Congratulating the West Oahu Little League Baseball team for winning the 2005 Little League Baseball World Series.

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to join the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) in introducing this resolution. I also thank our colleagues for bringing it forward on to the floor to give us a chance to show our pride in our great Hawaii as well as our country.

I remember as a young boy being given a book by my parents. It was one of those Reader's Digest books of annotated inspirational stories, and in that book was a story of an American team who came from great odds to win the Little League World championship. I wish I could remember today what year that was or what team that was, but never in my wildest dreams would I have expected to be standing here on the floor of the House congratulating a team from my Hawaii for doing the exact same thing so many decades later.

Anybody that watched this team come through the brackets to win the championship of our Nation could not help but have incredible pride at their achievements, and anybody that watched that game watched one of the great sporting events in history when the team came back from incredible odds to tie the score and then go on through fierce determination to win the championship of the world, and a team from Ewa Beach, Hawaii. Such an amazing, amazing accomplishment for the boys from Ewa Beach. And as we watched that game, we saw not only the epitome of Little League, not only the epitome of our country, but the very epitome of team spirit and team aloha. We saw parents urging that team on. We saw willpower. We saw commitment. We saw fire coming out of that pitcher's eyes in the bottom of that last inning, and we saw that home run being hit off of sheer determination.

We are so proud in Hawaii of our Ewa Beach World Series champions. We are so proud of what we have accomplished. We are so proud to do this on behalf of our entire country.

I wish all of our team the very best as they go forward with their lives, having had the experience of their lives. And I wish to this House and to the Senate and to this Congress a great gratitude for being able to stand here and brag about the great team from Hawaii. Mahalo aloha.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with deep pride today to honor and congratulate the West Oahu Little League Baseball Team of Ewe Beach, Hawaii for winning the 2005 Little League World Series Championship in one of the most exciting championship games ever played, in any sport, any league!

It was almost a miracle that these champions, the very best of our Hawaii and country, even made it to the championship, fighting their way through some of the toughest brackets and past great teams from throughout our nation. And in the bottom of the sixth and last inning, down 6-3, their great coach, Layton Aliviado, told them: ``If you guys want it, let's go get it.''

That's exactly what the team did, scoring three runs to tie the game and send it into extra innings. Then, in the top of the first extra inning, a fiery and determined Vonn Fe'ao shut down opposing Curacao, last year's world champs, striking out the batters in order. And in the bottom of that inning, Jason Memea blasted a walk-off solo home run to win the game and world championship.

To all the members of our West Oahu team--Alaka'i Aglipay, Layson Aliviado, Sheyne Baniaga, Myron ``Kini'' Enos, Vonn Fe'ao, Quentin Guevara, Ethan Javier, Harrison Kam, Michael Memea, Zachary Ranit, Zachary Rosete, Ty Tirpak--and their coaches--Layton Aliviado, Tyron Kitashima and Clint Tirpak--mahalo nui loa--(thank you very much) for representing our state of Hawaii and the rest of our Nation with great pride and aloha that exemplifies ``one team, one dream.'' You showed the heart of champions, epitomizing the best of baseball, sport, our Hawaii and the indomitable spirit of our country.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 429) congratulating the West Oahu Little League Baseball team for winning the 2005 Little League Baseball World Series.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative 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 the West Oahu Little League Baseball team in Ewa Beach, Hawaii defeated Curacao by a score of 7-6 to win the 2005 Little League World Series Championship at South Williamsport, Pennsylvania on August 28. This resolution congratulates the team, their coaches, their parents, families, and friends for their incredible journey to the world championship.

Mr. Speaker, this was the first American team to win the World Series since Louisville, Kentucky defeated Japan in 2002. The road to the world championship and the experience of playing against the best players in the world at their age will be remembered and cherished by these young men for the rest of their lives.

I thank the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) for introducing this measure on behalf of the Ewa Beach Little League championship team.

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

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

I do want to just personally, as one who loves baseball, who believes that baseball is America's pastime, congratulate this wonderful team and all of its supporters in the aloha State for bringing the trophy back to the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in strong support of H. Res. 429, introduced by my colleagues from Hawaii, Representatives Abercrombie and Case, to congratulate this year's Little League World Series Champions.

On Sunday, August 28, 2005, the West Oahu Little League Baseball team was thrust into the international spotlight by winning the Little League Baseball World Series. This victory brought enormous pride to the United States as well as the Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) community. In one of the most exciting championship game in Little League history, athletes and coaches from Eva Beach, Hawaii, primarily of APIA decent, exemplified the American ``can-do-spirit'' with a come from behind victory over the equally talented Little League team from Curacao.

For many of the international participants in the Little League World Series Championships, this tournament held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania is their first trip to the continental United States. This was also true for the team from West Oahu. Their dramatic victory is a testament to their determination, courage and perseverance.

Although the championship was ultimately delivered with one dramatic swing of the bat, getting to that position results from tremendous work, commitment and sacrifices made by players, coaches, volunteers, municipal park employees, teachers and most importantly the families of the players.

Mr. Speaker, let us encourage our young champions from Eva Beach to keep swinging for the fence, on and off the field and let them be role models for all of us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in favor of House Resolution 429, as one might imagine.

As has been indicated, on Sunday August 28, 2005, the West Oahu Little League team from Ewa Beach, Hawaii won the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. They overcame a three-run deficit to win the world championship by defeating the Curacao team 7-6 in an extra-inning cliff-hanger.

It was one of the most exciting championship games in Little League history. And I thank many of the Members, Mr. Speaker, who commented upon it to me when I returned to the House. They enjoyed it as well.

The 2005 West Oahu Little League championship team consists of players Layson ``Kaeo'' Aliviado, Harrison Kam, Ty Tirpak, Zachary Ranit, Ethan Javier, Vonn Fa'eo, Quentin Guuevera, Sheyne Baniaga, Michael Memea, Zachary Rosete, Myron ``Kini'' Enos, Jr., Alaka'i Aglipay, and Manager Layton Aliviado, dugout coach Tyron Kitashima, and first base coach Clint Tirpak.

In their quest for the championship, the West Oahu Little League team demonstrated the highest level of achievement, commitment, self- discipline, and sportsmanship. Their achievement has generated enormous pride in their hometown of Ewa Beach, throughout the State of Hawaii, and across the Nation.

Aloha, and a well-earned congratulations to the world championships: the West Oahu Little League team.

And may I conclude, Mr. Speaker, by thanking the chairman and the good representative from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for their help in putting this resolution forward and for their support.

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

Mr. Speaker, on August 28, 2005, the West Oahu Little League Baseball team, hailing from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, won the Little League World Series championship in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. They beat the defending champions from Willemstad, Curacao by a score of 7-6 in dramatic fashion.

Trailing for much of the game, the West Oahu team rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning, evening the score at 6-6 and sending the game into extra innings. The first batter in the bottom of the seventh inning hit a spectacular home run over the center field wall to seal the victory for the West Oahu team, the first Little League World Series champions in the history of the State of Hawaii.

The West Oahu victory in the 59th Little League World Series championship is and likely will remain one of the most exciting finishes in the championship's storied history. The hard work and dedication of West Oahu team members and their coaches and

their families and friends are reflected in this tremendous accomplishment.

I hope my colleagues will join me in congratulating this team in their momentous achievement in winning the Little League World Series championship.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie), the author of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.