Washington, D.C. -  Today the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 348, a resolution introduced by Congressman David Price (D-NC) congratulating the University of North Carolina for winning the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.  The resolution, which was cosponsored by all other members of the state’s House delegation, passed the House by a vote of 423 to 0. 

Representatives Mike Castle (R-DE), Bob Etheridge (D-NC), Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Brad Miller (D-NC), Harold Rogers (R-KY), and others joined Price in celebrating UNC and its championship on the floor yesterday, when the measure was debated.  The vote was rolled until today due to the lack of a quorum yesterday afternoon. 

Price’s full remarks on the floor are copied below. 

CONGRESSMAN DAVID PRICE
FLOOR STATEMENT ON H. RES. 348
MAY 5, 2009

MADAM SPEAKER, I rise in support of House Resolution 348, congratulating the University of North Carolina Men’s Basketball team for winning the 2009 NCAA Division I National Championship. I am pleased to have the support of the entire North Carolina delegation as original cosponsors. 

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a special place to the entire state of North Carolina and, as the nation’s first public university, has long been a beacon of light and liberty in the South.  The academic tradition of excellence and unyielding commitment to public service is what drew me across the mountains from Tennessee to Chapel Hill 50 years ago and largely shaped my life’s further course. 

This year’s success builds on an extraordinary history.  UNC has played in a record 18 “Final Fours” and won the NCAA National Championship in 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005 and 2009. 

While Head Coach Roy Williams inherited a first-class program, he deserves special credit for the exceptional success and character of his teams.  Coach Williams, who is a native of the mountains of North Carolina, has the highest winning percentage of any active coach in men’s basketball and unquestionably sits at the top of his profession. Since he came to Carolina as head coach in 2003, the Tar Heels have won two NCAA championships, four Atlantic Coast Conference regular season championships, and two ACC tournament championships.  The 2008-2009 season marks their third consecutive 30-win season. 

Like the whole community of Carolina basketball fans, I am exceedingly proud of this entire team – the players, coaches and staff – for their outstanding performance in the nation’s most competitive and most-watched college athletics tournament.   In addition to their on-court success, the team has consistently shown academic commitment, appreciation to their fans, good sportsmanship toward their opponents, and respect for the game of basketball.  I am particularly proud that Inside Higher Ed also crowned UNC its national champion in its annual academic NCAA tournament, signifying that UNC has the single best Academic Performance Rate of any NCAA tournament team.  These coaches and players have ably upheld the tradition of excellence, both on the court and in the classroom, established by legendary coaches Dean Smith and Bill Guthridge and now continued by Roy Williams.

As an alumnus and Chapel Hill resident, this program and most recent championship make me particularly proud.  They are my friends and neighbors – Joan Ewing, my dear friend and former district director, is Dean Smith’s sister – and it’s my honor to represent all of them in Congress. 

But this year other alumni and I were not the only fans in Washington cheering the Tar Heels from afar.  President Obama himself picked Carolina to bring home the title, and played a pick-up game with the team last spring before the North Carolina primary election.  It is important to note that he did so while employing a former Duke basketball player as his closest personal aide.  As the Member of this body representing both institutions and a Carolina alumnus who teaches at Duke, I can only salute such feats of athletic bipartisanship with great admiration! 

I urge the House to join President Obama and the North Carolina delegation in celebrating the Tar Heels.  This is an institution and team who are worthy of our praise; not only because they found success, but also because they did it the right way, the Carolina Way.  Hark the sound, and go Heels!