Commending the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers for winning the 2003 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 217) commending the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers for Winning the 2003 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 217.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 217. I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo), for bringing this resolution forward.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution recognizes the achievement of the University of Minnesota men's hockey team, the Golden Gophers, for their NCAA Division I championship. The Gophers are the first team in 31 years to win back-to-back championships. With this fifth NCAA title, they are tied for third place in all-time championship victories.

This national championship team is to be commended not only for its athletic success but also and perhaps more importantly for their academic record. In addition to their achievements on the ice, the Minnesota men's hockey team was able to maintain a higher grade point average than the overall student body. This is a testament to the dedication of the team, the leadership of Coach Don Lucia, and the support of family and friends. It is clear this team has a winning spirit and a commitment to excellence.

I extend my congratulations to each of the hardworking players of the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's hockey team, to Coach Lucia and to the University of Minnesota.

I am happy to join any colleagues in honoring the accomplishments of this team and wish them continued success. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo) for his remarks. He is right. Minnesota is the hockey capital of the world. He is right that we have been excited by not only NCAA hockey but by professional hockey. We are very proud of our Wild. But it is the Golden Gophers who we are here to commend today.

I am pleased as he is that we will see more of them again next year, and I am doubly excited by looking at my neighbors' kids, all of whom are in elementary school and look at their prowess that we will be a leader for a long time to come.

Again, my hearty congratulations to the team, to the Golden Gophers, to their coach.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume just to say thank you to my colleague from Texas and to commend him and the Great State of Texas for recognizing the great sport of hockey, and I appreciate the invitation. I hope that I have the opportunity to accept that invitation and join my colleague, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo), for that visit. I hope that this occurs in February. I would be grateful for that consideration at least.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 217, congratulating the University of Minnesota for winning the NCAA Division I ice hockey championship. Last month the Golden Gophers captured the national championship for the second straight year. College fans, students, athletes, and the general public were treated to an exciting hockey season and championship tournament. I want to extend my hearty congratulations to Minnesota's head coach and their student athletes for a job well done.

Also, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to extend my congratulations to the University of New Hampshire and their student athletes for a great season.

Winning a championship has brought national acclaim to the University of Minnesota. I hope that the Minnesota fans and the University community treasures this moment for many years to come.

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

Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the respectable gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo).

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

I really enjoyed the remarks by my good friend, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline), and especially my friend, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo). And I want to just share with both of you that we believe in south Texas that it is such a great sport that the community of south Texas has a big hockey coliseum under construction soon to be completed, probably in the fall, September or October. And I wish to invite both of the gentlemen from Minnesota (Mr. Sabo and Mr. Kline) to come to the opening. We are going to have on the Texas-Mexico border visitors from Mexico who also want to be as supportive of hockey as we in America are supportive of soccer.

So I want both gentlemen to know that they will be getting an invitation to that grand opening, and I hope that they will come and share in the excitement of bringing hockey to my great State of south Texas.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) for yielding me time, and commend my colleague, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) who is handling the bill and the resolution on the majority side.

Mr. Speaker, Minnesota is a hockey State. I think we are the premiere hockey State in the country, and it has been a great year for hockey in Minnesota. Most recently, we have been excited about the, I suppose what you call, surprising success of the Wild in getting into the division championship in the NHL. But while they are new to our State, Golden Gophers have been playing hockey for 81 years. And that rich tradition we salute today as we congratulate them on winning a second consecutive NCAA championship.

But that is part of a rich tradition. This is their fifth national championship. In their 81 years, they have been in the NCAA Frozen Four Finals 18 times, 27 times to the NCAA tournaments. They have appeared in the national tournament for 13 consecutive years, an NCAA record; 12 conference playoff championships; 10 conference championships. So they come with a rich, rich tradition of outstanding hockey. Five national championships.

It is a unique team, a unique school with a rich tradition of good hockey, good athletes, good scholars. So we are proud of them. We are proud. We also know that unless there is some unusual circumstances, like pro hockey, most of the team is going to be back next year. Clearly, if you were to pick a favorite today for the NCAA hockey championship a year from now, the Gophers would lead the way.

So to Coach Don Lucia, to all his staff, all his players, the University administration, we say a hearty congratulations on your great success these last 2 years. We congratulate you for a rich tradition of hockey in the hockey State of the United States. We are proud of you and we wish you well in the future.