Congratulating The Professional Golfers' Association of America on its 90th anniversary and commending the members of The Professional Golfers' Association of America and The PGA Foundation for the charitable contributions they provide to the United States.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the chairman and ranking member for bringing the resolution to the floor. I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 471, a bill congratulating the Professional Golfers Association of America on its 90th anniversary and commending the members of the Professional Golfers' Association of America and the PGA Foundation for the charitable and economic contributions they provide all across our Nation.

As you may know, the PGA is a nonprofit professional organization with a membership of 28,000 golf professionals. The PGA is best known for conducting tournaments, such as the Ryder Cup, which was just played this last weekend, PGA championships, the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, and the Senior PGA.

However, it does much more. In 1954, the PGA created a charitable foundation to help provide the resources and professional expertise to make golf accessible to the community by offering free golf programs for youth, the disabled and underserved. In fact, many of my colleagues participated recently in the Breakfast for the First Tee. We were joined by golfing legend Jack Nicholas, where they talked about providing for children in all walks of life a chance to play golf, learn the sport and become successful.

The PGA and PGA Foundation strive to serve the community in a number of ways. For example, they offer Play Golf America Days for youths involving free instruction, skill competition and equipment demonstration. They partner with Special Olympics International to make golf an official Special Olympics sport, and with the National Amputee Golf Association to offer golf programs for wounded military servicemembers.

The PGA of America hosts and sponsor the PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship to provide opportunities for students at predominantly minority colleges and universities to participate in collegiate golf championships, career awareness programs, and employment recruiting.

In addition to the charitable contributions, the golfing industry adds $62.2 billion to our economy and employs tens of thousands of people across the country. In my district alone, the PGA Village, the largest PGA facility in the country, employs over 300 people. Their national headquarters is located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the district of my friend Clay Shaw.

I want to thank chairman Tom Davis, Mr. Waxman and Mr. Clyburn, who is cosponsor of the resolution from South Carolina, who knows well and spoke with me the other day about the vital importance of golf in South Carolina, for their efforts in moving this resolution so quickly to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, again I want to congratulate the PGA on its 90th anniversary and thank all of its members for making such a difference in people's lives all around the country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 471 and extend my congratulations and appreciation to the Professional Golfers' Association of America for 90 years of continued excellence.

Today, the Professional Golfers' Association is the largest working sports organization in the world.

The PGA of America was first formed in 1916 by department store magnate Rodman Wanamaker and a group of 35 professional and amateur golfers. The organization's objectives were to promote interest in the game, elevate the standards of the golf professional's vocation, protect the mutual interest of its members, hold meetings and tournaments for the benefit of members, assist deserving unemployed members to obtain positions and to establish a benevolent relief fund for deserving members. These goals are still very much intact.

The PGA has also been able to grow interest in the game, protect its members, and even provide assistance to America in its times of need. For example, after the outbreak of World War I, the PGA of America purchased and maintained an ambulance to be used by the American Red Cross. The PGA of America did this again after the outbreak of World War II.

In 1954, the PGA of America formed the PGA Foundation, a public philanthropic foundation dedicated to growing interest in the game while enhancing the quality of life for all people, especially underrepresented people.

More recently, the PGA of America has contributed a great deal to the United States in providing relief following September 11th and Hurricane Katrina. The PGA of America donated $500,000 to match Ryder Cup donations for September 11th relief funds and raised $1.3 million for Hurricane Katrina Relief Funds.

The PGA of America has not only provided monetary contributions but has also offered different programs such as the Urban Youth Golf Program in Louisville. The PGA Foundation provides resources and funding for local PGA professionals to conduct golf lessons for more than 300 urban youth. This program offers free participation and possible scholarships to attend the University of Louisville.

The PGA of America has forged partnerships with other organizations such as Special Olympics International to make golf accessible as an official game in the Special Olympics and has created educational programs such as ``Golf in Schools'' which teaches students in elementary through high school about golf as well as such important topics as diet, nutrition, physical fitness and the importance of having a positive mental outlook.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I express my support for H. Con. Res. 471. Let us honor the PGA of America for its dedication to its members, its philanthropic work, and its service to the game that so many of us love.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 471) congratulating the Professional Golfers' Association of America on its 90th anniversary and commending the members of the Professional Golfers' Association of America and the PGA Foundation for the charitable contributions they provide to the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, founded in 1916, the PGA is a not-for-profit organization comprised of more than 28,000 men and women. These members commit themselves daily to promoting the game of golf. They stand by their mission to make the game accessible to everyone, and they contribute generously to charitable organizations across the Nation.

I would hope all Members will come together to support H. Con. Res. 471 as introduced by my distinguished colleague from the State of Florida.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of this resolution, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley).

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for introducing this resolution. I think I also ought to note that PGA President Tim Finchem has done wonders for this organization in terms of bringing this back into the inner city, bringing golf to those with disabilities and communicating with us here on Capitol Hill about the kinds of things they are doing.

I would urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I also urge my colleagues to support this resolution, where we recognize the PGA of America's efforts to spread the game of golf and also for the PGA's many charitable works and their efforts to expand and include more people in the game of golf, both through their work with the Special Olympics, as well as their reaching out to people who have served our country in the Armed Forces overseas.

Also I would like to note that they have served our troops through programs such as their partnership with the National Amputee Golf Association, which offers golfing activities for wounded soldiers. These are just a few of the many programs that have been offered by PGA of America and the PGA Foundation. I urge adoption of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I also commend Mr. Foley for his leadership on this issue, and yield back the balance of my time.