[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11977]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              DOG PARK COMPETITION OFFERS LESSON OF UNITY

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                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 25, 2011

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, perhaps the dog days of summer, exacerbated 
by the hot air sometimes generated in this city, are contributing to 
our current budget morass. Rather than throwing our hands up, and 
saying everything is going to the dogs, I want to share with our 
colleagues, that man's best friend, and maybe our only friend in this 
city, Mr. Speaker, can be a rallying cry for unity and a lesson on how 
to get things done.
  In fact, Mr. Speaker, the good people of Huntington, West Virginia, 
are rallying support for their city in a nationwide contest that has a 
grand prize of $100,000 to construct the town's first off-leash dog 
park.
  Huntington is a town devoted to beautiful, peaceful and useful parks, 
and has a long and proud history of maintaining a grand system of 
parks. Moreover, Huntington has a tradition of coming together, when it 
seems the world as they know it, is coming apart. I refer of course to 
the tragic loss of Marshall University's football team in 1970. 
Ultimately, and with sheer determination as their only ally at times, 
the University and the City produced National Championship teams. 
Herein, I do believe, lie lessons for our fellow Americans, for the 
members of this body, and the entire Congress.
  At last count, Huntington was in first place in the contest that will 
be decided by Internet voting and ends next week. Local businesses and 
media are all supporting this community driven effort. This past 
weekend, Hillbilly Hot Dogs in downtown Huntington sponsored a hot dog 
eating contest to draw attention to the campaign. As the winning 
contestant Ron Clark said, the proposed park can be a ``good place to 
make great friends.'' Maybe members of this body ought to take a few 
minutes each morning to walk their pooches and pass some pleasantries 
with their colleagues.
  My little dog, Billie Sue, will enjoy romping with Huntington's proud 
pets in their newest park and I look forward to chatting with my 
constituents old and new. Whatever the final outcome however, 
Huntington will have fiercely and fairly campaigned to the final 
second. But I know I join Huntingtonians in saluting every community 
taking part in this contest that has reawakened pride, stirred spirit 
and strengthened ties across the country. Huntington will always be in 
first place with that commitment. I ask my colleagues to reflect upon 
Huntington's example in the coming days.

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