Congratulating the University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team on winning the 2009 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championship.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 368) congratulating the University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team on winning the 2009 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championships, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 368 into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team for their victory in the 2009 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championship tournament.

On March 21, the college wrestling fans were treated to an exceptional wrestling match as the University of Iowa won its 22nd national team title with a final team score of 96.5 points, edging runner-up Ohio State University by only 4.5 points.

That was the closest margin of victory since Iowa won the 1999 team title by 2 points and only the second time in school history that the Hawkeyes won the NCAA title without an individual champion.

The Iowa Hawkeyes put together a remarkable season. The wrestling team was represented proudly at the NCAA national championship match with nine championship qualifiers. Brent Metcalf, a junior, won his second straight Big Ten title and earned Outstanding Wrestler honors. Dan Erekson, a junior, won his first Big Ten title of the Big Ten championships. In total, the 2009 team produced 15 All-Americans and 19 All-Academic Big Ten athletes.

The Hawkeyes wrestling team is a premier program. The extraordinary achievement of this season is a tribute to the skill and dedication of the many wrestlers, coaches, students, alumni, families and fans that have helped to make the University of Iowa a wrestling powerhouse.

I want to extend my congratulations to Coach Tom Brands, who returned to his alma mater and led the team to a perfect 24-0 overall record, an 8-0 record in Big Ten dual matches, and a national championship in just his third season as a head coach. Impressive feats such as these are why Coach Brands was named the 2009 Coach of the Year by the Big Ten conference.

Congratulations are also in order for assistant coaches Terry Brands, Doug Schwab and Mike Zadick; strength and conditioning coach, Jared Frayer; and administrative assistant, Luke Eustice. They all played a vital part in the success of this talented team.

Last season's victory adds to a robust history. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling program began in 1911 and has produced a rich history of champions with 33 Big Ten conference championships and 22 NCAA Division I national championships.

Winning the national championship, finishing the season with a 24-0 overall record and winning the Big Ten Conference championship for the 33rd time has brought national acclaim to the University of Iowa. I know the fans of the university will revel in this accomplishment as they look forward to the 2010 season.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Loebsack for bringing this resolution forward. Once again, I congratulate the University of Iowa for their success.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support the resolution congratulating the University of Iowa Hawkeye's wrestling team for their victory in the 2009 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championship tournament.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Once again, the gentleman from Puerto Rico, I appreciate you bringing this resolution to the floor and rise today to support House Resolution 368 to congratulate the University of Iowa Hawkeyes on winning the 2009 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championship. This is, indeed, an honor for all those who are working in that system, for all those who are associated with the University of Iowa, as well as the residents of the State of Iowa.

The University of Iowa was founded in 1847 as Iowa's first public institution of higher learning and, since that time, has gained international recognition for its academic, artistic and scientific accomplishments as a public university. It established the first law school and was the first U.S. public university to admit men and women on an equal basis. The University of Iowa's academic and athletic accomplishments have earned the University of Iowa Hawkeyes an international reputation for excellence.

This last school year, in 2009, the university's reputation was furthered by the accomplishments of this wrestling team. The University of Iowa wrestling team began in 1911 and has recently been named one of the top sports dynasties of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated.

Since its founding, the Hawkeye wrestling team has won 22 national championships, as was mentioned by the gentleman from Puerto Rico. The Hawkeyes competed in the first Big Ten meet clear back in 1926, won their first NCAA title in 1975. They won a streak of nine consecutive NCAA team championships from 1978 to 1986. In the 23 wrestling seasons since that time, the Hawkeyes have claimed 11 national championships. The University of Iowa Hawkeye wrestling team undoubtedly has a long and rich history of excellence.

At the head of the outstanding team sits Head Coach Tom Brands, who was

named the Big Ten Coach of the Year and the National Wrestling Coaches Association's Coach of the Year in 2008. Coach Brands is a former gold medalist and made four straight U.S. World or Olympic teams.

He started as head coach with the University of Iowa's wrestling team in 2006 and has been leading the team to excellence since then. The 2009 wrestling season marked the Hawkeye wrestling team's most recent series of achievements. After a successful season, the Hawkeye team was proud to have nine of their athletes qualify for the Division I championships, and with a final score of 96.5, the Hawkeyes were in first place as the national champions.

I am honored to stand in this House today to congratulate and recognize the significant achievements of the players, coaches, and students whose dedication and hard work have led to the success of the University of Iowa Hawkeye wrestling program, as well as the 2009 Division I National Wrestling Championship.

As usual, there is always some kind of personal tie that comes to these types of resolutions. Again, I have people I have known from Utah who have specifically gone to this school, to this program, not just for the quality of the wrestling program it has, but for the quality of the education the institution provides. The State of Iowa should indeed be very proud of this particular institution.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers for this particular resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for 1 minute and revise and extend my remarks.

On Monday, October 26, and Friday, October 23, I was unavoidably delayed on my return to Washington from American Samoa and Samoa where I had been monitoring ongoing relief and recovery efforts of FEMA and others currently underway in response to the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck those islands on September 29. As the Member of Congress with the nation's largest concentration of Samoan Americans on the mainland and as a member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, undertaking this fact-finding mission was directly related to my representational, legislative, and committee responsibilities.

Because of this excused absence I was not present for rollcall votes 814 through 815.

Had I been present I would have voted as follows:

1. On rollcall No. 814. I would have voted aye. H. Res. 368-- Congratulating the University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team on winning the 2009 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championships (Rep. Loebsack--Education and Labor).

2. On rollcall No. 815, I would have voted aye. H. Res. 562-- Congratulating Syracuse University for winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament (Rep. Maffei--Education and Labor).

Madam Speaker, on Monday, October 26 and Tuesday, October 27, 2009, I was unfortunately unable to be present for recorded votes while at home recovering from a collapsed lung.

Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 814 (on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 368, as amended), ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 815 (on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 562), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 816 (on the motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2996), ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 817 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 2489, as amended), and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 818 (on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 854).

Madam Speaker, unfortunately on October 26, 2009, I was unable to cast my votes on H. Res. 368 and H. Res. 562 and wish the Record to reflect my intentions had I been able to vote.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 814 on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 368, Congratulating the University of Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team on winning the 2009 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championships, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 815 on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H. Res. 562, Congratulating Syracuse University for winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Mens Lacrosse Tournament, I would have voted ``aye.''