Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.

I thank the Representative of Washington, D.C., for yielding to me, the distinguished gentlelady, Ms. Norton, and I want to thank my friend, Congresswoman Herrera Beutler from Washington State who chairs the subcommittee, and thank her very much for facilitating this coming to the floor and thank her very much for her kind remarks as well.

Mr. Speaker--and I am pleased to call you ``Mr. Speaker''--I rise in strong support of this resolution which I am proud to sponsor, and I have sponsored for many, many years. This resolution allows the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby Association to hold its 71st Annual Greater Washington Soap Box Derby on the Capitol Grounds on June 16.

This is, and I think everybody who has been involved with the Soap Box Derby knows, a wonderful tradition that brings young people from around the area to the Capitol for a fun and educational event. It has taken place since 1938, when Norman Rocca won the inaugural race, besting 223 other contestants as his soap box racer crossed the finish line.

That race has continued for over 70 years, and it has inspired thousands of the region's young people to learn the physics behind gravity racing and the engineering used to design soap box racers.

As a Nation that wants to make things--and as the Speaker knows, I have a Make It in America agenda that I keep trying to sell that is bipartisan, and I think all of us agree that we want to make more things in America--if we are going to make more things in America and be able to export them, we will have to have people who make things. What a wonderful opportunity this is for young people to participate in making something that will then have them be successful, or, in this sense, in the race, make it, win the race.

So I think this is a wonderful enterprise. It brings young people together with their parents and teachers, and it teaches sportsmanship and hard work and pride of accomplishment. America's soap box derbies have been called the ``greatest amateur racing event in the world,'' and we continue celebrating that tradition June 16 here in Washington.

The spirit of competition that fuels these racers is the same spirit that has long energized our Nation's entrepreneurs and innovators. The young people who participate in these derbies are often sponsored by groups from their communities who recognize in them great promise for the future.

I continue to be incredibly proud of those from Maryland's Fifth District who participate, but, indeed, from the District of Columbia, Virginia, the surrounding areas. We have celebrated a number of soap box derby champions from the Fifth District, including the

winners from 2007, 2008, and 2009. We have broken our string, but maybe we will get it back. But everybody is a winner. The winners in 2007 and 2008, Kacie Rader and Courtney Rayle, respectively, went on to win the national championship.

I want to thank those Members who have cosponsored this resolution, my good friends from our area, not only Ms. Norton, who has been one of our leaders, but also Representatives Gerry Connolly, Donna Edwards, Jim Moran, Chris Van Hollen, and Frank Wolf. And again, I thank my good and dear friend from Washington State for her leadership on this; and my colleague and fellow Washington area representative, we are a team on this, and I want to thank Ms. Norton for her extraordinary leadership for not only the District of Columbia but of our region, and on so many important issues to this country.

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

I am delighted to support House Concurrent Resolution 106 which authorizes use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby on June 16, 2012. I would also like to offer my appreciation to the majority and to acknowledge the efforts of Mr. Hoyer, who has been a consistent champion for his constituents in this event, and the entire delegation from this region, who supports this event every year.

On the date of the event, children and young adults from the Greater Washington area race down Constitution Avenue to test their craftsmanship in hand-designed and -constructed soap box vehicles in the Annual Soap Box Derby. Children between the ages of 8 and 17 will be competing for the opportunity to race in the National All-American Soap Box Derby held every August in Akron, Ohio.

Consistent with all events using the Capitol Grounds, this event is open to the public and free of charge. The organizers will work with the Capitol Police and the Architect of the Capitol to organize the details of the event.

I strongly support H. Con. Res. 106 and urge passage of this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the bipartisanship of this bill. To my good friend, the minority whip from Maryland, I can only say that the championship that your own district brought back is enough to make us think that our area teams might one day have a championship.

We know this much: these students have to construct these soap boxes themselves. I mean, this is your STEM leaders still to come, the engineers of the future.

I have no further speakers, and I appreciate all of the support of our good friends on the other side.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 106) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 106.

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

H. Con. Res. 106 would authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby on June 16, 2012.

This event occurs annually on the Capitol Grounds. The Soap Box Derby allows children to show off their dedication, hard work, and creativity as they compete for trophies. And as someone who has participated in derbies myself, Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. The winners of each division are then qualified to compete in the National Soap Box Derby.

I am excited to urge my colleagues to support passage of this resolution.

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

I thought that was compelling, Mr. Speaker, and I am very excited that we are going to hear next from a gentleman who has been a big champion of the Soap Box Derby for many moons now.

With that, I will continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support passage of this resolution. And with that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed en bloc to the consideration of some concurrent resolutions: Resolutions numbered H. Con. Res. 105, H. Con. Res. 106, H. Con. Res. 117, and H. Con. Res. 118.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolutions be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.