Congratulating University of Florida Quarterback Timothy "Tim" Tebow for winning the Heisman Trophy and honoring both his athletic and academic achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 901) congratulating University of Florida Quarterback Timothy ``Tim'' Tebow for winning the Heisman Trophy and honoring both his athletic and academic achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 901 into the Record.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate University of Florida quarterback Timothy ``Tim'' Tebow for winning the greatest recognition in college football, the Heisman Trophy, and to honor both his athletic and academic achievements.

Tim Tebow received the Heisman Trophy on December 8, 2007 and became the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman.

This award recognizes Tim Tebow's college football accomplishments and record-breaking season as he became the first player in college football history to run for at least 20 touchdowns and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in the same season. Tim set a new Southeastern Conference record with 51 total touchdowns in a single season. Rushing for 22 of those touchdowns, he set an all-time new national collegiate record for quarterbacks as well.

Although his rushing abilities inspired spectators and left his opponents confounded, his strong arm also contributed to a stellar athletic performance. Tim completed more than 68 percent of his passing attempts for a total of 3,132 yards during the 2007 season. He led the University of the Florida to a 9-3 record and helped the Gators lead the conference in scoring and total yardage.

Beyond the field, Tim Tebow has proven himself an astute student in the classroom. He has maintained a 3.77 grade point average while he has been at the University of Florida, and is only the fourth sophomore from the University of Florida to become a member of the Academic All- American First Team.

Tebow has exhibited exemplary character by carrying a torch of leadership off the football field to help those less fortunate. Tim has transcended simply being a football inspiration to his teammates and fans. He is also a philanthropic inspiration, regularly visiting orphanages and hospitals in the Philippines and the United States.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I congratulate the University of the Florida quarterback, Tim Tebow, for an outstanding two years of athletic and academic performance. I urge all my colleagues to pass this important resolution.

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

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve.

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, as an Illini fan, I feel a little bit encircled here, but I will continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, just one quick note. This is a wonderful resolution for a wonderful young man, and nobody deserves it more than Tim Tebow. So I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the resolution.

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

I thank the gentleman for yielding the time.

I am very proud and privileged to join with my colleagues from Florida to sponsor this resolution commending Tim Tebow for winning the Heisman. As has been pointed out, it's the most prestigious award in college football, and it's the first time a sophomore has ever been awarded this. They have been giving this award for over 70 years, and never has a sophomore won it, but of course never was there a Tim Tebow before this year.

He has pointed out a lot of the statistics, the highlight I think is the fact that he is the first quarterback in major college football to throw for more than 20 touchdowns and also run for more than 20 touchdowns. He went on the rest of the year to win the Sullivan Award, the Danny O'Brien Award and the Maxwell Award. He was voted the AP Player of the Year. But I would say to you that, in spite of all those great athletic achievements, his strength of character maybe surpasses his athletic ability.

And just a word about Tim Tebow, the person, one of the reasons I'm so pleased to be here tonight is because his mom and dad, Pam and Bob Tebow, have been great friends of mine since we were together at the University of the Florida. I have watched Tim grow up. He is the youngest of five children. He has two older sisters, Katy and Christie, he's got two older brothers, Peter and Robbie. And when you grow up as the baby--even though he was a big baby, he was pretty competitive, looking after his big brothers and sisters. He worked on a farm. They live in Jacksonville, and he would go out and mow the lawn and pull weeds and fix the fence, and developed a pretty good sense of work ethic.

I think he would say to you today, Tim Tebow, as I listen to him talk, one of the reasons he has been so successful in athletics is because he understands that there are things in life that are more important than football. And I think because of that perspective, it has made him a better individual and also a better football player. But as has been pointed out, he spends a great deal of his free time going back to the mission field with his dad to the Philippines, where they started an orphanage. When he has time, he will go to hospitals and visit with young people today, who maybe have serious injuries. He has been a real inspiration to them.

And because of his deep and abiding faith in God, he sees his athletic ability as a platform so he can go into schools and go into prisons and go into churches and talk about his faith.

So I would just say that I want to add my words of congratulations to Tim Tebow and to his family. And not only has he been a great football player, but he has exhibited a great strength of character. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution honoring him for winning this most prestigious award.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor one of the University of Florida's finest student-athletes--the Gators great quarterback and 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow. As the Representative for the University of Florida, I am pleased to take this opportunity to commend a deserving young man who has, and continues to be, an inspiration to students, athletes, and sports fans across the country.

Many know that Tim Tebow is an outstanding athlete and one of the best quarterbacks in the country. As a freshman, he was instrumental in helping the Gators win the

2006 national championship. This past season, Tim threw for 29 touchdowns and ran for 22 touchdowns becoming the first player in major college football history to run and pass for over 20 touchdowns in the same season. Furthermore, Tim's total of 51 touchdowns was a Southeastern Conference record and his 22 rushing touchdowns also set a new conference record as well as a national collegiate record for quarterbacks. Tim's season culminated by becoming the first sophomore to win college football's most coveted and prestigious award, the Heisman Trophy.

The University of Florida is now the only school in the SEC to have three Heisman winners and one of eight schools nationally to have three winners of the prestigious award.

While his achievements on the field are well documented, what many people may not know is that Tim is also a dedicated student who consistently maintains a 3.77 grade point average at one of the Nation's top universities. This is no easy task. His classroom excellence earned Tim first-team Academic All-American honors, becoming only the fourth sophomore in UF history to earn this honor. Tim's ability to balance his commitments to both school and football is truly a testament to his exemplary character and his desire to succeed.

Tim Tebow is a leader on and off the field. His parents have instilled in him a sense of community spirit and compassion for his fellow man, which is evident through his missionary work in the Philippines and his commitment to visiting hospitals across the U.S.

The entire University of Florida community is fortunate to have a scholar-athlete like Tim representing the university both on and off the field. Each time he takes the field, Tim Tebow plays with passion for the game, for his teammates, and for the fans, reminding us why it's great to be a Florida Gator.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield as much time as he may consume to the Congressman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw), who is the Congressman from the hometown of Tim Tebow, the author of this resolution, and a successful college athlete himself, I might add.

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

I rise today as a proud Floridian in support of House Resolution 901, congratulating Tim Tebow for winning the 2007 Heisman Memorial Trophy Award.

Something miraculous happened when he got this award. He was the first sophomore in NCAA history to win the Heisman Trophy, and he joins a very elite group of three people from the University of Florida, all quarterbacks, to win the Heisman Trophy: Tim Tebow, Danny Wuerffel, and Steve Spurrier from my hometown of Johnson City, Tennessee.

We are so proud of all that Mr. Tebow has accomplished, a class person as well as an athlete, and he had a lot of help from his Gator football team, which also won the National Championship in 2006 against Ohio State, as well as a great head coach, Urban Meyer; and a supportive university president, Dr. Bernie Machen.

So we are very honored to be able to have this resolution before us today. I am happy to see my good friend and colleague Representative Crenshaw honoring this exceptional player and all his accomplishments. And we wish him continued success.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).

Madam Speaker, against my better judgment here, I am going to yield 1 minute to a Michigan Wolverine, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton).

Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution honoring the historic accomplishment of Tim Tebow winning the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 901, congratulating and recognizing Tim Tebow for his many athletic accomplishments, including winning the 2007 Heisman Trophy and his humanitarian and academic achievements.

Before enrolling at my alma mater, the University of Florida, Tim spent three summers in the Philippines engaging in missionary work. He spent time at an orphanage listening to the stories of daily struggles that these children face and giving him the opportunity to be a guiding and positive influence in their lives. His example inspired UF football coach Urban Meyer to take a mission trip to the Dominican Republic earlier this month.

His leadership on the football field began when he played quarterback at Nease High School in Ponte Verde and led the Nease Panthers to a State title in 2006. Tim joined the University of Florida Fighting Gator football team in 2006. He helped the Gators win the 2006 SEC championship as well as the BCS national championship that same season.

During the 2007 season, Tim had an astounding total of 51 touchdowns, setting the SEC record. He became the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman Trophy last December. What makes his story even more incredible is that he did it all while maintaining a 3.77 grade point average, majoring in family, youth, and community sciences. Incredible.

Madam Speaker, this young man has served as a great role model for students both at the University of Florida and throughout the Nation due to his exemplary character, his academic achievement, and his unparalleled achievements on the football field. He has said himself that his priorities, in order, are faith, family, academics, and football.

It is with admiration that I rise today to honor his achievements by supporting this resolution.

Go Gators.