Commending Lance Mackey on winning a record 4th straight Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Madam Speaker, last week, due to a death in the family, I was not present to vote on the House floor. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes:

Rollcall 291: H. Con. Res. 278 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree--``yes.''

Rollcall 292: H.R. 1017 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 293:. H.R. 5330 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 294: H.R. 5145 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 295: H. Res. 1258 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 296: H. Res. 1382 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 297: H. Res. 584 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 298: H.R. 3885 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 299: H.R. 2711 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Concur in the Senate Amendments--``yes.''

Rollcall 300: H. Res. 1189 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 301: H. Res. 1172 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 302: H. Res. 1347 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 303: H. Res. 1385 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 304: H. Res. 1316 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 305: H. Res. 1169 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 306: H. Con. Res. 282 On Agreeing to the Resolution--``no.''

Rollcall 307: H. Res. 1404 On Agreeing to the Resolution--``no.''

Rollcall 308: H. Res. 1161 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 309: H. Res. 1372 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 310: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``yes.''

Rollcall 311: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``yes.''

Rollcall 312: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 313: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``yes.''

Rollcall 314: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 315: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 316: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``yes.''

Rollcall 317: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 318: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``yes.''

Rollcall 319: H.R. 5136 On Approving the Journal--``no.''

Rollcall 320: H. Res. 1391 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--``yes.''

Rollcall 321: H. Res. 1403 On Ordering the Previous Question--``no.''

Rollcall 322: H. Res. 1403 On Agreeing to the Amendment--``no.''

Rollcall 323: H. Res. 1403 On Agreeing to the Resolution, as Amended--``no.''

Rollcall 324: H.R. 4213 On Concurring in the Senate amdt with amdt (except portion comprising section 532--``no.''

Rollcall 325: H.R. 4123 On concurring in Senate amdt with portion of amdt comprising section 523--``no.''

Rollcall 326: H.R. 5116 First Portion of the Divided Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 327: H.R. 5116 Second Portion of the Divided Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 328: H.R. 5116 Sixth Portion of the Divided Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 329: H.R. 5116 Seventh Portion of the Divided Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 330: H.R. 5116 Eighth Portion of the Divided Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 331: H.R. 5116 Ninth Portion of the Divided Question-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 332: H.R. 5116 On Passage--``no.''

Rollcall 333: H.R. 5136 On Agreeing to the En Bloc Amendments, as Modified--``yes.''

Rollcall 334: H.R. 5136 Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair-- ``no.''

Rollcall 335: H.R. 5136 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions-- ``yes.''

Rollcall 336: H.R. 5136 On Passage--``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1189) commending Lance Mackey on winning a record 4th straight Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I present House Resolution 1189 for consideration. This resolution honors Lance Mackey for his record of four consecutive wins at the Iditarod.

House Resolution 1189 was introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Alaska, Representative Don Young, on March 17, 2010. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered the measure reported by unanimous consent on April 14, 2010. Notably, House Resolution 1189 enjoys the support of over 80 Members of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, Lance Mackey's ability to win a record fourth consecutive Iditarod can truly be characterized as a remarkable achievement. As the residents of Alaska well know, the Iditarod takes place on 1,150 miles of grueling landscape across the State. Competitors race over mountain ranges, through tundra and spruce forests and across frozen rivers.

Mr. Mackey completed this year's race from a start in Anchorage to the finish line in Nome in just 8 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes and 9 seconds, the second-fastest finish in the history of this race.

In addition, he is the only person ever to be crowned Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion four times in a row and the only person to win both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod race in the same year, a feat that he accomplished in both 2007 and 2008.

Mr. Mackey's accomplishments have also served as an inspiration to the cancer community. In 2001, Mr. Mackey was diagnosed with throat cancer. He took a year off from racing in order to battle the disease.

Thankfully, Mr. Mackey is now considered cancer-free and often speaks to a variety of cancer patient groups about his fight and his recovery.

Mr. Speaker, let us now take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Mackey on his historic victory. I thank the gentleman from Alaska for introducing House Resolution 1189. I would also like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) for his support of this measure.

I urge my colleagues to support the House Resolution 1189.

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

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman for his thoughtful remarks and ask Members on both sides of the aisle to support Mr. Young in his resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, to facilitate matters, I will include my remarks in the Record at the conclusion of these proceedings.

With that, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from Alaska (Mr. Young).

(Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1189, commending Lance Mackey on winning a record 4th straight Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. This resolution not only congratulates Mackey on his incredible successes but also recognizes the importance of the Iditarod race and all of the prestige that it brings to Alaska every year.

Since the 1970s, the Iditarod Sled Dog Race--frequently referred to as the `Last Great Race on Earth'--has attracted the best dog sled racers (known as mushers) and dog teams from around the world to compete in Alaska. The 1,150 mile Iditarod trail race is famous around the world because of its difficulty and because of the incredible talent that it attracts every year. The Iditarod's official site explains the extreme difficulty of the trail saying that nature ``throws jagged mountain ranges, frozen river, dense forest, desolate tundra, and miles of windswept coast at the mushers and their dog teams.

Add to that temperatures far below zero, winds that can cause a complete loss of visibility, the hazards of overflow, long hours of darkness and treacherous climbs and slide hills, and you have the Iditarod.'' In addition to a very exciting race, the Iditarod race every year attracts fans and spectators from around the world and creates many important jobs for Alaskans.

Lance Mackey who won this year's Iditarod race provides an inspiration not only to fans of the Iditarod but to all Americans.

Mackey grew up in a family of dedicated and victorious mushers as both his dad and his brother have won the Iditarod race. In 2001, Mackey suffered a severe career and life set back when he became sick with throat cancer. However, after a year of treatment and away from dog sledding, Mackey recovered from his cancer and was able to resume his career. Just a few years later he won his first Iditarod race and then went on to win three more times for a record four consecutive wins.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. The annual Iditarod race is an amazing event not just for Alaska but for the entire country, and Lance Mackey, the champion for the last four years, deserves our recognition and congratulations.

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

I thank the chairman and the ranking member.

This is a resolution recognizing Lance Mackey. I know Lance personally. As the chairman mentioned, last March he made Alaskan history by being the first person to win four consecutive Iditarod races. My friends, that's a little over 4,450 miles across nearly 1,200 miles of Alaskan wilderness from Willow to Nome.

His exceptional fast time this year makes him only one of two finishers to finish the race in less than 9 days. Remember, this is over a thousand miles in less than 9 days. Lance was also the only person to have won the Yukon Quest four times, a thousand mile dogsled race from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon. In 2007 and 2008, he won both the Iditarod and Yukon Quest in the same year within 2 weeks of one another, otherwise over 2,000 miles within 2 weeks.

Lance Mackey was born and raised in Alaska and comes from a long line of successful mushers. His father, Dick, helped form the Iditarod race in 1973, and I have raced with Dick Mackey when he was there and I was a lot younger. His brother, Rick, along with his father, have each won the Iditarod race.

Like both his father and mother, Lance won on his sixth day wearing lucky bib number 13. Mackey considers his dogs to be the true champions, and his team was guided this year by lead dogs Maple and Rev, who had big shoes to fill after the retirement of Larry, who led Lance's team during his first three Iditarod wins.

In 2001, as it was mentioned, Lance Mackey was diagnosed with throat cancer. He continued to run in the 2002 Iditarod with a feeding tube in his stomach, but had to pull out of the race halfway through. After extensive surgery, radiation treatment, a yearlong break from racing, and the loss of an index finger, he is now fully recovered and cancer- free.

Lance Mackey is married to his high school sweetheart, Tonya, who is also a musher. They have four children: Amanda; Brittney; Alanah; and Cain. Together they run the Comeback Kennel in Fox, Alaska.

Lance Mackey is a real-life hero and an inspiration to thousands of Alaskan Americans who religiously follow the Iditarod. I want to commend Lance for the great achievement of winning the four straight Iditarods. This is a great Alaskan. Thank you, Lance.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I missed the following recorded votes on the House floor the legislative week of Monday, May 24, 2010.

For Monday, May 24, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 291 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 278), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 292 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 1017), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 293 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 1330).

For Tuesday, May 25, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 294 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 5145), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 295 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1258), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 296 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1382), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 297 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 584), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 298 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3885), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 299 (on motion to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to H.R. 2711), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 300 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1189), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 301 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1172).

For Wednesday, May 26, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 302 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1347), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 303 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1385), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 304 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1316), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 305 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1169).

For Thursday, May 27, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 306 (on agreeing to H. Con. Res. 282, providing for an adjournment or recess of the two Houses), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 307 (on agreeing to H. Res. 1404, providing for consideration of H.R. 5136), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 308 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1161), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 309 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1372).