[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10992]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




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

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 218, submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 218) congratulating the United States 
     Women's National Team for winning the 2015 FIFA World Cup.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I rise as the coauthor, with Senator 
Collins, of this Senate resolution to honor and congratulate an 
extraordinary team on an extraordinary accomplishment. The U.S. women's 
national soccer team and their triumphant 5-to-2 victory over Japan at 
the 2015 FIFA World Cup final was an extraordinary accomplishment and a 
great victory for them, for the United States, for women's soccer, and 
women's sports.
  These inspiring athletes have spent the past months captivating 
audiences around the globe with their determination, tenacity, and 
sheer grit. It started with our national team winning the so-called 
group of death against Australia, Sweden, and Nigeria. They went on to 
beat powerhouse teams Colombia, China, and Germany on the way to the 
final.
  All along the way, they tied a World Cup record by playing 540 
consecutive minutes without conceding a single goal. In the final, our 
national team came up strong, scoring four goals in the first 16 
minutes, including three goals from New Jersey's own Carli Lloyd. 
Fellow New Jerseyan Tobin Heath would add another goal, and the team 
cruised to a resounding 5-to-2 victory. All in all, in the entire 
tournament, our women's national team never lost a game.
  We are all proud of them. I am especially proud of fellow New 
Jerseyans Christie Rampone, Heather O'Reilly, Tobin Heath, and Golden 
Ball winner Carli Lloyd. But more than pride, we look to this team for 
inspiration. The women's World Cup final was the most watched soccer 
game in American history. The final game had my stepchildren Jana, who 
is an avid player and a big women's soccer fan, and her brother Sonny, 
who was rooting the team on--they were both riveted at what these women 
players were accomplishing. This game showed them what hard work and 
determination can do.
  For Jana and every young girl who aspires to be the best, this 
victory makes her dreams seem within reach. Just as the 1999 U.S. World 
Cup team motivated an entire generation to pursue their dreams, I am 
certain the performance of this team will do the same and push this 
generation to dream bigger, work harder, and achieve even more than 
they have ever imagined.
  I congratulate our champions. I look forward to the adoption of the 
resolution.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I want to recognize the 2015 United States 
Women's National Soccer Team. Sunday night, our athletes brought home 
their third World Cup championship and continued the excellence that we 
have come to know from the team. Four of the woman's national team 
players--Shannon Boxx, Julie Johnston, Lori Chalupny, and Christen 
Press--are also on Chicago's National Women's Soccer League team, the 
Red Stars.
  More than 22 million Americans watched Team USA--including a crowd of 
thousands gathering in Lincoln Park in Chicago to watch the match on 
the big screens and cheer the U.S. women to victory. This was not an 
easy road for the United States team. Their mettle was tested against 
the best teams in the world, including No. 1 ranked Germany in the 
semifinal.
  These 23 athletes displayed the best qualities of champions: depth, 
confidence, selflessness, athleticism, and unconquerable spirit. With a 
decisive 5-2 victory over Japan, the U.S. Women's National Team showed 
the world that this is what legacy looks like.
  We will forever remember when this team of athletes brought the 
Nation to its feet, yelling, ``I believe, I believe that we will win.'' 
And they did.
  Mr. President, I congratulate all the players, coaches, and staff of 
the 2015 U.S. women's national soccer team.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no 
intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 218) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

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