[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 4514]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   POLAR PLUNGE FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS

  (Mr. PAULSEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, last Saturday, I had the opportunity to 
celebrate the cold winter in Minnesota by getting together with 
hundreds of others and jumping through a hole in the ice and into a 
freezing lake.
  Now, while some may think that many Minnesotans consider this normal 
recreational activity in the winter, it actually was to raise money for 
a very worthwhile cause.
  The Polar Plunge, which takes place throughout Minnesota and other 
areas of the country all winter long, raises millions of dollars for 
the Special Olympics programs. This important funding allows more than 
7,200 Special Olympics athletes in Minnesota to grow and thrive through 
a variety of competitions.
  I want to thank our State's law enforcement for organizing the 
plunges, Channel 9's Ian Leonard for giving his selfless time and 
energy to support this cause and events, to all those who pledged their 
support for the participants, and of course, those who are crazy enough 
to jump in the middle of the winter through a hole in the ice.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to offer and congratulate the support for the 
Special Olympics, an organization that is truly life-changing for its 
participants and their families.

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