Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 53) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 53 authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds on June 21, 2003, for the 62nd annual Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. This event is open to the public and free of charge. The sponsor of the event assumes all of the responsibilities and liabilities associated with the event. Additionally, the sponsors must comply with all applicable regulations relating to the use of the Capitol grounds.

Children participating in the event range in ages from 9 to 16 and compete in three open divisions depending on their level of experience. The races will occur on Constitution Avenue between Delaware Avenue and Third Street, Northwest.

Winners of the event will go on to represent the Washington Metropolitan Area at the national finals to be held in Akron, Ohio, later in the summer, which are held every year.

I support the resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if the gentleman from Tennessee has ever had the thrill of being present during the running of the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.

Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will continue to yield, I was very fortunate during this last redistricting period to pick up places in Summit County, which is where the city of Akron, Ohio, is located, together with the gentlemen from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) and (Mr. Brown) from your side of the aisle, and we now represent the environs in and around the Akron area.

Clearly, Akron, like a lot of the urban centers across America, has been through some tough times. It used to be known as the Rubber Capital of the World. We had Goodyear, Goodrich, and Firestone all located within the environs of Akron, Ohio. But one of the great prides and joys of our northeastern Ohio area is having the honor of having the national finals of the soap box derby occurring in Akron, Ohio. It is something that is widely attended. It is an experience where these youngsters who are 9 to 16 years of age learn not only the thrill of competing against their peers from all over the country, but they also have the opportunity to actually build the vehicles that they will race here in Washington and also in Akron, Ohio; and they learn craftsmanship as well as teamwork and a tremendous sense of accomplishment.

So I really appreciate the gentleman coming to the floor today and managing the bill on behalf of the minority, and I hope all of our colleagues will support our legislation. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

The last speaker, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello), served as the ranking member on this subcommittee during the last Congress; and although we are pleased to have the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) as our new ranking member, the service that the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello) provided to the subcommittee was greatly appreciated by those of us on our side of the aisle; and we do miss his guidance and leadership on a number of these important resolutions. It is an honor to serve in the Congress with him.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of our time to indicate I am glad we received that announcement because I had run out of soap box derby things to talk about.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I am delighted to support, along with the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran), the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Wynn), and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen), House Concurrent Resolution 53 and acknowledge the efforts of the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who has been such a great champion for his constituents for this event.

House Concurrent Resolution 53 authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. Youngsters ages 9 through 16 construct and operate their own soap box vehicles. On June 22, 2003, youngsters from the greater Washington area will race down Constitution Avenue to test the principles of aerodynamics in hand- designed and -constructed soap box vehicles.

Mr. Speaker, many hundreds of volunteers donate considerable time supporting the event and providing families with a fun-filled day, which is greatly becoming a tradition in the Washington, D.C. area. The event has grown in popularity, and Washington is now known as one of the outstanding race cities in America.

Consistent with all events using the Capitol grounds, this event is open to the public and is free of charge. The organizers will work with the Capitol Hill Police and the Office of the Architect.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of House Concurrent Resolution 53.

Mr. Speaker, we are waiting for the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who will be here very soon who will be speaking so, if I could, we would like to delay for just a moment until he gets here.

Mr. Speaker, the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby Association, and this resolution refers to this association, shall be permitted to sponsor a public event, the Soap Box Derby Race on the Capitol grounds on June 22 of 2003, and on such other dates as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate may jointly designate.

I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, I have never had that privilege, but I certainly look forward to attending the event this year. As a youngster growing up, living in the rural areas, living in the rural areas, I read about soap box derbies that have been such an inspiration to so many of our young people, and I hope to be able to attend this event.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks, and certainly I look forward to being at this event.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Costello).

Mr. Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues for the additional time.

The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) has been detained and will not be able to speak on the bill that he is sponsoring.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for yielding me this time.

I understand that we are trying to use some time while we wait for the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), and I will say that I have had the privilege a few years ago of attending the soap box derby in Knoxville; and I have seen firsthand the excitement and the interest and, really, the educational value that is given to many young people around the country through this nationwide program.

I have been asked to give this statement on behalf of the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young), the chairman of the full committee, and myself. So I will say on behalf of Chairman Young and really speaking, I think, for the full Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I rise today to offer my full support for House Concurrent Resolution 53, which authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for the 62nd Annual Greater Washington Soap Box Derby to be held on June 21, 2003.

This event, which is open to the public and free of charge, gives young people from around the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area an opportunity to not only showcase their talents of building a vehicle that will perform at high levels, but also the opportunity to realize the rewards of a job well done. Participants will compete in three open divisions based on their experience in building their vehicles. This event is currently one of the oldest of its kind in the country, having taken place for over 60 years. The winners of these events will go on to represent the Washington area at the national competition to be held in Akron, Ohio, later in the summer.

I would like to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for introducing this resolution and all of my colleagues who have spoken previously and for their continued support for this very worthwhile program. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this worthy legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

I just want to commend the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), for acting so quickly on this legislation. Let me say, Mr. Speaker, that I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 53, authorizing the use of the Capitol grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.

This annual event encourages all boys and girls ages 9 through 16 to construct and operate their own soap box vehicles. The principles of aerodynamics are combined with fun and excitement for all participants and their families in the greater Washington area.

Over the past few years, the Washington event has grown in size and has become one of the best-attended events in the country. In the past, the Washington event has produced winners who went on to national finals. As always, the derby organizers will work with the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police to ensure the appropriate rules and regulations are in place.

Mr. Speaker, I especially want to mention the diligence and dedication of the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who is the sponsor of this year's resolution and sponsors the resolution every year. I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 53.

Mr. Speaker, while I have the floor, I would also like to thank the chairman of the subcommittee, as well as the

ranking member and all of the members of the committee, for the legislation that was just acted on concerning the police officers. As a former police officer, I want my colleagues to know that I appreciate holding this annual event every year to recognize those who have given their dedication and those who have paid the ultimate price in living their lives in the service to their communities and to this country.

So I thank the gentleman from Ohio for his leadership on both of these efforts, as well as the ranking member.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday on May 7, 2003, I had to miss several rollcall votes because of official business in my hometown of Houston, Texas, attending the honoring of Earl Loggins and the opening of a very important service in my constituency. If I had been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote 167, H.R. 766, the nanotechnology bill; I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote 168, H. Con. Res. 53; and I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote 169, H.R. 866.