Congratulating the Onondaga Community College Lady Lazers for winning the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Women's Lacrosse Tournament.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California and the gentleman from Wisconsin for their support of this legislation, which I do support on behalf of the community college team in my district.

I wanted to quickly mention that the word Onondaga is an Hodenosaunee word, an Iroquois word. The Iroquois Confederation was a major Native American confederation of actually

five and then six Native American Indian nations. Its capital was called Onondaga, and, indeed, the word means ``on top of the hill'' and was very, very close to where Syracuse is now--the city that I'm from-- and it's a very, very special place. The college that, indeed, these teams are from is named after that original people.

Our community colleges are a tremendous asset that are too often taken for granted in our communities. In my community, we have one of the best community colleges, Onondaga Community College, and today I rise to congratulate two great lacrosse teams from this college. Before I do, I want to congratulate this college for its academics.

This college is becoming one of the best 2-year institutions of higher learning in this country, thanks in large part to the leadership of President Debbie Sydow. Onondaga is at the forefront of providing education to its students, and exhibits excellence in the high-tech and cutting-edge careers that are becoming the future of the economy in central New York and, indeed, in the country as a whole, particularly in the areas of health care, environmental technology, and high-tech manufacturing. It has become a center for art, music, and culture in our community. And with its extremely popular residence facilities, it now offers the full college experience.

After two or more years of study at Onondaga, students have gone on to transfer their credits and continue their education at some of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in this country, including Columbia, Cornell, Syracuse University, the Rhode Island School of Design, NYU, University of Southern California, and Clarkson.

But I am here today to rise in congratulations of two of the college teams. I am going to congratulate one team now because that's the subject of H. Res. 561, and then I am hoping the gentlelady will yield to me when we consider H. Res. 563. I will talk about the other team.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the Onondaga Community College Lady Lazers for winning the 2009 National Junior College Athletic Association women's lacrosse tournament. I am incredibly proud to represent the Lady Lazers. They had an incredible season and, of course, this national championship.

In 2009, as mentioned, their inaugural season, the Lady Lazers defeated Monroe Community College 9-7 in the finals of the NJCAA women's lacrosse tournament at Herkimer County Community College. This was the conclusion of a fantastic season by a fantastic team. Three Lady Lazers were named First Team NJCAA All-Americans, and all of the Lady Lazers were tremendous representatives of Onondaga College and their community. The 2010 season is already well underway, and the Lady Lazers are currently ranked number two in the country with a 7-1 record.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the OCC Lady Lazers on a tremendous season and a 2009 NJCAA national championship.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 561) congratulating the Onondaga Community College Lady Lazers for winning the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I Women's Lacrosse Tournament.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 561 into the Record.

I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Onondaga Community College Lady Lazers for winning the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Women's Lacrosse Tournament.

On May 10, 2009, the Onondaga Community College Lady Lazers team celebrated their National Junior College Athletic Association Division I championship title with a solid winning score of 9-7 over Monroe Community College. This was an especially notable victory for the Lady Lazers, winning the national title in their first year of existence. Winning the championship game was the conclusion to an outstanding season where their only loss all season was to Monroe College during the regular season. Getting to avenge that loss, resulting in the winning of the championship, made the triumph even sweeter for the team of young athletes.

Each Lady Lazers team member is a proud representative of the community college which is located in the heart of Upstate New York, near the Finger Lakes, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence Seaway as well as the Adirondack Mountains. The community college takes pride in a history of excellence and athletics with more than 200 athletes who participate in one of the institution's 11 competitive teams.

Lady Lazers attacker Lauren Welch was named first team NJCAA All- American in addition to being named the Region III Player of the Year. Midfielders Amanda Cizenski and Emily Pierson were also named First Team All-Americans. Welch, Cizenski, and Pierson were also First Team All-Region selections.

I congratulate these residents as well as the fans all across the great State of New York for their support, dedication, and pride in the Lady Lazers champion team, and I wish them great success in the 2010 season.

I thank Representative Maffei for bringing this resolution forward, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Maffei), who is the author of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 561, congratulating the Onondaga Community College Lady Lazers for winning the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Women's Lacrosse Tournament.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise today in support of House Resolution 561, introduced by our colleague Mr. Maffei, congratulating the Onondaga Community College Lady Lazers for winning the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Women's Lacrosse Tournament.

Noted for its hills, wooded terrain, and expansive view of the surrounding countryside, Onondaga Community College is a college of the State University of New York system. Onondaga is a diverse educational learning community, committed to creating and maintaining an atmosphere where individuality is not only recognized but encouraged to contribute to the fabric of the campus environment. Onondaga Community College serves the educational and economic development needs of the region. Their focus is on a student-centered environment, learning-focused institution with a community-oriented approach.

In addition to its academic success, Onondaga Community College has a history of excellence in athletics and is proud of its more than 200 athletes who participate in one of the institution's 11 competitive teams. In the past 3 years, Onondaga teams have captured five national championships and, in 2009, became the first college in NJCAA history to achieve two simultaneous national championships in men's and women's lacrosse.

On May 10, 2009, the Onondaga Lady Lazers defeated Monroe Community College 9-7 in the finals of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Lacrosse Tournament. The Lady Lazers won the national title in their first year of existence. In addition, Lauren Welch, Amanda Cizenski, and Emily Pierson were named First Team NJCAA All-Americans.

So today we congratulate Onondaga Community College, its students, faculty, and fans on their win. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.