[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11796-11797]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATING THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1439) congratulating the Chicago Blackhawks on 
winning the 2010 Stanley Cup Championship.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1439

       Whereas the historic Chicago Blackhawks, as one of the 
     ``Original Six'', have made countless contributions to 
     sports;
       Whereas the Blackhawks and the National Hockey League have 
     demonstrated a commitment to promoting fitness and leadership 
     skills for youth through support for youth hockey programs 
     and community skating facilities;
       Whereas with 101 straight home game sellouts, and an NHL 
     leading regular-season average attendance of 21,356, the 
     Blackhawks are the pride of their hometown, Chicago, 
     Illinois;
       Whereas in just 3 years, the Blackhawks organization of 
     Rocky Wirtz, Joel Quenneville, John McDonough, Stan Bowman, 
     Scotty Bowman, Jay Blunk, and Dale Tallon have revitalized a 
     franchise and reminded Chicago that it has always been a 
     hockey town;
       Whereas the Chicago Blackhawks, through amazing offense, 
     superb defense, and unmatched depth, dominated the regular 
     season and won 52 games;
       Whereas the Blackhawks defeated the Nashville Predators in 
     6 games, the Vancouver Canucks in 6 games, and swept the 
     number 1 seeded San Jose Sharks to become the Western 
     Conference Champions and advance to the Stanley Cup Final;
       Whereas in the Stanley Cup Final series, the Blackhawks 
     held off the aggressive play and talent of the Eastern 
     Conference Champion Philadelphia Flyers, who deserve great 
     credit, to win in overtime, and provide one of the most 
     exciting final series in recent history; and
       Whereas the innumerable contributions from every player, 
     coach, and the entire Blackhawks family have ended the 49-
     year-long championship drought and brought the roar back to 
     Madison Street and Lord Stanley's Cup to where it belongs, 
     sweet home Chicago: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the Chicago Blackhawks for their long 
     distinguished history, countless contributions to sports, and 
     their many successes as a franchise;
       (2) congratulates the Blackhawks on an amazing season and 
     for winning the 2010 Stanley Cup Championship;
       (3) recognizes the players, coaches, and leadership of the 
     Blackhawks organization; and
       (4) joins with all people in the United States and hockey 
     fans all over the world in celebrating the return of the 
     Stanley Cup to Chicago, Illinois.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Bilbray) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
shall have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to present H. Res. 1439 for consideration. The 
bill congratulates the Chicago Blackhawks for their victory over the 
Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League Stanley Cup Finals.
  H. Res. 1439 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from 
Illinois, Representative Mike Quigley, on May 25, 2010. It was referred 
to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it 
to be reported by unanimous consent on June 14, 2010. The measure has 
the support of over 50 Members of the House.
  Mr. Speaker, on June 9, 2010, the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the 
Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia to win the NHL's Stanley Cup Final 
hockey series. With that win, the Chicago Blackhawks ended 49 years of 
Stanley Cup frustration with a 4-3 overtime victory over the 
Philadelphia Flyers in a game that was numbered game six and clinched 
the National Hockey League's best-of-seven championship series. The 
Philadelphia Flyers were worthy opponents and should be congratulated 
for a hard-fought Stanley Cup series.
  Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, who scored seven goals in the 
playoffs and had 22 assists, including one on Chicago's first goal, was 
awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for most valuable player for his team in 
the NHL playoffs.
  The Philadelphia Flyers fought hard, but they were no match for the 
hard-hitting, exciting brand of hockey of Blackhawks general manager 
Stan Bowman and head coach Joel Quenneville.
  Not since the days of Hall of Famers Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and 
goalie Glenn Hall had the Blackhawks hoisted the cup, and Chicago 
unleashed nearly 50 years of frustration with a euphoric celebration on 
Philadelphia's home ice.
  I join my colleagues in congratulating the National Hockey League 
champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, on their victory in the 2010 Stanley 
Cup Finals.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as somebody that resides in north San Diego County, I 
spend a lot of time in the water at the Pacific Ocean, but I have never 
spent very much time on the ice. As a San Diegan, I find it very 
interesting the entire concept of somebody playing a game on the ice. 
But I join today in supporting this resolution and congratulating the 
Blackhawks in their victory.

[[Page 11797]]

  I still would love to learn more about the game, but I'd like to do 
it from afar, as long as I can stay warm.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Illinois, the sponsor of the bill (Mr. 
Quigley).
  Mr. QUIGLEY. To my colleagues, I appreciate their ability to 
pronounce names they're not necessarily so familiar with so well, and I 
appreciate those who cosponsored this legislation.
  About 3 weeks ago, several hundred brave Chicago Blackhawk hockey 
fans sat in Philadelphia and wondered why Patrick Kane was flying 
across the ice in celebration. He scored the goal that no one saw--the 
goal that has brought an end to 49 years of frustration for Blackhawk 
fans and exorcised the ghost of the demons of Jacques Lemaire in 1971. 
He helped make the Chicago Blackhawks the Stanley Cup Champions.
  It was a long, extraordinarily tough road for these players. Many of 
these players competed in over 120 games, when you count the Olympics--
an extraordinarily grueling task for them to accomplish this. But that 
goal set off a celebration that ended with 2 million people in downtown 
Chicago in a parade. It set off a celebration in Philadelphia among a 
few fans that were there from Chicago, and among the alumni of 
Blackhawks, including Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito, Denis 
Savard, and many others. Unfortunately, many alumni are no longer with 
us--Hawk legends who are forever in our hearts, such as Keith Magnuson 
and Pit Martin. But it also set off an extraordinary celebration in 
Chicago, which, for many of us, is still going on.
  There are many people to thank, the first of which, as far as I 
understand, is the only truly popular owner I know in professional 
sports, Rocky Wirtz, who combined his full efforts with dedication to 
bring a championship to Chicago; John McDonough, the president of the 
team; Jay Blunk, Stan Bowman, and Scotty Bowman, who were extraordinary 
in putting this team together and advising it; along with Dale Tallon, 
who's no longer with the team but to whom we owe a great deal of 
gratitude; defenseman Duncan Keith, the James Norris Memorial Trophy 
winner this year; Captain Jonathan Toews, who won the Conn Smythe 
Trophy; and a team of all-stars, including Brian Campbell. We had 
several Olympians who also competed. We have players who won the 
Stanley Cup and the Gold Medal in 1 year, which doesn't happen all the 
time.
  But my main message today is to all those long-suffering, dedicated 
Blackhawk fans who have enjoyed this victory ever since; the fans who 
understood what it was like to cheer for Pierre Pilote and Denis Savard 
and Tony Esposito in all the years in which we didn't quite make the 
playoffs, but they loved the ``madhouse on Madison'' as much as I did 
and look forward to many more years of excitement from this team that 
Mr. Wirtz has brought us. It was a wonderful night, and we appreciate 
your cosponsorships.
  Ms. NORTON I just want to congratulate my colleague Mr. Quigley, and 
I understand why he and Chicago are ecstatic. I urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting this measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentleman again, and 
Chicago, which has had a pretty good run the last couple of years. 
Seeing that I know how committed the hockey fans are, I will join with 
my colleagues in urging the Members to support the passage of H.R. 
1439.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1439.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. NORTON. 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 motion will be 
postponed.

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