi Chi'' Rodriguez taught himself 
     how to play golf;
       Whereas Rodriguez' strive for perfection, along with his 
     uncompromising sportsmanship, resulted in a lifetime 38 
     professional wins, including 8 PGA Tour wins and 22 Senior 
     PGA Tour wins;
       Whereas Rodriguez was the first Puerto Rican inducted into 
     the World Golf Hall of Fame and was elected to the World 
     Humanitarian Sports Hall of Fame in 1994;
       Whereas the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), 
     a Latino youth leadership development and educational 
     organization in the United States, honored Rodriguez with the 
     CHCI Service Award for his ongoing commitment to providing 
     opportunities for Latino youth to succeed;
       Whereas Rodriguez is a supporter of CHCI's Fiesta de Golf 
     Scholarship Challenge, and helped raise more than $824,000 
     for CHCI's Scholarship Awards Program the past three years;
       Whereas Rodriguez' efforts resulted in financial support 
     for more than 430 scholarships over the past three years to 
     help Latino youth to attend institutions of higher education;
       Whereas Rodriguez remains active with his own Chi Chi 
     Rodriguez Youth Foundation, which funds the Chi Chi Rodriguez 
     Academy, whose mission is to assist at-risk children by 
     improving their self-esteem, character, work ethic, social 
     adjustment, and academic performance, using the golf course 
     as a living classroom;
       Whereas Rodriguez has helped raise more than $4 million for 
     his youth foundation, which annually brings 600 children from 
     Latino and non-Latino low-income families or broken homes to 
     a municipal golf course to learn responsibility and 
     discipline by working at the various jobs in golf;
       Whereas the Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy's program is based on 
     love and respect, one that builds confidence, instills 
     discipline and provides positive educational experiences; and
       Whereas the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation has earned a 
     number of awards, including the National Golf Foundation 
     Award for the Best Youth Program in the United States in 
     1986, the Pinellas County Sports Salute XVIII for working 
     with youth in 1990, the 758th Point of Light in 1992, the 
     Gannett Company's USA Weekend Most Valuable Athlete Award in 
     1983, based on an athlete's contribution, caring and 
     commitment off the field, and the Robie Award for 
     Humanitarianism, presented by the Jackie Robinson Foundation 
     in 1996: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors and salutes Juan Antonio ``Chi Chi'' Rodriguez 
     for his contributions to the successful programs of the 
     Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute for Latino youth and 
     his lifelong leadership in shaping the lives of at-risk youth 
     who benefit from the generosity and devotion of the Chi Chi 
     Rodriguez Youth Foundation; and

[[Page 18356]]

       (2) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
     make available an enrolled copy of this resolution to the 
     Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and to the Chi Chi 
     Rodriguez Youth Foundation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Woolsey) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 1430 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1430, which 
honors and salutes golf legend Juan Antonio Rodriguez, widely known as 
Chi Chi Rodriguez, for his commitment to the Latino Congressional 
Hispanic Caucus Institute, or CHCI. Mr. Rodriguez is an extraordinarily 
accomplished golfer. With 38 professional wins, including eight PGA 
Tour and 22 Senior PGA Tour victories, it is no surprise that he was 
inducted in 1992 into the World Golf Hall of Fame, the first Puerto 
Rican ever to earn this honor.
  Chi Chi Rodriguez worked hard for his success and has never forgotten 
his roots in Puerto Rico, where he worked for a dollar a day cutting 
sugar cane. Using his surroundings to teach himself the game of golf, 
he used a tree branch as a golf club and a metal can as a golf ball.
  Chi Chi Rodriguez has worked as tirelessly off the course as well as 
on it through his dedicated support of youth and their educational 
aspirations. Over the past 3 years, he has raised over $824,000 for 
CHCI's Scholarship Awards Program to assist Latino youths in their 
pursuit of higher education. These efforts have resulted in financial 
support for more than 430 scholarships. Moreover, Mr. Rodriguez 
continues to contribute to his own Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation, 
which funds the Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy.
  The Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy assists at-risk children by improving 
their self-esteem, character, work ethic, social adjustment, and 
academic performance, using the golf course as a living classroom. Mr. 
Rodriguez has raised more than $4 million for his academy, which every 
year brings 600 children from low-income families or broken homes to a 
golf course to learn responsibility and discipline through the game of 
golf.
  Chi Chi Rodriguez's work for CHCI and his foundation have been 
recognized numerous times, including an induction into the World 
Humanitarian Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and receiving the 
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute renowned Service Award in the 
year 2010.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution to honor and salute golf legend Juan Antonio ``Chi Chi'' 
Rodriguez for his commitment to Latino youth programs of the 
Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I 
may consume.
  Chi Chi Rodriguez was born into a poor family in Puerto Rico, and by 
the time he was 9 years old he was proficient at golf. And in 1947, at 
the age of 12, he scored a remarkable 67, which I do many times, but I 
haven't completed 18 holes of golf at that time.
  Rodriguez turned professional in 1960. In 1963, at age 28, he won the 
Denver Open, which he considers as his favorite win. In total, he won 
eight titles on the PGA Tour between 1963 and 1979. And Rodriguez 
became eligible to play on the Senior Tour, now known as the Champions 
Tour, in 1985, and did so for many years with great success, 
accumulating 22 tournament victories between 1986 and 1993. He was the 
first player on the Senior PGA Tour to win the same event in three 
consecutive years, and he set a Tour record with eight consecutive 
birdies en route to a win in the 1987 Silver Classic.
  In 1989, he was voted the Bobby Jones Award, the highest honor given 
by the United States Golf Association, in recognition of distinguished 
sportsmanship in golf. In 1991, he lost an 18-hole playoff to the 
legendary Jack Nicklaus in the U.S. Senior Open. In 1992, Chi Chi 
Rodriguez was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, the first 
Puerto Rican so honored.
  Rodriguez considers a brief encounter with Mother Teresa as the 
greatest moment in his life. This event inspired him to help others. 
Together with former golf pro Bill Hayes and Bobby Jones, Rodriguez 
established the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation, which funds the Chi 
Chi Rodriguez Academy, whose mission is to assist at-risk youth by 
improving their self-esteem, character, work ethic, social adjustment, 
and academic performance, using the golf course as a living classroom.
  Rodriguez has helped raise more than $4 million for his foundation, 
which annually brings 600 children from Latino and non-Latino families 
or broken homes to learn life skills by working various jobs in golf.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield the gentleman from 
California, Congressman Baca, as much time as he may consume.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1430, 
honoring and saluting golf legend Juan Antonio ``Chi Chi'' Rodriguez. 
First, I would like to thank Chairman George Miller, Ranking Member 
John Kline, Subcommittee Chair Carolyn McCarthy, Ms. Woolsey, Ranking 
Member Todd Russell Platts, and Mr. Roe. I want to take the time to 
thank all of my colleagues for their support.
  I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1430, to honor Juan Antonio 
``Chi Chi'' Rodriguez. In 1935, Chi Chi Rodriguez was born into a poor 
family in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He was one of six siblings. His 
father used to earn only $18 a week as a laborer and cattle herder. His 
mother was a housekeeper. Their family struggled. When Chi Chi was only 
7 years old, he helped families by earning money as a water carrier on 
the sugar plantation.

                              {time}  1640

  He soon learned that he could earn more money as a caddy. At that 
time, he also taught himself how to play golf--and that is very 
difficult for anyone who is playing golf. I have been playing golf for 
some time, and it's still very difficult, and I am still trying to 
learn--by using tree limbs and a metal can hammered into a ball.
  With unyielding determination and discipline by 9 years of age, Chi 
Chi could play and win. Boy, that's difficult. You know, we wish we 
could play and would have played when we were young like that at the 
age of 9.
  His uncompromising sportsmanship resulted in a lifetime 38 
professional wins, including eight PGA wins, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 
1972, 1973 and 1979, and 22 senior PGA Tour wins.
  Chi Chi Rodriguez was inducted into the PGA World Hall of Fame in 
1992. However, his legacy does not end on the links. And I want to 
remind everybody, this resolution is not about his golf and what he did 
for golf, but it's about what he did as a human being and his 
contributions and scholarships to many individuals, and that's why we 
are honoring him. I want people to remember that and my colleagues to 
remember that. This is not about a golfer, this is about an individual 
who was willing to do as much as he can to help other individuals.
  Chi Chi Rodriguez's robust charitable contributions for the benefit 
of at-risk and underprivileged youth have helped thousands of young 
people. He and his wife, Iwalani, have changed lives, and can you 
imagine many individuals lives that are changed because someone cared, 
someone touched their lives, someone gave them direction, someone gave 
them confidence in themselves and said, you know what, there is a 
better way of life.
  Chi Chi wanted to make a better way of life for many individuals, and 
that's why we are honoring him and that's

[[Page 18357]]

why we are recognizing them. They have strengthened self-confidence and 
fostered stellar discipline in many young people by founding the Chi 
Chi Rodriguez Academy.
  The mission of the academy is to assist at-risk children by improving 
their self-esteem, character, work ethic, social adjustment, and 
academic performance, using the golf course as a living classroom. In 
addition, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute honored Chi Chi 
Rodriguez with a CHCI Service Award for his ongoing commitment to 
providing opportunities for Latino youth to succeed.
  His support of CHCI's fiesta, which is a bipartisan Fiesta de Golf 
Scholarship Challenge, has helped raise more than $824,000 for CHCI's 
Scholarship Awards Program over the past 3 years. These are a sample of 
many of the 430-some scholarships that have helped many of our kids, 
Javier Colon, Ronnie Gonzalez, Ashley Garcia. These are a few of many 
that I could name here tonight but when you look at the faces and you 
look at individuals who had an opportunity to pursue their education, 
become successful, contribute to our society, this is what Chi Chi is 
about, improving our communities, making sure that they become 
productive in our communities.
  Chi Chi has received many other humanitarian awards due to his giving 
nature and leadership. He has received the Salvation Army Gold Crest 
Award and the Good Sport Award from Sports Illustrated for Kids.
  He was inducted into the World Sport Humanitarian Hall of Fame and 
received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Georgetown 
College in Kentucky. He also received the American Education Award from 
the American Association of School Administrators.
  With his support, The Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation earned the 
National Golf Foundation Award for the Best Youth Program in the United 
States in 1986 and the Robie Award for Humanitarianism presented by The 
Jackie Robinson Foundation in 1996.
  His success on the links has earned Chi Chi Rodriguez a special place 
in history.
  However, his work, and I state, however his work in helping many 
disadvantaged children has earned Chi Chi a special place in each of 
our hearts, because it's about giving, it's not about receiving, it's 
about helping others, not about what you get. He wasn't about me, 
myself and Irene, it was about what can I do to help others. And that's 
what Chi Chi wanted to do. He wanted to touch those lives.
  He proved that humble beginnings do not define a person. He has shown 
us that with hard work and determination that you can be successful, 
but you can be caring and you can give back. Because the Lord gave him 
something, and he wanted to return something back to others.
  By giving back to help our youth, he taught us. Please join me in 
honoring and saluting Chi Chi Rodriguez. I urge all Members to support 
the passage of H. Res. 1430.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. BACA. I yield to the gentleman from Utah.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. My understanding is that you are actually a board 
member of the Congressional Hispanic Institute, is that correct?
  Mr. BACA. Yes.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. My understanding is that actually 13 of the 28 sponsors 
of this bill are on the board of this, is that correct?
  Mr. BACA. Yes.
  Would you like to join? We would love to have you join and be part of 
the sponsors as well. Because we also have, from your side, a member of 
our board that's on that board as well.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. My understanding is that the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus Institute is an independent 501(c)3.
  Mr. BACA. That's correct.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. My question, my concern about this is I have one about 
recognizing sports folks--and that's a separate issue. He has certainly 
accomplished so much on the golf course and off the golf course. I 
admire the work that you have done in this Congress.
  Mr. BACA. Thank you.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. But it does seem to be a huge conflict of interest to 
sponsor a bill recognizing Chi Chi Rodriguez, who then, in turn for his 
accomplishments for youth programs of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus 
Institute. Isn't that a conflict of interest?
  Mr. BACA. No, it's not. It's really thinking about someone who has 
contributed, someone who has done an awful lot. And it's bipartisan 
individuals, both Republican and Democrat, that belong to the CHCI 
board as well. We welcome the new Members that were elected to become 
part of that board that will say, you know what, we have got to honor 
individuals.
  It's not about a conflict of interest, it's not about anything else. 
It's about doing something that's positive for individuals. When 
someone is going to receive something in return, then it becomes a 
conflict of interest. But we are not receiving anything in return. All 
we are doing is honoring an individual.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz).
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from California would 
engage with me here, I do have a few more questions, and I appreciate 
the dialogue and the passion you have for this.
  One of my concerns is that it actually, I think, detracts from the 
idea of the accomplishments of Chi Chi Rodriguez and also the good work 
that I am sure that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute has 
done. But to say that there is nothing in receipt, that it's all about 
giving and no receiving, it seems to me, on the appearance of it, that 
there is a huge conflict of interest. For Members of Congress, who 
serve independently on a 501(c)3, they serve independently with this 
organization, with a fiduciary responsibility to that organization, to 
use the office of being a Member in Congress to advance legislation 
that is surely, surely going to benefit the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus Institute.
  I would be happy to yield some of my time to address this.
  Mr. BACA. Thank you. Again, this is about children.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Reclaiming my time, for the record, I have absolutely 
no doubt that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute does good. 
You have mentioned some scholarships. I have looked at the Web site. 
There is no doubt. There is no question in my mind. My question is, why 
this particular foundation, one that you serve on the board of 
directors.
  This country has thousands of foundations that do good work. But if 
the threshold here, and my understanding is the institute raises in the 
neighborhood of 6 to $7 million----
  Mr. BACA. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. BACA. We would love to honor other foundations and other 
individuals as well. This is only one of many that we should recognize, 
just as I am honoring Arnold Palmer that we gave the Congressional Gold 
Medal. And at one time I hope you are here to celebrate when we have 
the actual gold medal that we will present under your leadership that 
we will be able to do here on the floor later on next year because it 
won't happen now.

                              {time}  1650

  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Reclaiming my time, I feel, Mr. Speaker, that this is a 
colossal waste of time to recognize sports heroes. That is a separate 
subject. That is a separate subject. Last week I voted against Joe 
Paterno, for goodness' sakes, one of the great football coaches in this 
country. Chi Chi Rodriguez has accomplished amazing feats. There's no 
doubt in my mind about this. But I feel as if the floor of the House of 
Representatives is being used for Members' own personal benefits to 
actually move forward their own foundation. And that is the concern.
  There are thousands, as you just agreed to, thousands of foundations 
that do great work, that inspire kids and youth. That's part of what 
makes this country such a great country. But the only reason this bill 
is moving forward today, the reason it's coming to the floor of the 
House, is that we have

[[Page 18358]]

13 Members of Congress who serve on the board of directors of this, 
which seems like a conflict of interest.
  If you want to address that, I would be happy to yield more time to 
you to address it.
  Mr. BACA. Once again, I would like to state for the record that this 
is not a conflict of interest. This is about bipartisan individuals who 
sit on the board who continue to want to provide assistance to many 
individuals who are in need of help. Whether it's this organization or 
whether it's any other organization, I think it's important that we do 
recognize individuals that are willing to give of their time and their 
effort to make life better for someone else. And this is a humanitarian 
individual.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate the 
gentleman addressing the questions. I really do. One of the concerns 
that is there is if you look at the opportunity, if you will, to 
attract corporate money to this. I went to the Web site today. These 
companies donate in excess of $200,000 to the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus Institute: AstraZeneca, Exxon Mobil, Toyota, Wal-Mart. These are 
companies that donate over $100,000, according to the Website: AFL-CIO 
and affiliate unions, Altria Group, American Petroleum Institute, 
Anheuser-Busch, AT&T, Change to Win and affiliate unions, Comcast 
Corporation, Dell, Lilly, Lockheed Martin, Motorola, PepsiCo, 
Southwest, State Farm Insurance, Telemundo, Time Warner Cable, the 
Coca-Cola Company, UnitedHealthcare Foundation, Univision, UPS.
  The purpose of this bill, according to the resolution, the very last 
line here, is to direct the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
make available an enrolled copy of this resolution to the Congressional 
Hispanic Caucus Institute, of which 13 Members of this body sit on the 
board of directors, and to the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman 3 additional 
minutes.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, just to finish the conclusion of that 
thought, the reason, at least from my vantage point, and I would hope 
that you would address this, the reason that this resolution is moving 
forward is that there is a benefit to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus 
Institute. They can use this as a tool to go out and solicit more 
money, more support, and grow their own personal foundation. It's not 
something that's afforded to other foundations. And the only reason 
this is moving forward is because we have 13 Members in this body that 
are cosponsors of this legislation that sit on the board of directors. 
And that is of deep concern.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Baca).
  Mr. BACA. I know we are on the subject of recognizing the sports 
individual, and I would like just for the record to state that my 
colleague that just spoke actually supported a resolution to support a 
sports individual as well, and that was H. Res. 942, for the record. So 
if we are going to be consistent, let's be consistent on both angles.
  With that, I would like to, once again, state that many corporations 
and many individuals give because they're good corporate citizens, 
because they want to make our communities a lot better. They want to 
provide an opportunity for individuals to enhance their education, 
further their education, be productive citizens. And sometimes many 
individuals cannot afford to go on to a college or university. It's 
that assistance that we give to individuals that will allow an 
individual to further their education, thus for becoming productive 
individuals.
  This is an individual that has helped in that endeavor to make sure 
that we raise the additional money, whether it's for this institution 
or whether it's for other institutions. I belong to a variety of 
different institutions that raise money on a bipartisan basis to make 
sure that we allow many individuals to be productive individuals within 
our communities.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. I would like to know how much time we have on both 
sides, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from California has 7\1/2\ 
minutes remaining. The gentleman from Tennessee has 12 minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Utah.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, what the gentleman from California pointed 
out is true. Previously I had sponsored and voted for resolutions 
regarding sports folks. I finally realized this is a colossal waste of 
time. I took a pledge that I was no longer going to do it. I did it in 
the past. It was wrong. We have people unemployed. We have people who 
can't meet their mortgages.
  Mr. BACA. It wasn't wrong. It was a good thing you did.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. I have come to find I think they are absolutely a 
colossal waste of time. Even though they're a lot of good people, but 
we're not recognizing taking care of the people's business. That's my 
own personal belief.
  But to clarify the question that you had, yes, I did do that in the 
past. I wish I hadn't, but I'm a freshman. I made a mistake, and I'm 
moving forward.
  Mr. BACA. I appreciate your doing it in the past, and I look forward 
to your continued support.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, again, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this resolution to honor and salute golf legend Juan Antonio 
``Chi Chi'' Rodriguez for his commitment to Latino youth programs of 
the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.
  Mr. Rodriguez uses his experience and his career success to expand 
opportunities for disadvantaged youth, and he helps them reach their 
full potential. I thank Representative Baca for his leadership in 
bringing this resolution forward.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1430, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground 
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum 
is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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