[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11340-11341]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         ABBY WAMBACH AND THE U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, first I want to thank my colleague from 
the great State of Washington for her remarks and her never-ending 
strong and successful defense of our veterans who have done so much for 
us. I want to salute my colleague from Washington State.
  I am going to speak on two topics for the 10 minutes I have allotted. 
First, on Abby Wambach, the pride of Rochester and the U.S. Women's 
National Soccer team, and then on the Cut, Cap, and Unbalance Plan that 
is now being debated in the House and will soon be debated in the 
Senate.
  First, I rise to recognize the extraordinary efforts of the U.S. 
Women's National Soccer team in this year's World Cup, and in 
particular Pittsford, NY's own Abby Wambach.
  Over the last month, the Women's National Team has taken this country 
on the ride of a lifetime that we won't soon forget.
  From their nail-biting efforts to qualify for the World Cup to their 
heroic comeback against Brazil in the quarter finals, this team showed 
the best of America during this year's World Cup. At each stage of this 
team's success, there was a driving force, a player who learned the 
game from her older brothers on the soccer fields of New York's greater 
Rochester region, a player named Abby Wambach. Hundreds of Rochester's 
fans gathered at her brother's pub to cheer on Abby as she headed ball 
after ball into the back of the net.
  In the past few years, and especially the past month or so, Abby has 
become a household name. Fans from Rochester, the State of New York, 
and across the country watched in awe of Abby as she led the U.S. squad 
throughout the World Cup.
  But in Rochester and the surrounding area, Abby has been a star ever 
since she played on Our Lady of Mercy High School's varsity team as an 
eighth grader. Unusually young to be playing on a varsity squad, she 
helped her team achieve a section V title. And as is clear to all of us 
who have watched Abby over the years, her success has continued ever 
since.
  From Our Lady of Mercy to the Olympic games in Athens, and the 2011 
World Cup, Abby has been an incredible player and leader at every turn. 
Abby Wambach has always represented the best New York has to offer and 
given young women across the country someone to look up to, and the 
last month of the World Cup action has only cemented her legacy as one 
of the greatest U.S. Women's Soccer players of all time.
  She scored over 120 international goals, none more dramatic or 
meaningful than her goal against Brazil in the quarter finals. No 
matter the odds or the score, Americans will never give up and always 
believe, and Abby and her teammates showed that same drive and desire 
during the game against Brazil. Abby and the U.S. soccer team created a 
moment that will live long in the sports lore of our Nation.
  As the buzz continues about her goal, there are some people close to 
Abby who probably weren't surprised. For those who watched Abby during 
her sophomore year score two goals and make a clutch penalty kick that 
vaulted Our Lady of Mercy to the section V championship match, they 
know this is what Abby Wambach does.
  For months, Abby has been a long way from home. But tomorrow, she

[[Page 11341]]

will get the warm Rochester welcome she comes to know when her Magic 
Jack Club faces the Western New York Flash.
  Of course, we all know the efforts of the U.S. women's team came just 
short in the end, and we can't help but be happy for the Japanese team 
and the entire country as they finally have something to celebrate 
after the challenging months they have been through. So Japan may have 
won this round, and congratulations to them, but they should know the 
U.S. Women's Soccer Team will see them in London for the Olympics next 
summer, and again for the World Cup in Canada in 2015, with the pride 
of Rochester, Abby Wambach, leading the way.

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