[Page H773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING MANUAL HIGH SCHOOL'S BASKETBALL TEAM

  (Mr. LaHOOD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thought I would deliver my 1 minute on 
this side of the aisle today, given the fact that we are beginning, 
this weekend, the first historic bipartisan retreat, where over 220 
Members from both sides of the aisle will depart to Hershey, PA, with 
165 spouses and 100 children to begin to work together and, hopefully, 
develop a rapport so that we can carry out the people's business in a 
more civil way.
  Today, I rise, though, to pay tribute to a high school basketball 
team in my hometown of Peoria, the Manual Rams, who are currently 
ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Today. The Manual Rams have been 
ranked No. 1 for the past 5 weeks. The team is led by head coach Wayne 
McClain and has three all-State players: Marcus Griffin, Sergio 
McClain, and Frankie Williams.
  Manual is the three-time defending Illinois State champion and they 
are currently on track to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive 
championship this month as we begin March Madness in Illinois, which 
will take place in my hometown of Peoria. The team's current record is 
24-1.
  The City of Peoria and all of Central Illinois is proud to have the 
Manual Rams as a representative in USA Today High School Rankings. 
Congratulations to Coach McClain and the Manual Rams. We are very proud 
of their teamwork, dedication, and sportsmanship.

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