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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs. Craig) for yielding and I thank my friend, Mr. Meadows, for his comments, for his support of this effort, which is, as he said and as Congresswoman Craig said, very much about giving young people a sense of competition, a sense of accomplishment, a sense of creating a vehicle through their own hands and their own work and their own efforts. So this is a very good effort for us and for young people.

One of my favorite events of the year is the Soap Box Derby.

I am speaking, of course, from experience in terms of our district, which I am going to talk about.

This resolution that has been called up today, along with other members of the region's Congressional delegation, Representatives Connolly, Beyer, and Wexton from Virginia, and David Trone, John Sarbanes, and Anthony Brown from Maryland, and, of course, the Representative of the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton, who is a big supporter of this, authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the derby.

Now, Mr. Speaker, this is my 28th year sponsoring the Soap Box Derby resolution, and I am pleased that it has passed every year unanimously. This is the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby's 78th year.

It will be held on, as has been said, June 15, and we will see soap box racers from ages 8 to 17 compete in three divisions: stock, super stock, and masters.

The winners from each division, as has been said, will each have a chance to compete at the National All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio.

Soap box derbies have been called the greatest amateur racing event in the world.

In America, we have a long tradition of families participating, and many adults carry fond memories with them throughout their lives of having built soap box racers with their parents or other relatives during their childhood.

Soap box derbies are educational, teaching children about sportsmanship, engineering, manufacturing, and leadership.

Many of the racers are sponsored by civic groups, police and fire departments, and service organizations, with members coming out to cheer on their participants.

Several greater Washington soap box champions, as it will not surprise you, I am sure, Mr. Speaker, have come from Maryland's Fifth District in recent years, including the winners from 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, and last year, 2018.

So we are really into this and we have some very, very talented young people who are excited about participating, and obviously do well.

Our racers, Mr. Speaker, even won the National Championship in both 2007 and 2008. So the Soap Box Derby is a big deal in the Fifth Congressional District.

Last year, Tyler Jameson from Hollywood, Maryland, won the stock division. His brother Ryan Jameson won ``Best Decorated'' soap box racer in the super stock division. It was decorated as a Maryland flag, which we love very, very much.

Aspen Tomasello from Waldorf, Maryland, which I represent, won in super stock and then went on to win third place at the National All- American Soap Box Derby race in Akron.

Kenny Tomasello, her brother, prevailed in the masters division and took fifth place in Akron.

I have a lot of confidence in our Fifth District folks, and, Mr. Speaker, you can imagine I would be in a lot of trouble if this resolution didn't pass allowing them to compete in this wonderful event.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the organizers of the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby as well as the cosponsors of this resolution, and in particular, Congresswoman Craig and Congressman Meadows for their support and help in getting this passed.

Mr. Speaker, it is a fun event, but it is also a great event to teach young people values and participation and competition.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 19 that indeed authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the annual Greater Washington Soap Box Derby on June the 15th.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I am being very clear: had I not risen in support of this, the gentleman from Maryland would have given me what for, not today, not tomorrow, but from now until the end of time. So I recognize the gentleman from Maryland's unyielding support for this particular effort and I join him in that. I certainly also recognize his desire to really support the youth that get involved in this.

I have been one of the few Members of Congress, other than the gentleman I just referred to, to actually witness these races.

We don't have those, Mr. Speaker, in North Carolina. I live in the mountains. If you start a soap box derby up there, we would end up in Atlanta, Georgia, by the time we were finished.

I can tell you we are very pleased to help. The mission of the Soap Box Derby is to build knowledge and character and to teach fair and honest competition. Indeed, it does exactly that.

As the gentlewoman has expressed, it has been around since 1934.

Carrying on this time-honored tradition allows children to demonstrate their dedication and creativity.

Winners from this local competition will actually go on to other races and compete, hopefully, at the world championship in Akron, Ohio.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate my support for this particular resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I was very jovial early on, but I want to get serious for just a moment. On this floor, you will see passionate debate, oftentimes, that is divided by this center aisle. Yet, on this particular issue and others like them, the Boys and Girls Club and other things that actually minister to the needs of children in our Nation, the gentleman from Maryland is not only an advocate, he is a champion.

I want to recognize that this day and thank the gentleman from Maryland for his leadership, not only on this but on a number of things that affect our youth in this great country.

Today, we are unanimous in support of promoting that future generation, and I thank the gentleman for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, 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. 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 within 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.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 19 authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 2019 Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.

This year's derby marks the 78th running of this event in the District.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Steny Hoyer, who has been such a champion for this event for his constituents.

The Soap Box Derby allows children to develop leadership skills and highlight their creativity, dedication, and commitment to their communities.

Not only are these youngsters competing for a trophy and the glory of being the fastest car down the course, but the winners of each division qualify to compete in the National Soap Box Derby at the Derby Downs track in Akron, Ohio.

As with all events using the Capitol Grounds, this event is open to the public and free of charge. Its organizers will coordinate with the Capitol Police and the Architect of the Capitol.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support passage of this resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I missed votes on Monday, April 8, and Tuesday, April 9. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Roll Call Vote Number 157 (Passage of H. Con. Res. 19): YES; Roll Call Vote Number 158 (Passage of H.R. 1331, the Local Water Protection Act): YES; Roll Call Vote Number 159 (Approval of the Journal): YES; Roll Call Vote Number 160 (Ordering the Previous Question): YES; Roll Call Vote Number 161 (Passage of H. Res. 294): YES; and Roll Call Vote Number 162 (Passage of H.R. 1759, the Building on Reemployment Improvements to Deliver Good Employment for Workers Act or BRIDGE for Workers Act): YES.

Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained on April 8, 2019 during roll call no. 157, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to H. Con. Res. 19, Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I was also unavoidably detained during roll call no. 158, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 1331, the Local Water Protection Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I was unavoidably detained during roll call no. 159, on Approving the Journal. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''