Honoring Jimmie Johnson, 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 957) honoring Jimmie Johnson, 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am proud to present House Resolution 957 for consideration.

This resolution honors Jimmie Kenneth Johnson and the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet team for winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

H. Res. 957 was introduced by my colleague, Representative Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, on December 8, 2009, and favorably reported out of the House Oversight Committee by a voice vote on January 27, 2010. In addition, H. Res. 957 enjoys the support of more than 60 Members of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution congratulates Jimmie Johnson for winning a historic fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. By winning the 2009 championship, Mr. Johnson becomes the first driver in history to win the Sprint Cup Championship four consecutive times, breaking Cale Yarborough's previous record of three straight championships.

In true American fashion, Mr. Johnson, a native of El Cajon, California, and a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina, rose from humble roots to the pinnacle of the NASCAR world. This year Mr. Johnson accomplished something no other driver in NASCAR history has accomplished. Not only has he won the last four NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships but has done so with unwavering poise, class, and humility.

To put Mr. Johnson's unprecedented achievement in context, only NASCAR legends Lee Petty, Richard Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Jeff Gordon have won more than two NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships in their career. Furthermore, Mr. Johnson's most recent NASCAR Sprint Cup series championship ties him with teammate Jeff Gordon on the list of all-time champions.

Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I failed to take this opportunity to also congratulate all of the people who helped Mr. Johnson, of course, win. Mr. Johnson's success would not have been possible without the help of crew chief Chad Knaus, team owner Rick Hendrick, and, of course, car owner and racing legend Jeff Gordon, and the countless other team members who helped Mr. Johnson win the last four NASCAR Sprint Cup Championships.

Beyond his impressive accomplishments on the race track, Mr. Johnson has never forgotten his humble beginnings and continues to give back to the community, and I think that is so important.

In 2006, Mr. Johnson and his wife, Chandra, founded the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, which is dedicated to assisting children, families, and communities in need throughout the United States. The foundation helps build places to play and places to live, saves lives through blood collection and adding individuals to the National Bone Marrow Program registry, and helps grant the wishes of children and adults who are in need. Since its inception nearly 4 years ago, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation has contributed more than $2 million to various organizations.

Mr. Speaker, for his racing accomplishments and his charitable efforts, let us, as a body, take this opportunity to congratulate Jimmie Johnson, the Associated Press Male Athlete of 2009, and of course the Lowe's Chevrolet team, for winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 957. And I say to the gentleman from North Carolina, this is a great thing. And, of course, sometimes we do not pay tribute to people that need to have tribute paid to them, but this is a person that has accomplished great things, and I am happy my colleague (Mr. McHenry) has recommended that we recognize this effort.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, I encourage my friends on both sides of the aisle to join me in congratulating Jimmie Johnson and the Lowe's Chevrolet team on the impressive accomplishment through the passage of House Resolution 957, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I thank the chairman for his kind words.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution honoring the accomplishments of Jimmie Johnson, the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion. Now, this is a politically charged issue for my district because I represent a number of drivers and a number of NASCAR teams; and to honor any one of them, well, it's tough. It's like baseball in certain areas of the country or football or college football or college basketball in North Carolina. But NASCAR teams are real and potent in my district.

But this is a special resolution because Jimmie Johnson has achieved something no one else in NASCAR history has achieved, and that is four straight championships. He is with a great team, with a great crew chief, Chad Knaus. Powered by Hendrick Motor Sports and Chevrolet, the No. 48 Lowe's Chevy has done something unique in NASCAR history.

Jimmie Johnson started out in very humble roots in El Cajon, California; and now he resides in my home State

of North Carolina. He grew up in a working-class suburb, the son of a bulldozer operator and school bus driver who raised Jimmie Johnson and his two younger brothers in a modest home and made financial sacrifices to give their sons the best opportunity to pursue their passions; and for Jimmie, that was racing.

His love of speed was evident even from the time he was just a young child. He began his racing career on 50cc motorcycles when he was just 5 years old. From there, he moved up to four-wheelers where he found his true calling with four wheels--not two--and moved into his 2002 rookie season in NASCAR at the top level of the series. And he became the first rookie to sweep both races at one track, and that was done at Dover International Speedway in 2002. He also became the first rookie ever to lead in the point standings; and to date, that remains the case. He is still the only one in their rookie season to lead the point standing.

And he is named the Male Athlete of 2009 by the Associated Press, the 2009 Sprint Cup Series Driver of the Year, and was contender for Driver of the Decade for the 2000s.

In 2006, together with his wife, Chandra, he founded the Jimmie Johnson Foundation to assist children, families, and communities in need throughout the United States.

Jimmie rose from humble roots and achieved the pinnacle of success. Now he is on for the Drive for Five. He wants five in a row. His story is truly an embodiment of the American Dream. Jimmie Johnson and the No. 48 Lowe's Chevy have made history by being a part of the Nation's number one spectator sport.

NASCAR represents the best of American professional sports, especially in my region. They're unmatched by the loyalty of their fans and participation by Fortune 500 companies more so than any other sport. And with the iconic Daytona 500 quickly approaching in just over a week's time, please join me in honoring Jimmie Johnson for his seven wins, 16 top fives, 24 top tens, an unmatched Race for the Chase. In the final 10 races of 2009, he had an average Chase finish of 6.8, which is absolutely amazing considering the competition they currently have in NASCAR.

And we pay honor to Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus, and the whole crew of the No. 48 Chevrolet sponsored by Lowe's.

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

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I was unable to be present in the Capitol for votes on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 2 and 3, 2010.

On February 2, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' to suspend the rules and pass:

H.R. 4495, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 North Taylor Lane in Patagonia, Arizona, as the ``Jim Kolbe Post Office.''

H. Res. 957, Honoring Jimmie Johnson, 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion.

H. Res. 1014, Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of North American Inclusion Month.

On February 3, had I been present, I would have voted:

H. Res. 1051, Providing for consideration of H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, on Ordering the Previous Question-- ``yea.''

H. Res. 1051, Providing for consideration of H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, on Agreeing to the Resolution--``aye.''

H. Res. 1043, Recognizing Brescia University for 60 years of leadership in higher education, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--``yea.''

H. Res. 901, Recognizing the 49th anniversary of the first day of integrated schools in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--``yea.''

H. Res. 1044--Commemorating the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration and extermination camp, honoring the victims of the Holocaust, and expressing commitment to strengthen the fight against bigotry and intolerance, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended--``yea.''

On the Hastings (FL) Amendment, on Agreeing to the Amendment-- ``aye.''

On the Flake (AZ) Amendment, on Agreeing to the Amendment--``aye.''

On the Dahlkemper (PA) Amendment, on Agreeing to the Amendment-- ``aye.''

On the Cuellar (TX) Amendment, on Agreeing to the Amendment--``aye.''

On the Connolly (VA) Amendment, on Agreeing to the Amendment-- ``aye.''

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, February 2 and Wednesday, February 3, 2010, I was unable to be present for votes while I was attending to a health-related matter.

Had I been present on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 26 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 4495), ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 27 (on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 957), and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 28 (on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1014).

Had I been present for votes on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 29 (on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 1051), ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 30 (on agreeing to H. Res. 1051, the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 4061), ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 31 (on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1043, as amended), ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 32 (on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 901, as amended), and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 33 (on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1044, as amended).

Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on the following legislative measures on February 2, 2009. If I were present for rollcall votes, I would have voted ``yea'' on each of the following:

Roll 26, February 2, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass: H.R. 4495, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 North Taylor Lane in Patagonia, Arizona, as the Jim Kolbe Post Office.

Roll 27, February 2, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree: H. Res. 957, Honoring Jimmie Johnson, 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion.

Roll 28, February 2, 2010: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree: H. Res. 1014, Recognizing and supporting the goals and ideals of North American Inclusion Month.