[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 16721]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 286--CONGRATULATING ORACLE TEAM USA FOR WINNING THE 
                           34TH AMERICA'S CUP

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mrs. Boxer) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 286

       Whereas the America's Cup is known as the oldest trophy in 
     sports;
       Whereas the United States has long maintained one of the 
     most successful sailing traditions in the world, with its 
     teams having won more America's Cup competitions than those 
     of any other nation;
       Whereas the America's Cup was hosted 13 times in New York 
     City between 1870 and 1920, 12 times in Newport, Rhode 
     Island, between 1930 to 1987, and 3 times in San Diego, 
     California, between 1988 and 1995;
       Whereas Newport, Rhode Island hosted the inaugural 
     America's Cup World Series Season Championship, the final 
     race in the new AC45 professional circuit in the lead-up to 
     the 2013 finals, and is proud of its America's Cup heritage;
       Whereas America's Cup World Series races were also held in 
     San Diego and San Francisco, California;
       Whereas on September 25, 2013, in San Francisco, 
     California, Oracle Team USA won the 34th America's Cup, 
     defeating Emirates Team New Zealand 9 races to 8;
       Whereas this is the second consecutive America's Cup 
     victory for Oracle Team USA, which previously won the 33rd 
     America's Cup on February 14, 2010 in Valencia, Spain;
       Whereas on September 18, 2013, Oracle Team USA had lost 8 
     of the first 11 races in the America's Cup finals to Emirates 
     Team New Zealand, but refused to give up;
       Whereas despite this deficit, skipper James Spithill 
     declared: ``We will keep fighting all the way to the end. 
     There is still a lot of racing and I am still convinced that 
     we can win races. We will go out in every single race 
     thinking we can win; we have to.'';
       Whereas beginning on September 19, 2013, Oracle Team USA 
     was able to win 7 consecutive races to set up a winner-take-
     all race on the San Francisco Bay course;
       Whereas Oracle Team USA was able to accomplish one of the 
     greatest comebacks in sporting history by winning the final 
     race in decisive fashion and securing their second 
     consecutive America's Cup;
       Whereas Ben Ainslie, Darren Bundock, Simon Daubney, Dirk de 
     Ridder, Shannon Falcone, Kinley Fowler, Murray Jones, Rome 
     Kirby, John Kostecki, Kyle Langford, Jonathan Macbeth, Brian 
     MacInnes, Matthew Mason, Will McCarthy, Matt Mitchell, Joe 
     Newton, Sam Newton, Gilberto Nobili, Philippe Persti, Tom 
     Slingsby, Joe Spooner, Simeon Tienpont, and Brad Webb came 
     together to form one of the most exciting and skilled crews 
     to have ever raced in the America's Cup; and
       Whereas the partnership between the City and County of San 
     Francisco and Oracle Team USA owner Larry Ellison produced 
     the most visually stunning and publicly accessible series of 
     races in the history of the America's Cup: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates Oracle Team USA for winning the 34th 
     America's Cup;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of all the crew, coaches, 
     and staff who contributed to the victory; and
       (3) offers best wishes and support for the team as it 
     prepares to defend its title once again in American waters.

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