For Immediate Release

October 20, 2005

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Gene Green (D-Houston), proudly displaying his Astros cap, gave the following statement on the U.S. House of Representatives floor, in honor of the Houston Astros and the Astros organization for their Game 6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, which catapulted them to the first ever Houston Astros visit to the World Series.
 
Mr. Gene Green of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.

 

“Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to congratulate the Houston Astros, the major league baseball team which last night defeated the St. Louis Cardinals to earn the right to go to the 2005 World Series.  This is the first World Series for the City of Houston and the first World Series for the State of Texas.  The Astros and the Texas Rangers were founded in 1962 and 1961 respectively.

 

“Also, first congratulating the team for its hard work and dedication, I wasn’t to express thanks to our owner Drayton McLane, who has been a tremendous asset to the City of Houston.  It was an honor to work closely with him on the Harris County Sports Authority to build what is now Minute Maid Park to replace the historic Houston Astrodome.

 

“I want to salute Tal Smith, who is a great part of the Astros’ organization since the beginning when they were the Colt 45’s.  As the President of Baseball Operations, he has been an integral part of the entire organization.

 

“The Houston Astros do not have one of the highest payrolls in baseball, so the fact that they are now in the World Championship is a tribute to our general manager Tim Purpura and also our manager Phil “Scrap Iron” Garner, who actually played for the Astros years ago.  It is good to have him back home.

 

“Many of the 2005 national League Champion Houston Astros are products of our minor league farm system, not high-priced free agents, including the winner of last night’s game, Roy Oswalt.  The Astros were the best team in baseball for the month of July and never looked back.  Now they are the best team in the National League and look forward to taking on the White Sox’s in the 2005 World Series, Mr. Speaker.

 

“In addition we have a lot of homegrown talent.  Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, again, are some of our great players along with the whole team.  Again, Congratulations.”

###