S2250 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 5, 2000 there, and that the governments of the earned a number one seed in the Midwest re- Whereas , , United States and Poland should facili- gion of the 1999–2000 N.C.A.A. Tournament; and , provided the Spar- tate the return of Dina Babbit’s art- Whereas the tans with quality minutes off the bench all proved their dominance over the Midwest work to her. year, and particularly in the championship Region in reaching the Final Four, defeating game, where they held their own against the S. CON. RES. 60 Valparaiso 65–38, Utah 73–61, Syracuse 75–58, vaunted Florida bench; At the request of Mr. FEINGOLD, the and Iowa State 75–64; Whereas David Thomas and Adam name of the Senator from Massachu- Whereas in winning the Midwest Region Ballinger, provided valuable contributions the Michigan State Spartans reached the setts (Mr. KENNEDY) was added as a co- throughout the season and the tournament, Men’s Final Four for the second year in a sponsor of S. Con. Res. 60, a concurrent both on and off the court, often providing row, last year losing to the the Spartans with the lift they needed; and resolution expressing the sense of Con- Blue Devils in the semifinals; Whereas the contributions of Steve Cherry, gress that a commemorative postage Whereas the Michigan State Spartans Mat Ishbia and Brandon Smith, both on the stamp should be issued in honor of the vowed after that loss to return to the Final court and in practice, demonstrated the U.S.S. Wisconsin and all those who Four in 1999–2000, and to settle for nothing total devotion of the Spartans players to the served aboard her. less than the ultimate prize; team concept that made the Spartans into Whereas the Michigan State Spartans the most dominating college S. CON. RES. 98 moved one step closer to their goal when team of the new millennium: Now, therefore, they defeated the University of Wisconsin At the request of Mr. DEWINE, the be it name of the Senator from Alabama Badgers 53–41 for the fourth time of the 1999– Resolved, That the United States Senate (Mr. SESSIONS) was added as a cospon- 2000 season to reach the championship game; congratulates the Michigan State University Whereas in that game, the Michigan State Men’s Basketball Team on winning the 1999– sor of S. Con. Res. 98, a concurrent res- Spartans, with an entire team effort that 2000 National Collegiate Athletic Association olution urging compliance with the demonstrated why college athletics are so Men’s Basketball Championship. Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects special, defeated the University of Florida of International Child Abduction. Gators 89–76 on April 3, 2000, and won the f AMENDMENT NO. 2915 N.C.A.A. Men’s Basketball Championship for the second time in the history of the pro- SENATE RESOLUTION 282—CON- At the request of Mr. WELLSTONE, his gram; GRATULATING THE HUSKIES OF name was added as a cosponsor of Whereas Coach , who hails from THE UNIVERSITY OF CON- amendment No. 2915 proposed to S. Iron Mountain, Michigan, in only his fifth NECTICUT FOR WINNING THE 2000 Con. Res. 101, an original concurrent year coaching the team, has proven himself WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAM- resolution setting forth the congres- to be one of the finest coaches in Men’s Col- PIONSHIP sional budget for the United States lege Basketball, and he and his staff instilled By Mr. DODD (for himself and Mr. Government for fiscal years 2001 into the Spartans a will to win second to none, exemplified by their cutthroat defense, LIEBERMAN) submitted the following through 2005 and revising the budg- which suffocated many potent offenses resolution; which was considered and etary levels for fiscal year 2000. throughout the season, and particularly in agreed to: At the request of Mr. HARKIN, his the second half of N.C.A.A. Tournament S. RES. 282 name was added as a cosponsor of games; amendment No. 2915 proposed to S. Whereas , , Whereas the University of Connecticut Con. Res. 101, an original concurrent and A.J. Granger, three seniors who have women’s basketball team won its second na- tional championship in 5 years by defeating resolution setting forth the congres- been playing together for four years and who ended their collegiate careers with a win, the University of Tennessee by the score of sional budget for the United States spurred this team to victory throughout the 71–52; Government for fiscal years 2001 year, Mr. Cleaves with his incredible leader- Whereas the University of Connecticut through 2005 and revising the budg- ship, Mr. Peterson with his clutch shooting, Huskies entered the 2000 NCAA Tournament etary levels for fiscal year 2000. and Mr. Granger with his consistent long with a perfect 15–0 record in the Big East At the request of Mr. DODD, his name marksmanship; Conference and with just one loss during the was added as a cosponsor of amend- Whereas Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, regular season; Whereas National Coach of the Year Geno ment No. 2915 proposed to S. Con. Res. and Charlie Bell, three individuals who hail from Flint, Michigan, and have thus been Auriemma’s team began the season ranked 101, an original concurrent resolution given the nickname ‘‘The Flintstones,’’ have number one in the Nation and will finish the setting forth the congressional budget been playing together since elementary season ranked number one in the Nation; for the United States Government for school, and whose comradeship and loyalty Whereas the University of Connecticut fiscal years 2001 through 2005 and revis- to one another carried out onto the floor, Women Huskies brought the State of Con- ing the budgetary levels for fiscal year and made the Spartans team a family off the necticut its second straight NCAA Basket- 2000. floor as well; ball Title, following the 1999 championship of Whereas Mateen Cleaves, the fearless cap- the University of Connecticut Men’s team; At the request of Ms. MIKULSKI, her tain of the team and the all-time lead- Whereas both Shea Ralph and Svetlana name was added as a cosponsor of er in the Big Ten’s history, who led not only Abrosimova were chosen consensus All- amendment No. 2915 proposed to S. with words but also with the example he set, Americans; Ralph was selected the NCAA Con. Res. 101, an original concurrent who returned to the championship game tournament’s Most Outstanding Player; resolution setting forth the congres- after sustaining a high ankle sprain to his Kelly Schumacher set a championship-game sional budget for the United States right leg, led his team to the title and, like record for blocked shots with 9; and Ralph, Government for fiscal years 2001 a true champion, made good on his word; Abrosimova, Sue Bird, and Asjha Jones were through 2005 and revising the budg- Whereas Morris Peterson, named the Big named to the All-Tournament team; Ten Conference Player of the Year, saved the Whereas the Huskies dominated March etary levels for fiscal year 2000. Michigan State Spartans from the clutches Madness, averaging 91.3 points and a 19-point f of defeat many times this season, and par- margin of victory in the tournament; ticularly in the tournament, with his laser- Whereas University of Connecticut’s 19- SENATE RESOLUTION 281—TO CON- like shooting and stingy defense; point win over Tennessee, the other power- GRATULATE THE MICHIGAN Whereas Charlie Bell, perhaps the best re- house of women’s collegiate basketball, was STATE UNIVERSITY MEN’S BAS- bounding guard in the nation, also led the the second largest margin of victory ever in KETBALL TEAM ON WINNING team with his quickness, tireless defense ef- a championship game; THE 2000 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE fort, and athleticism, and who will be count- Whereas the high caliber of the University ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION MEN’S ed upon for his leadership next year; of Connecticut Women Huskies in both ath- BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Whereas A.J. Granger, displayed his awe- letics and academics has again advanced the some variety of offensive skills in both as- sport of women’s basketball and provided in- Mr. ABRAHAM (for himself and Mr. sisting on, and hitting, several big shots spiration for future generations of young fe- LEVIN) submitted the following resolu- when the Spartans needed them most; male athletes; and tion; which was considered and agreed Whereas , the man in the Whereas the Huskies’ season of accom- to: middle, who was often called on to shut down plishment rallied Connecticut residents of the opposing team’s top player, particularly all ages, from Stamford to Storrs, from Nor- S. RES. 281 in the 1999–2000 tournament, handled his job walk to Norwich, behind a common purpose Whereas the Michigan State Spartans were with a workmanlike skill that defined pro- and inspired a wave of euphoria across the regular season co-cham- fessionalism, and in doing so provided the State: Now, therefore, be it pions, and were winners of the Big Ten Con- Spartans with the whole package the entire Resolved, That the Senate commends the ference Tournament, and, with a 26–7 record, year; Huskies of the University of Connecticut for