[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10892]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING THE UNITED STATES WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM ON WINNING 2015 
                             FIFA WORLD CUP

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 7, 2015

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the United 
States Women's National Team for their victory at the 2015 FIFA World 
Cup, their third championship, and first since the legendary 1999 
championship team.
  The teamwork, individual skills of the players, and sportsmanship 
displayed by these great athletes shined through as they moved through 
their bracket and then the knock-round and finally the epic 
championship game where they defeated the valiant and talented Japan 
National Team 5-2 in the highest scoring championship game in the 
history of the World Cup.
  One nation. One team. Twenty three women. Twenty three girls who grew 
up to become role models for women and girls everywhere and captured 
the hearts of all Americans.
  I would like to congratulate each and every one of these tremendous 
women for their dedication to the sport and to each other.
  It is a matter of special pride to me and the constituents of the 
18th Congressional District that three members of the remarkable 
Women's National Team come from Houston's local club, the Houston Dash: 
Meghan Klingenberg; Morgan Brian; and the tournament's top player and 
winner of the Golden Ball Award, Carli Lloyd.
  As these women return to Houston this week, I know my constituents 
will be there cheering as hard as ever for their favorite players.
  Meghan, Morgan, and Carli are an inspiration for the young women in 
my district--a district full of girls with the potential to succeed in 
sports, academics, and anything they set their minds to achieve.
  The incredible victory of the 2015 Women's National Team is further 
proof that making the necessary investments to provide equal academic, 
athletic, and economic opportunities to girls and women yield 
substantial tangible and intangible dividends to our nation.
  Mr. Speaker, women and girls are the biggest untapped resource in the 
world; in too many places they have been denied access to education, 
fair pay, and opportunities for so long--but that is changing.
  After a weekend of celebration, I think it is safe to say that when 
women succeed, America succeeds.
  And you know what? America can succeed much more.
  Now, more than ever, I applaud the provisions like Title IX which 
have made it possible for girls to take part in sports and school 
activities.
  However, there is more work to be done.
  But today is a day to celebrate and salute the remarkable women 
athletes of the victorious 2015 National Women's Team which will live 
on in history as one of America's greatest team and in the achievements 
to come of girls and boys who were inspired by their devotion to their 
sport, their team, and to each other.
  When girls succeed, women succeed. And when women succeed, America 
succeeds.

                          ____________________