To commend the University of Florida Gators for their historic win in the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.

Let me thank, first of all, my colleagues, for bringing this resolution to the floor. I certainly appreciate the gentlelady from New York, I believe, Long Island, for her gracious comments, to know that Billy Donovan also resided in her district. I think that is something that many of us did not know.

Madam Speaker, I do have a little feeling of modesty here and graciousness coming here again to the floor. It's almost like a great case of dejavu again, because it seems like only a few months ago that I came to the floor to honor the University of Florida, which I represent, for winning the national football title.

Yet here I am again, feeling a great deal of humbleeness, coming to the House floor to honor the Gators men's basketball team, as pointed out, for becoming the first team since 1991-1992 to win back-to-back national titles. Of course, I am honored to represent the University of Florida, because it's in my congressional district. As we say in Gainesville, ``Go Gators.'' We do indeed hope for another championship.

With their win over the Ohio State Buckeyes on April 2, as mentioned, they became only the seventh school ever to repeat championships. In addition, Florida remains the only school in NCAA history to hold both the men's basketball and football championship titles in the same year, which is an arduous feat, to say the least. This is quite an accomplishment, and one the entire university community should take a great deal of pride in, which they do.

Many of the so-called experts said that the Gators would not be able to repeat as champions. However, all throughout the season, Coach Billy Donovan kept his team focused and on track and eventually proved the pundits wrong. The Gators were chasing history, so to speak, and they would not be denied.

The Gators finished their season with an impressive 35-5, winning the final 10 games of the season. Furthermore, my colleagues, they have an 18-game winning streak in the post-season, including sweeps at the Southeastern Conference tournament the last 2 years and a 12-0 in the NCAA tournament.

By winning the championship, Coach Donovan became the 12th coach to win multiple men's basketball championship and one of four active coaches to win multiple titles. He also became the third youngest coach to win more than one NCAA title.

Now, Florida's overall athletic program has proven to be one of the best in the Nation, now having won 21 national championships in all sports combined. Ten Gator athletic teams turned in top 10 finishes in 2005-2006. Florida is one of two schools to appear in the top 10 in each of the last 23 national all-sports ranking.

I appreciate your indulgence here as I brag a little bit more. Gator athletes excel in the classroom as well. UF boasts a 91 percent graduation rate among its athletes, making it only one of four programs in the national all-sports top 10 to achieve a graduation success rate above 90 percent. Furthermore, in the 2002-2003 season, UF placed a record of 193 student athletes on the SEC academic honor role, making six consecutive years UF placed 100 or more student athletes on the SEC honor role.

The University of Florida is more than just athletics. It ranks fifth among Kiplinger's top 10 colleges and is among the Nation's most academically diverse public universities. It is home to 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes. And during the 2005-2006 school year, they awarded a little over $500 million in sponsored research to do such things as to find diverse research in health care, citrus production including the world's largest citrus research center.

In addition, my colleagues, more than 300,000 Gator alumni are located throughout the world. Famous alumni include two current NASA astronauts, actress Faye Dunaway, and home improvement expert Bob Vila. Just a little bragging there.

UF's faculty are among the best and most decorated in the world, winning

awards such as the Fields medal, two Pulitzer Prizes, NASA's top award for research, and the Smithsonian Institution's Conservation award. Along with the faculty, the Gator students are among the brightest. UF admitted about 1,049 international baccalaureate students for the 2004- 2005 academic year, more than any other university in the world.

So the Florida men's basketball team are excellent representatives of both the university and the great State of Florida in their focus, their persistence, and unassailable desire to succeed. I take great pride, my colleagues, in representing the University of Florida in Congress and congratulate Coach Billy Donovan and the entire university on this great accomplishment and hope for the best for next year. Go Gators.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 298) to commend the University of Florida Gators for their historic win in the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 298 into the Record.

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

(Mrs. McCARTHY of New York asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Congressman Stearns for introducing this resolution. I rise in support of House Resolution 298, a bill to commend the University of Florida Gators for their historical win in the 2007 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.

On April 22 the Florida Gators defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 84-75 in the final game of the Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in Atlanta, Georgia. The Gators became the first team since 1992 to win back-to-back national titles and just the seventh school ever to be repeat champions.

They were also the first team in history to complete this feat with the same starting lineup. The University of Florida's athletic program has proven to be one of the best in the Nation, now having won 21 national championships in all sports combined. They are the only program to hold both football and men's basketball championships at the same time, and the first school in NCAA history to hold both the basketball and football championship titles in the same calendar year.

The Gators' basketball team was led by their great coach, Billy Donovan, who became the 12th coach to win multiple basketball championships and one of four active coaches to win multiple titles. On top of that, Donovan became the third youngest coach to win more than one NCAA title. Coach Donovan is also a native of the Fourth Congressional District, originally hailing from Rockville Centre, in my district on Long Island.

The Gators finished their season with an impressive record of 35-5, winning the final 10 games of the season. Every player, coach, trainer, manager and staff member of the University of Florida Gators dedicated this season and their efforts to the common goal of repeating as men's NCAA basketball champions, and did so with class and sportsmanship.

I urge my colleagues to show their support for the Florida Gators and vote for House Resolution 298.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, again I encourage my colleagues to pass H. Res. 298. And congratulations again and certainly may they have a great future.

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

Madam Speaker, it is with great Gator pride that I rise today to support this resolution honoring my alma mater, the University of Florida, on winning the 2007 NCAA men's basketball championship.

The Gators began this season looking to become the first team since 1992 to repeat as national champions. Everyone in the Gator nation anxiously anticipated this season's tip-off, as all five starters unselfishly returned to school in hopes of making history. And they did. They became the only team in history to repeat as champions with the same starting lineup.

Last year, this Gator team came from obscurity to win the championship. However, this year the Gators were expected to win, which made them a target for every school they played. These young men not only handled the pressure and scrutiny, but they used it to fuel another amazing title run through both the SEC and the NCAA tournament.

Madam Speaker, I believe that this basketball team represents the true embodiment of sportsmanship and teamwork. For the last 2 years, these young men won with class, not selfishness. The five starters gave up their very lucrative NBA contracts to return to the school they loved. How refreshing. In today's society, this an act that is remarkable. Believe it or not, it is remarkable. I want to commend all of them for their hard work and discipline.

I also want to recognize Coach Billy Donovan and all of his assistants for the tremendous job they have done over the years. We are very lucky to have them, and I am glad he stayed at the University of Florida.

Finally, I want to thank president Bernie Machen and athletic director Jeremy Foley, whose leadership made it possible for the Gators to be the only team in NCAA history to hold both the football and basketball titles simultaneously.

I wish the University of Florida the best of luck in continuing this remarkable trend. And on behalf of my entire family, including my sons Michael, Teddy, Manuel, and Nicholas, thanks for making our dream come true, Gators.

Madam Speaker, it truly is great to be a Florida Gator.

Madam Speaker, I yield the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) as much time as he may consume.

(Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as the gentleman may consume to another distinguished member of the Florida delegation, Mr. Keller.

Madam Speaker, we have got a great group of very proud Floridians here today. I am pleased to yield again as much time as the gentleman may consume to the gentleman, Mr. Bilirakis, from Florida.

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

The Florida Gators team will certainly go down as one of the best teams in the history of college basketball. After winning back-to-back championships this year, Coach Billy Donovan said, ``I sit up here very, very humbled, because I think I was fortunate enough over the last 2 years to coach a group of guys that has to go down in history as one of the greatest teams of all time.''

The love for the game and each other, the hustle and hard work that the players exemplified the past 2 years is something they certainly learned from their head coach, Billy Donovan. At the young age of 41, Coach Donovan is now in some elite company being one of only four active coaches to have won multiple championships.

I extend my heartiest congratulations to Head Coach Donovan, all of the hardworking players, their fans, and all members of the University of Florida family, including another distinguished graduate of the University of Florida who I would be in trouble with if I didn't mention when I go home tonight. My next oldest brother, Mark Platts, graduated in 1987 with a master's degree from the University of Florida.

I am happy to join with my chairwoman as well as my colleagues from Florida in honoring this exceptional team and all of its accomplishments and wish them continued success, unless they are playing my alma mater in the years to come.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Florida's men's basketball team on their second consecutive NCAA, Division I championship. On April 2 of this year, they joined only six other teams in NCAA history to win back-to-back championships. My congratulations also go out to Coach Billy Donovan, who has done a fine job with these young men, not only leading them to back-to-back championships but also for preparing them for what lies ahead in life.

The University of Florida is a fine institution with many standout athletes. My home State of Florida and I are tremendously proud of their accomplishments on and off the field. The University of Florida is the only Division I college in history to win the national championship in basketball and football in the same calendar year. In fact, between the Gator championships in basketball and football, I don't think there will be an athlete on campus who has not met the President by the time they graduate.

Now, so many of these Gator basketball and football will be heading off to the NBA and NFL where they will have to struggle to make due on their multi-million dollar salaries. The good news for many of these other schools is that a lot of the starters will be moving on. The bad news, of course, is I am hearing they are having their best recruiting classes ever in both football and basketball. Ohio State was such a worthy opponent both in football and basketball and handled themselves with so much class, much praise is warranted to the Buckeye fans as well. Congratulations on a job well done.