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

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

I was delighted to learn today from my son, Michael--who is visiting us and sitting in the gallery--that while we are looking at 40-mile- per-hour winds and blizzard conditions back in Minnesota, the snow is piling up. My son's good friend and coworker Toby, along with other kids and dads in our hometown, are bundled up in their garages and in their basements as we speak, designing and building their ultimate speed machines--the soap box racers--getting themselves ready for the exciting annual experience.

I personally have nothing but the fondest memories of long hot summer days scrounging the neighborhood for old wagon wheels, axles, two-by- fours, and thin sheets of tin or aluminum as all of us kids in the neighborhood scrambled to build our soap box racers for the annual summer races down Cemetery Hill.

These races were never formally recognized by the proper authorities, I must admit. In fact, we were frequently chased out of the cemetery by

the superintendent and his subordinates, as well as being chased off the city streets, quite frankly, by the local police, who no doubt had our personal safety and the public safety in mind at the time.

But law enforcement and the establishment never stopped us from enjoying those annual summer races. It was nothing but pure creative, constructive, exhilarating joy and pleasure that we experienced in our Soap Box Derby racers.

So with those golden days of yore in mind, I am delighted to support H. Con. Res. 19, extending proper recognition in authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby on June 15 of this year.

I would also like to acknowledge the steadfast support of this event by Mr. Hoyer, who has truly been a champion for his constituents in this regard. This bipartisan resolution has the support of the entire D.C.-area delegation.

On the date of the event, soap boxers from the Greater Washington area will race down Constitution Avenue to test their craftsmanship and their courage in Soap Box Derby racing. 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 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.

Mr. Speaker, I support H. Con. Res. 19 and urge passage of this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I thank the gentleman from Minnesota for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, Congressman Nolan, who was in this body before I was and before you were and before Mr. Barletta was, he has been in public service for a very long period of time. Therefore, I appreciate the remarks he made in support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, which I am proud to have sponsored for the last 22 years.

It allows the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby Association to hold its 72nd annual competition on June 15 on the grounds of this Capitol. This is a longstanding tradition which brings young people ages 8 to 17 and their families from around the D.C. metro area to the Capitol for a fun and educational experience.

Since 1938, the derby 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. America's Soap Box Derbies have been called ``the greatest amateur racing event in the world,'' and on June 15, it will continue to make history.

The derby teaches sportsmanship, hard work, and pride of accomplishment, and it imbues its young participants with that same spirit of innovation that has long fueled America's greatness. The young people who participate in these derbies are often sponsored by community groups, police departments, fire departments, and others who want to invest in our country's future in a very direct and meaningful way.

Every year, I am incredibly proud of my constituents from Maryland's Fifth District who participate. A number of Soap Box Derby champions have come from the Fifth District, including the winners of 2007, 2008, 2009, and last year. The winners in 2007 and 2008, Kacie Rader and Courtney Rayle, respectively, went on to win the national Soap Box Derby championship.

As an aside, Mr. Speaker, I was hoping to be able to say that about the Maryland Terrapins this year, but that, apparently, will not be the case, although I do expect them to win the NIT. Last year's winners from the Fifth District were Brittany Sorli and Brandon Sorli of Waldorf, who won the Masters and Super Stock divisions.

I want to thank the Members who are cosponsoring this resolution: Representatives Gerry Connolly, Donna Edwards, Jim Moran, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Chris Van Hollen, John Delaney, and my classmate who came with me to Congress in the 97th Congress, my dear friend, Frank Wolf. I would urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution, and I thank Mr. Nolan and Mr. Barletta for bringing this resolution to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 19) 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. 19.

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

H. Con. Res. 19 would authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby on June 15, 2013.

I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for introducing this resolution. He has been a long-time supporter of this event and the children involved each year. This event occurs annually on the Capitol Grounds.

The Soap Box Derby allows children to show off their dedication, work, and creativity as they compete for trophies. The winners of each division are qualified to compete in the National All-American Soap Box Derby held in Akron, Ohio.

I support passage of this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I would like to thank the gentleman from Minnesota for his support. I also thank the gentleman from Maryland for introducing this very important resolution and for what it means to so many across our country.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 77 on H. Con. Res. 18, I am not recorded because I was absent due to a death in the family. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall No. 78 on H. Con. Res. 19, I am not recorded because I was absent due to a death in the family. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall No. 79 on moving the previous question for H. Res. 122, I am not recorded because I was absent due to a death in the family. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall No. 80 on H. Res. 122, I am not recorded because I was absent due to a death in the family. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained on Monday, March 18, 2013 so I missed rollcall votes. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: On rollcall vote No. 76 regarding the Journal vote, ``yes,'' on rollcall vote No. 77 regarding the ``Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service'' (H. Con. Res. 18), and on rollcall vote No. 78 regarding the ``Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby'' (H. Con. Res. 19), ``yes.''