Congratulating Albert Pujols on being named the Most Valuable Player for the National League for the 2005 Major League Baseball season.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 626 introduced by my distinguished colleague from Missouri. This resolution will recognize the efforts and achievements of the 2005 National League Most Valuable Player, the legendary St. Louis Cardinals infielder, Albert Pujols.

The professional career and life pursuits of Albert Pujols exemplify nothing short of perseverance, skill, and integrity. His statistics for the first 5 years of his career rank amongst the best in baseball history with a .332 career batting average, 201 home runs and 621 RBI's. Pujols is distinguished as being the only player to have a batting average higher than .300--and to have hit over 30 home runs-- and to have driven in over 100 runs in each of his first 5 seasons. He was recipient of the 2001 Rookie of the Year Award for the National League, 2003 National League batting champion, and the Most Valuable Player of the 2004 National League Championship Series. Pujols throughout his athletic career has demonstrated the highest level of sportsmanship and showmanship--earning him the Most Valuable Player of the 2005 National League Championship Series.

In an exceptional 2005 campaign Pujols established career highs in walks and stolen bases. With 41 home runs and 16 stolen bases, he became just the second Cardinal to finish with at least 40 home runs and 15 stolen bases in a single season, after Rogers Hornsby in 1922. Pujols finished second in the National League with a .330 batting average--hitting his 200th career homer along with a grand slam. Additionally, but not understated, Pujols finished with 117 RBI's, 97 walks, and a career low 38 doubles caused by nagging injuries.

Cardinals' fans were given even more ammunition to celebrate in 2005, because Albert Pujols' Most Valuable Player recognition marks the first time that the Cardinals have had both a Most Valuable Player and Cy Young award winner-pitcher, Chris Carpenter in the same year.

Pujols' characteristics and accomplishments are not limited to his accolades on the field. Off the field Pujols and his wife, Deidre, have three children: Isabella, A.J. Alberto Jr., and their newest addition Sophia. Both Pujols and his wife are generous and active supporters of community issues and in 2005 established the Pujols Family Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to the ``love, care and development of people with Down Syndrome and also reaches out to impoverished families in the Dominican Republic.''

Recently Pujols became the third fastest player in major league history to reach 25 home runs in a season and was on pace to hit a record breaking 82 home runs--before an oblique injury--which would have surpassed the single-season home run record of 73 home runs held by Barry Bonds.

Albert Pujols has become a role model and an inspiration to his fans, and others, through his many outstanding achievements. I congratulate him on his 2005 successes both on and off the field, and we all wish him a speedy recovery and a quick return from his present injuries. He is truly a modem American hero and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, St. Louis Cardinal first baseman Jose Alberto Pujols is widely regarded as one of major league baseball's best offensive players because he hits consistently for average and power. On August 5, 2005, Pujols became the first player in major league history to hit 30 or more home runs in each of his first five seasons. On August 31, 2005, he became the first major league player since Ted Williams to have 100 runs batted in during each of his first five seasons.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, it was in the United States that Pujols developed his love for baseball and demonstrated his ability for the game. He batted over .500 during his first season of high school baseball. At Maple Woods Community College in the Kansas City area, Pujols showed off his talent by hitting a grand slam and recording an unassisted triple play during his first game and by batting .461 during his first season.

The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Pujols in the 13th round of the 1999 draft. He initially turned down a $10,000 bonus and opted to play in the Jayhawk League in Kansas. By the end of the summer, the Cardinals had increased their bonus offer to $60,000. Pujols signed with the Cardinals and was assigned to the minor leagues. By

the next year he was playing for Single A team the Peoria Chiefs where he was voted league Most Valuable Player. Pujols progressed quickly through the ranks of the St. Louis farm system and on to the major leagues.

The 2005 season saw Pujols establish career highs in walks and stolen bases while leading the St. Louis Cardinals in almost every offensive category. He finished with a .330 batting average, a .430 on-base percentage, and a .609 slugging percentage, 41 home runs, a grand slam, 117 RBIs, 97 walks and 16 stolen bases. The Cardinals were eliminated during the National League championship series, but only after Pujols hit a memorable home run in game five, a two-out, three-run blast in the top of the ninth inning off Houston Astro closer Brad Lidge. After the season, Pujols received his first National League Most Valuable Player award which underscored his critical role in keeping the injury- plagued Cardinals on track throughout the season.

Pujols should be commended for his work on the baseball field, for the foundation he and his wife, Diedre, have created and dedicated to the love, care and development of people with Downs Syndrome and their families, and for helping the poor in the Dominican Republic. For those and other reasons, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 626, a tremendous athlete, but an even more tremendous humanitarian.

I reserve the balance of my time.

It is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to that great St. Louis Cardinal fan and the sponsor of this legislation, Representative Carnahan from Missouri.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 626, congratulating Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals on being named the Most Valuable Player in the National League for the 2005 Major League Baseball season.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, we recently passed a companion resolution, House Resolution 627, congratulating his teammate, Chris Carpenter, for winning the National League Cy Young Award. This marks the first time since 1968 that the Cardinals have won both an MVP and Cy Young Award in the same year.

Albert Pujols came to spring training in 2001 as a 13th round draft choice. Not only did he make the St. Louis Cardinals opening day roster that year, but he won a starting job and went on to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

The first 5 years of his career rank among the best in baseball history. He has a career .332 batting average, 201 home runs and 621 runs batted in.

He is the only player in the history of the major leagues to have a batting average higher than .300, hit 30 or more home runs, drive in 100 or more runs, and score 100 or more runs in each of his first five seasons.

During the 2005 season, Albert Pujols led the Cardinals with a batting average of .330, 41 home runs, 117 runs batted in, and 16 stolen bases. He was a major factor in the Cardinals' 100-win season and run to the National League championship series.

Albert Pujols is truly a champion on and off the field. He and his wife, Diedre, have three children, a son named Albert, Jr., a daughter named Sophia and a daughter Isabella who has Downs Syndrome.

In 2005 they started the Pujols Family Foundations which is dedicated to the love, care and development of people with Downs Syndrome and also reaches out to impoverished families in the Dominican Republic, Albert's native country.

As a lifelong Cardinals fan and St. Louis resident, it is an absolute joy to watch Albert Pujols on and off the field. He embodies the true spirit of Cardinal Nation, and I offer my most sincere congratulations on all that he has accomplished thus far, and wish him the best in the future, including recovering from his recent injuries.

Mr. Speaker, I think the spirit that he brings to baseball and that has captured this country is also reflected in the numerous Members of this Congress, not just from St. Louis, not just from the State of Missouri, but from around the country and both sides of the aisle that joined in sponsoring this resolution of congratulations.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 626) congratulating Albert Pujols on being named the Most Valuable Player for the National League for the 2005 Major League Baseball season.

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 materials on the resolution under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, the national pastime, obviously, is baseball and to honor the most valuable player of the 2005 season seems to be only appropriate. Certainly, there can be no more appropriate thing as we go into the heart of baseball season than to consider a resolution recognizing this amazingly great accomplishment and an amazing season in 2005. And so I urge my colleagues to adopt this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I have no further speakers on this side, Mr. Speaker, so I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption and yield back.