Graham: Senate Committee Holding Up USC Baseball Honor

The University of South Carolina’s national champions in college baseball have a resolution honoring their title stuck in a committee in Congress. 

The same holds true for honoring Duke’s national championship basketball team and the University of Alabama’s BCS national champions in football. 

All those resolutions have been sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee where they are on hold along with all sports resolutions. 

“It’s a sad day when the Senate can no longer even come together for this purpose,” said South Carolina U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham in a written statement. “Is it any wonder why the public has such a dim view of the way their Congress is operating?” 

Graham and fellow Republican Senator Jim DeMint introduced the resolution to honor the Gamecocks. The resolution “commends that University of South Carolina Gamecocks for winning the 2010 NCAA College World Series.” 

“I think it’s very appropriate for the Congress to recognize achievement.  In any sport, winning a national championship is truly a worthy event,” said Senator Graham. “It’s one thing to not be able to do the big things which are hard, like reforming Social Security.  But it’s quite another to not be able to do the simple, appropriate, and easy things like recognizing a team for winning a national championship.” 

Graham’s spokesman Kevin Bishop says the Senate, in the past, has spent very little time debating these.  In the past, they moved through the Senate relative ease and the total time allotted to them on the floor is just a few minutes. 

Some lawmakers believe Congress has more important matters to deal with than honoring sports teams. 

"We need to raise the bar and start doing serious work around here,” U.S. Representative Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said according to a report in The State. 

“I don’t care if it’s a Democrat (who sponsors such legislation). I don’t care if it’s a Republican. If it’s in the world of sports, they get enough recognition.”

Here is the complete text of the resolution to honor USC's baseball team, released by Senator Graham's office:

.RES.575 -- Whereas the University of South Carolina baseball team has secured the University's first national championship in men's athletics since the founding of the institution in 1801; (Introduced in Senate - IS)  

SRES 575 IS 111th CONGRESS2d Session S. RES. 575Congratulating the University of South Carolina baseball team for winning the 2010 NCAA Division I Baseball National Championship.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJune 30, 2010 Mr. GRAHAM (for himself and Mr. DEMINT) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

RESOLUTION Congratulating the University of South Carolina baseball team for winning the 2010 NCAA Division I Baseball National Championship. Whereas, on June 29, 2010, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks won the 2010 NCAA College World Series with a 2-to-1 victory over the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska; Whereas the University of South Carolina baseball team has secured the University's first national championship in men's athletics since the founding of the institution in 1801; Whereas the University of South Carolina baseball team won six straight games to win the national championship in the ninth appearance of the team at the College World Series; Whereas the University of South Carolina Gamecocks won the final College World Series hosted at the historic Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, which has hosted the College World Series since 1950; Whereas Head Coach Ray Tanner has won his first national title as Head Coach in his fourteenth season at the University of South Carolina; Whereas outfielder Jackie Bradley, Jr., was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2010 College World Series; Whereas first baseman Christian Walker, outfielder Jackie Bradley, Jr., outfielder Evan Marzilli, and designated hitter Brady Thomas were named to the 2010 College World Series All-Tournament Team; Whereas the State of South Carolina was proud to send two home teams, the University of South Carolina and Clemson University, to the 2010 College World Series; and Whereas the University of South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team is the 2010 National Champion:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved,

That the Senate--(1) commends that University of South Carolina Gamecocks for winning the 2010 NCAA College World Series;

(2) recognizes the achievement and dedication of all players, coaches, and support staff who made winning the national championship possible;

(3) congratulates the citizens of South Carolina, the University of South Carolina, and Carolina Gamecock fans everywhere;

and(4) requests that the Secretary of the Senate submit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--(A) Dr. Harris Pastides, President of the University of South Carolina;(B) Eric Hyman, Director of Athletics at the University of South Carolina; and(C) Ray Tanner, Head Coach of the University of South Carolina baseball team.