Congratulating the Duke University men's basketball team for winning the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague (Ms. Fudge) for yielding, and I thank her and Mrs. McMorris Rogers for their support of H. Res. 1242 and their help in bringing it to the floor.

I am the proud sponsor of this resolution, which congratulates the Duke University men's basketball team for winning the 2010 NCAA Division I National Championship. I have introduced the resolution as the Member of this body privileged to represent Duke University, and I'm pleased to say that it has the support of the entire North Carolina delegation.

From its roots as tiny Trinity College in 1838 to its current status as one of the world's premiere research and educational institutions, Duke University, like its basketball team, is a testament to the virtues of hard work, determination, and excellence--in the classroom, in the community, and in Cameron Indoor Stadium as well.

I actually have the distinction, not always enviable, of representing both sides of college basketball's most intense rivalry. UNC-Chapel Hill is just down the road from Duke. It's also in the Fourth District. I've had an interesting vantage point, having attended UNC and having taught at Duke. Trust me, I understand the importance of team loyalties to Members of Congress, and I also understand the need, occasionally, to balance these loyalties. But I think we can all agree today that the Blue Devils should be commended, and they should be commended unanimously, for reaching this pinnacle of men's college basketball.

At the risk of stoking the flames, let me just talk about the record for a moment. I'd be remiss if I didn't remind my colleagues that the Duke Blue Devils have a long history of success at men's basketball. They've played in 15 Final Fours, and this is their fourth title win in the last two decades.

Despite this record, the team wasn't favored to win a national championship at the beginning of this season. But they peaked at the right time. They finished the year with 10 straight wins. They shared the ACC regular season championship and won outright the ACC tournament championship and the national championship. They finished the season with a 35-5 record, a tie for the most wins this season nationally.

This improbable end to this season underscores that anything is possible in basketball as in politics. It's also a testament to the very idea of what a team should be, greater than the sum of its parts, an idea Duke teams have long exemplified.

I will enclose in the Record at the end of this statement the full roster of this remarkable team, the men on the team and their hometowns.

Special credit is due to head coach Mike Krzyzewski, known far and wide as Coach K, who's built one of college basketball's most stellar programs since he came to Duke in 1980. This season Coach K brought his overall record to 868-279. He won his 77th NCAA tournament game, and he won his fourth national championship. Needless to say, this places this Hall of Famer in elite company. Only Adolph Rupp and John Wooden have won an equal or greater number of national championships.

But his achievements have not been bounded by the baselines of the court. Coach K's success is about mentoring young men, about coaching them to succeed, not just on the court, but also in the classroom and in life. His teams consistently uphold a high standard of academic excellence, achieving a graduation success rate of 92 percent and boasting a strong tradition of Academic All-Americans.

Each step of the way the team was buoyed by its fans, its incredible fans--the Cameron Crazies, they're called--who make Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium one of the toughest places to win in the country. That again proved true this year when the Blue Devils went undefeated on their home court.

This year's national championship game was considered by many to be one of the closest and most exciting title games in tournament history. It literally came down to the last shot.

Butler University and Coach Brad Stevens are also to be congratulated for their strong season and for their effort in a title game that reminded us anew of why the American people simply can't resist March Madness. Both teams deserve recognition for their dedication to sportsmanship and fair play throughout the entire season.

So it's a unique privilege, Madam Speaker, to introduce, I have to note for the second year in a row, the resolution in this body recognizing the NCAA Men's Basketball National Champion. And I'd like, Madam Speaker, for the Record to reflect that I'll be perfectly happy to introduce such a resolution again next year.

In the meantime, I and Duke's many friends and alumni in this body look forward to welcoming the Blue Devils to the White House and to Capitol Hill.

Duke Blue Devils Roster 2009-2010 Season:

#2 Nolan Smith--Upper Marlboro, MD

#3 Seth Curry--Charlotte, NC

#5 Mason Plumlee--Warsaw, IN

#12 Kyle Singler--Medford, OR

#20 Andre Dawkins--Chesapeake, VA

#21 Miles Plumlee--Warsaw, IN

#30 Jon Scheyer--Northbrook, IL

#34 Ryan Kelly--Raleigh, NC

#41 Jordan Davidson--Melbourne, AR

#42 Lance Thomas--Scotch Plains, NJ

#51 Steve Johnson--Colorado Springs, CO

#52 Todd Zafirovski--Lake Forest, IL

#53 Casey Peters--Red Bank, NJ

#55 Brian Zoubek--Haddonfield, NJ

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit.

I am.

Mr. Speaker, I have a simple motion that every American can understand. It says: Stop the out-of-control spending until we balance the budget and get our fiscal house in order. People are worried. They are worried about what this Congress is doing to their children's futures, and rightly so.

This year, the Federal Government will take in $2.1 trillion but will spend $3.6 trillion. Let me say that again. It will take in $2.1 trillion and spend $3.6 trillion. Only in Congress does that math make sense. That's like a family

making $50,000 a year but spending $80,000. If that were your family, Mr. Speaker, making 50 and spending 80, you'd do something about it. You'd cut back. You'd tighten the belt. You'd make responsible decisions. But not this Congress. No, not this Congress. This Congress is spending like there is no tomorrow.

This year, the Federal Government will run a deficit of at least $1.4 trillion. That's 10 percent of GDP. Any economist in the world will tell you that deficits shouldn't be more than 2 or 3 percent of GDP.

What are we spending money on today? Estuaries. That's right. Estuaries. Most Americans have probably never heard of the term.

With our Nation over $12 trillion in debt, borrowing money from China every day to pay our bills, taking in $2.1 trillion, spending $3.6 trillion, record deficits as far as the eye can see, not dealing with the energy crisis, not dealing with the entitlement crisis, replacing freedoms with mandates, replacing private-sector growth with 16,000 new IRS agents, what are we spending people's money on today, on Tax Day? We are spending it on estuaries, a massive increase in funding for estuaries.

Mr. Speaker, come on. Americans are taking to the streets all across the country today, Tax Day, dumping tea in the harbor and standing up against Congress, which is bankrupting their country. What are the Democrats offering them? More spending on estuaries.

Mr. Speaker, before Congress even considers doubling the funding for this program or any other nonessential spending, we must first balance the Federal budget and begin paying down some of the money we borrowed from China and other countries. Estuaries can wait, Mr. Speaker, but fiscal responsibility cannot.

All this motion says is to keep the spending at what it was last year. After all, a lot of families, a lot of taxpayers, a lot of small business owners have been living on last year's spending levels, maybe even something less.

I would ask my colleagues this, Mr. Speaker:

How bad does it have to get before we can begin to take that modest first step and say maybe estuaries can get by on the same amount of money they were on last year? That's all this motion says. All this motion says is let's just keep them where they were last year.

A ``yes'' vote on this motion tells the people you represent back home, the people who are paying their taxes today, who elected us and entrusted us to protect their hard-earned money: Yes, I agree that Congress must set priorities. Yes, I agree that we should forgo such increases until the budget is balanced. Yes, I respect you, the taxpayer, enough to say that I can hold the line on spending even if it means only $35 million for estuaries this year.

Mr. Speaker, I had a coach in high school who was a chemistry and physics teacher--the toughest teacher in the school and the toughest coach in the State. Every single day in class, every single day in the practice room, he would talk about discipline. He had a great definition. He said that discipline is doing what you don't want to do when you don't want to do it. Basically, that meant doing it his way when you'd rather do it your way. It meant doing things the right way when you'd rather do them the convenient way, the easy way.

Discipline is the quality we need in this Congress today. The easiest thing to do in the world is to spend money, particularly someone else's money.

Really simply, this amendment says: Let's have the discipline to say ``no'' to spending. Let's have the discipline to say let's do the right thing today. Let's not do the convenient thing. Let's hold the line on spending and treat taxpayers with a little respect on this day of all days. Treat them with a little respect.

I urge a ``yes'' vote.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, April 15, 2010, I was away from this House on a matter dealing with constituency and official business regarding NASA, and I would like to submit into the Record the following votes if I had been present.

On rollcall vote 204, on agreeing to the resolution, H. Res. 1248. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 205, on a motion to suspend the rules on resolution, H. Res. 1062. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 206, on a motion to refer the resolution, H. Res. 1255. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 207, on agreeing to the amendment, H.R. 4715, the Shea- Porter of New Hampshire amendment. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 208, on a motion to recommit, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Rollcall vote 209, on the final passage of H.R. 4715, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 210, on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to resolution, H. Res. 1242, congratulating Duke University. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Rollcall vote 211, H.R. 4851, on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment H.R. 4851, continuing the extension of unemployment benefits. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the Chair regarding my absence from rollcall votes 204-211 on Thursday, April 15, 2010.

Mr. Speaker, I was not able to cast my votes during rollcall 204-211 on last Thursday because I was away working to save jobs for the American people. I would like to state for the record how I would have voted had I been present.

For rollcall vote 204, on agreeing to the resolution, H. Res. 1248, ``Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4715), Clean Estuaries Act of 2010 and waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules,'' I would have voted aye;

For rollcall vote 205, on motion to suspend the rules and agree as amended, H. Res. 1062, ``Recognizing the Coast Guard Group Astorias' more than 60 years of service to the Pacific Northwest, and for other purposes,'' I would have voted aye;

For rollcall vote 206, on motion to refer the resolution, H. Res. 1255, ``Raising a question of the privileges of the House,'' I would have voted aye;

For rollcall vote 207, on agreeing to the amendment, H.R. 4715, ``Shea-Porter of New Hampshire Amendment,'' I would have voted aye;

For rollcall vote 208, on motion to recommit with instructions, ``To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes,'' I would have voted no;

For rollcall 209 on passage of H.R. 4715, ``To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes,'' I would have voted aye;

For rollcall vote 210 on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1242, ``Congratulating the Duke University men's basketball team for winning the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship,'' I would have voted aye;

For rollcall vote 211, H.R. 4851 on motion to concur in the Senate Amendment H.R. 4851, ``Continuing Extension Act,'' I would have voted aye.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1242) congratulating the Duke University men's basketball team for winning the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous materials on H. Res. 1242 into the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Duke University men's basketball team for winning the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship.

When the final buzzer sounded in the 2010 Men's Basketball NCAA Championship game, two exceptional college basketball programs' seasons came to an end. Both the Duke University Blue Devils and the Butler University Bulldogs played with exceptional talent and dedication. The ball pressure and stifling defenses from both teams led to a low- scoring, yet entertaining, game. The game included five ties, 15 lead changes, and two potentially game-winning shots. In the end, Duke seized their fourth NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, cementing its legacy in college basketball history.

With a 61-59 victory Monday night at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Duke University Blue Devils proved that they are still one of the country's most elite college basketball programs. The Blue Devils finished their regular 2009-2010 season strongly, with a 35-5 record, followed by winning the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. In addition, they were cochampions of the ACC with a record of 13-3, while earning an NCAA tournament number 1 seed. In a tournament where the top seeds were falling and upsets were ample, the Blue Devils consistently dominated their opponents.

This Blue Devils men's basketball season marked Coach Mike Krzyzewski's 30th season at Duke and his fourth NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Better known as Coach K, Coach K has led Duke to the Final Four 11 times during his time with the

team, and this game was his 868th career win as a coach. The 2010 NCAA championship game marked his 77th NCAA tournament game, the most in NCAA history. He won his fourth national championship and tied Adolph Rupp for second most in NCAA history.

Kyle Singler was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, scoring 19 points and collecting nine rebounds while playing all 40 minutes in the championship game. He has been a leader and a remarkable asset to the Blue Devils all season. Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer, and Nolan Smith were each named to the all-tournament team. I congratulate these men and all of the players on a great victory.

The alumni, faculty, and staff have much to be proud of. With over a 75 percent winning rate in the NCAA tournament, the rest of the country measures themselves to Duke.

Once again, I congratulate Duke on winning the national championship. I thank Representative Price for bringing this bill forward.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price) for as much time as he may consume.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Richardson) for 3 minutes.

Madam Speaker, I ask support for House Resolution 1242, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1242, a resolution congratulating the Duke University Men's Basketball team for winning the 2010 NCAA National Championship. As a cosponsor of H. Res. 1242, I would like to commend my colleague from Chapel Hill, Mr. Price, for bringing this bipartisan resolution to the floor today, particularly since he previously served as a Professor in Political Science at Duke before coming to Congress.

On Monday, April 5, 2010, the Duke Blue Devils outlasted an outstanding team from Butler University by a score of 61-59 to win the NCAA National Championship. In the closest National Championship game played since 1989, the Blue Devils--with the starting line up of Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, Lance Thomas, and Brian Zoubek-- captured the school's fourth national title behind the leadership of Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Madam Speaker, the Blue Devils finished the season with a record of 35-5, and on the way to the National Championship, they set a school record in home victories by going undefeated with a mark of 17-0 at historic Cameron Indoor Stadium. Furthermore, Duke won a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championship with a record of 13-3 and won a record 18th ACC Tournament title.

While this National Championship was truly a team effort, it is difficult to overlook the individual contributions that guided this championship run. Kyle Singler was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player and ACC Tournament MVP. Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith were also named to the all-tournament team, and Brian Zoubek averaged 10 rebounds per game throughout the NCAA Tournament. These contributions, among many others, led the Blue Devils to the championship.

Madam Speaker, in his 30th year at the helm of the Blue Devils, Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski coached his 1,000th game at Duke, led the Blue Devils to his 11th Final Four appearance--tying the legendary North Carolina Coach Dean Smith--and 8th National Championship game appearance. In leading Duke to the 2010 National Championship, Coach K tied legendary Kentucky Coach Adoph Rupp with four national championships.

During his time at Duke, Coach K has built a program that embraces the idea of the student-athlete. In addition to the numerous athletic accomplishments, the Blue Devils have also excelled in the classroom. In a study conducted by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida, the Duke Blue Devils achieved a 92% graduation rate, ranking Duke among the highest of the 65 schools that qualified for the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

Madam Speaker, I believe Duke students, alumni, and fans in my Congressional District in Western North Carolina--as well as across the state and nation--can take pride in the accomplishments made by the 2009-2010 Duke Blue Devils. This team represented Duke University, the State of North Carolina, and the ACC in a way that truly embodies the spirit of college athletics. I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 1242.