```

[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 529 Introduced in House (IH)]

107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 529

    Congratulating Martin Strel of the Republic of Slovenia for his 
historic athletic achievement as the first person to swim the length of 
                         the Mississippi River.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 17, 2002

Mr. Oberstar submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
    Congratulating Martin Strel of the Republic of Slovenia for his 
historic athletic achievement as the first person to swim the length of 
                         the Mississippi River.

Whereas Martin Strel of Mokronog, Republic of Slovenia, has distinguished 
        himself as a marathon swimmer and holds several world records for long-
        distance swimming;
Whereas Martin Strel established a new long-distance world record for swimming 
        the length of the Danube River (1,878 miles, 3004 km) over 58 days in 
        2000;
Whereas Martin Strel established a new world record of uninterrupted swimming in 
        2001 with a swim of 84 hours, 10 minutes that covered 312 miles, 504 km;
Whereas President Milan Kucan, President of the Republic of Slovenia, presented 
        Martin Strel with the Badge of Honor of the Republic of Slovenia on 
        October 24, 2001, for his athletic achievements and for contributions to 
        the promotion of Slovenia;
Whereas Martin Strel announced that he would attempt to establish a new long-
        distance swim record by swimming the length of the Mississippi River 
        (2360 miles, 3797 km);
Whereas Martin Strel announced that his swim of the Mississippi River would be 
        called the Eye-to-Eye Project that represents Mr. Strel's personal 
        battle against the Mississippi River, but also represents Slovenia's 
        friendship with the United States;
Whereas Martin Strel of Slovenia began his swim of the Mississippi River at the 
        headwaters of Lake Itasca in Minnesota on July 4, 2002;
Whereas Martin Strel averaged 11-12 hours a day swimming the Mississippi River 
        and covered nearly 35 miles a day as he swam through the states of 
        Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, 
        Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana;
Whereas Martin Strel endured considerable hardships during his historic swim, 
        including a lightning strike that nearly hit him near Cape Girardeau, 
        Missouri, a whirlpool that nearly pulled him under near Greenville, 
        Mississippi, and dangerous boat traffic that he encountered in 
        Louisiana;
Whereas Martin Strel completed his remarkable journey in 68 days and reached the 
        delta of the Mississippi River in Louisiana at 11:35 a.m. on September 
        9, 2002;
Whereas Martin Strel has dedicated himself to swim for peace, friendship, and 
        clean waters, and he dedicated his swim of the Mississippi River to 
        honor the innocent victims and heroes of September 11, 2001;
Whereas Martin Strel's swim coincided with the ten-year anniversary of the 
        United States recognition of Slovenia as an independent nation on 
        September 7, 1992;
Whereas Martin Strel was assisted in this swimming endeavor by an impressive 
        team led by Jelko Kacin, the President of the Eye-to-Eye Project 
        Organizing Committee, as well as Martin Strel's son, Borut Strel, and 
        American volunteers Guy Haglund, Byron Curtis, David Hale, and Matt 
        Mohlke; and
Whereas the Eye-to-Eye Project represents the best of the human spirit to 
        promote the outstanding relationship and friendship between the United 
        States and Slovenia: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) congratulates Martin Strel of Slovenia for his historic 
        athletic achievement as the first person to swim the length of 
        the Mississippi River;
            (2) recognizes Martin Strel for his courage, determination, 
        and pioneering spirit as he succeeded in this great human 
        endeavor;
            (3) commends Martin Strel for dedicating his swim to honor 
        the victims and heroes of September 11, 2001; and
            (4) recognizes that the Eye-to-Eye Project has served as an 
        excellent opportunity to promote the friendship between the 
        United States and Slovenia.
                                 <all>
```