Congress Accommodated NCAA Football Championship

From a floor discussion on the Legislative Program:

Rep. Roy Blunt [R-MO]:

On the Tuesday schedule, I have had one Member come up to me during our discussion and wanted me to ask if there is any possibility that 3 to 4 votes could slip closer to 5 just because of a number of travel concerns that Members have, particularly west coast members.

Rep. Steny Hoyer [D-MD]: We could try. But let me say in all fairness, our original intent was to meet and have votes at 6:30 on Monday. There is a very important event happening Monday night, particularly for those who live in Ohio and Florida.

In the spirit of comity, and I know if Maryland were playing, I would want to be accommodated and I want to accommodate my friend, Mr. Boehner. So we have done that; but it has put us in a position where we thought we would have come back Monday. That is not the case. We will have votes as late as possible, but we cannot guarantee. That leaves us a shorter period of time to do the work we have scheduled. So I cannot guarantee, but we are going to try to keep it for your Members' sake, for our Members' sake, and we understand the west coast travel issue, as late as we can in the day, but cannot guarantee later than 3:30 or 4 o'clock.

Following the Florida Victory:

H.Res. 39 - Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D-FL] - Floor Speech - Commending the University of Florida Gators for their victory in the 2006 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and for winning the national college football championship.

H.Res. 44 - Rep. Clifford Stearns [R-FL] - To commend the University of Florida Gators for winning the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game.

S.Res. 25 - Sen. Bill Nelson [D-FL] - A resolution congratulating the University of Florida football team for winning the 2006 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship.
Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent.

And a bonus:

S.Res. 26 - Sen. Elizabeth Dole [R-NC] - A resolution commending the Appalachian State University football team for winning the 2006 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-AA Football Championship.
Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent.