Commending the University of Georgia Gymnastics Team for winning the 2009 NCAA National Championship.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 386) commending the University of Georgia Gymnastics Team for winning the 2009 NCAA National Championship, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 386 in the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to congratulate the University of Georgia's gymnastics team on their 2009 NCAA National Championship.

On April 17, the University of Georgia supporters were treated to a 10th national championship. Closing out a spectacular season for the Gym Dogs, while also closing the immaculate career of retiring Coach Suzanne Yoculan on the highest note possible.

The Gym Dogs entered the NCAA championship as the number one seed and won their fifth consecutive national championship, scoring a 197.825, their second best point total of the season, to beat out second place Alabama's 197.575, and third place Utah's 197.425 in the final meet of Coach Yoculan's illustrious career.

Coach Yoculan's 26-year career finishes with a long list of accolades: Nine NCAA championships, 16 Southeastern Conference titles, 21 NCAA regional crowns, eight Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year honors, five NCAA Coach of the Year awards, 33 individual titles, and 57 All-Americans.

Coach Yoculan and the Gym Dogs have also been a force in the community under her tenure, raising more than $125,000, assisting with causes such as northeast Georgia's United Way, the Athens area Habitat for Humanity, the Athens Regional Medical Center's Breast Health Center, and the Special Olympics.

The Gym Dogs represent one of the most consistently successful athletic programs in NCAA history. The 2009 national champions were led by seniors Courtney Kupets, a three-time all-around champion, Abby Stack, Paige Burris, and Tiffany Tolnay. The team also included the juniors by the names of Lauren Johnson, Courtney McCool, Marcia Newby, Lauren Sessler, and Grace Taylor; sophomores Hilary Mauro and Cassidy McComb; and freshmen Mariel Box, Kathryn Ding, Gina Nuccio and Amber Trani.

As we congratulate the Gym Dogs, Mr. Speaker, who carried a cumulative 3.36 GPA, we must also acknowledge the University of Georgia for being consistently ranked as one of the Nation's top public universities. UGA encompasses 16 schools and colleges that offer students a range of educational opportunities. UGA's graduate school offers 95 doctoral, 143 master's, and 19 specialist degrees across its programs, as well as a variety of professional development and portfolio-enhancing programs.

I want to thank Representative Broun for bringing this resolution forward.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I congratulate the University of Georgia and the Gym Dogs for their consistent success.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, the resolution before the House obviously congratulates an outstanding team. The Gym Dogs, under their coach at the University of Georgia, Coach Yoculan, have achieved great records. They have broken records and established a tremendous multiyear record, all while being great achievers in the classroom. For these reasons, I commend the Gym Dogs and encourage the House to support this resolution honoring a great team.

I yield back my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia, the sponsor of this resolution, Mr. Broun.

(Mr. BROUN of Georgia asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. Speaker, in the interest of time, I will submit my full remarks for the Record, but I do want to extend my congratulations to the University of Georgia President Michael Adams, Athletic Director Damon Evans, Head Coach Suzanne Yoculan, and her staff, the hardworking gymnasts, and the fans. I wish all involved continued success, and I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 386 commending the University of Georgia Gymnastics Team for winning the 2009 NCAA National Championship.

There are many words which could be used to describe the Gym Dogs at the University of Georgia, but without question the one constant is success.

UGA's gymnastics program has won 10 National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships, and the 2009 title represents the team's 5th consecutive honor. In addition, the program has won 16 Southeastern Conference Championships. Sixty-eight gymnasts have earned 267 All- American awards, 33 gymnasts have won NCAA individual titles, and, for 12 of the past 17 years, there has been at least one Gym Dog atop the awards stand as an NCAA individual title winner.

Chartered by the Georgia General Assembly in 1785, the University of Georgia is America's first state chartered university and the birthplace of the American system of public higher education. With its statewide mission and core characteristics, UGA endeavors to prepare the university community for full participation in the global society of the twenty-first century. Through its programs and practices, UGA seeks to foster the understanding of and respect for cultural differences necessary for an enlightened and educated citizenry. UGA provides for cultural, ethnic, gender and racial diversity in the faculty, staff and student body.

Whether it is success on the field of play, or commitment to academic excellence, the University of Georgia is a shining example of our nation's system of higher education.

I extend my congratulations to University of Georgia President, Michael Adams; Athletic Director, Damon Evans; Head Coach, Suzanne Yoculan and her staff, the hard working gymnasts, and the fans. I wish all involved continued success and ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my resolution, House Resolution 386, which honors my alma mater, the University of Georgia, and especially the women's gymnastic team, who have, once again, won the NCAA national championship.

I would like to thank the chairman, the ranking member, and the staff of the House Committee on Education and Labor for working with me and my staff to bring this resolution to the floor.

A new level of excellence has now been set by the University of Georgia's gymnastics program. For 5 consecutive years, this team has earned a championship crown, giving the University of Georgia the most successful women's gymnastics program in collegiate history and making Suzanne Yoculan the sport's most successful coach.

This historic team, led by four dedicated seniors, rallied for a dramatic come-from-behind win to allow Coach Yoculan to retire on top. In fact, during 18 of Ms. Yoculan's 26 years as head coach, she has taken her squad to a Southeastern Conference title, an NCAA championship title, or both.

The University of Georgia's women's gymnastics team certainly deserves our congratulations for their hard work in winning a championship, but they should also be recognized for their outstanding academic achievements. They posted a collective 3.36 GPA. Boy, that is something for an athlete to be able to have that kind of GPA. But to have the coach of a team that gives us that collective GPA, that is unheard of almost.

I congratulate the Gym Dogs for another championship, and I urge my colleagues to join me in praising their achievements, both in and out of the classroom, by voting for this resolution.