69–006 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 110–675 

AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR 

THE GREATER WASHINGTON SOAP BOX DERBY 

JUNE 3, 2008.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed 

Mr. OBERSTAR, from the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H. Con. Res. 311] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 

was referred the concurrent resolution (H. Con Res. 311) authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington 

Soap Box Derby, having considered the same, report favorably 

thereon without amendment and recommend that the concurrent 

resolution be agreed to. 

PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

The purpose of House Concurrent Resolution 311 is to authorize 

the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 2008 Greater Washington 

Soap Box Derby. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The All-American Soap Box Derby is one of the largest competitive youth events in the country. Since 1934, the Soap Box Derby 

organizing committee has run a national program for children ages 

9 through 17. The World Championship finals are held each August at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio. There are three racing divisions based on age in most locals and at the All-American competition. 

The 2008 Greater Washington Soap Box Derby will take place on 

Constitution Avenue between Delaware Avenue and Third Street, 

NW, on June 22, 2008. The Greater Washington Soap Box Derby 

has been held on the U.S. Capitol Grounds since 1991. It has attracted more than 60 youth participants in each of those years. The 

D.C. Metropolitan race winners from each of the Stock, Super 


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Stock, and Masters Division Soap Box Derby races throughout the 

world will compete in Akron, Ohio, for scholarships and other 

prizes in the All-American Soap Box Derby. In 2007, for the first 

time in the 66-year history of the Greater Washington Soap Box 

Derby a local participant won the Masters title in the national competition in Akron, Ohio. The All-American Derby youth program is 

administered by International Soap Box Derby, Inc., an Akronbased, non-profit corporation. 

SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Authorization of Soap Box Derby races on Capitol 

Grounds 

Section 1 authorizes the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 

Greater Washington Soap Box Derby on June 21, 2008, or such 

other date as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 

Senate Rules and Administration Committee may jointly designate. 

Section 2. Conditions 

Section 2 requires the U.S. Capitol Police and the Architect of 

the Capitol to take such actions as may be necessary to keep the 

event open to the public, free of charge, and from disturbing the 

needs of Congress. This section also maintains that the sponsor 

will also be responsible for all expenses and liabilities. 

Section 3. Structures and equipment 

Section 3 authorizes the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby 

Association to erect upon the Capitol Grounds, subject to the approval of the Architect of the Capitol, stage, sound amplification devices, and other related structures and equipment. 

Section 4. Additional arrangements 

Section 4 authorizes the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol 

Police Board to make additional arrangements to carry out the 

event. 

Section 5. Enforcement of restrictions 

Section 5 requires the Capitol Police Board to enforce all applicable restrictions on the use of the Capitol Grounds, including those 

relating to sales, advertisements, displays, and solicitations. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On March 6, 2008, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer introduced 

H. Con. Res. 311. 

On May 15, 2008, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure met in open session to consider H. Con. Res. 311. The 

Committee agreed to the resolution and ordered it favorably reported to the House by voice vote. 

RECORD VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires each committee report to include the total number of 

votes cast for and against on each recorded vote on a motion to report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, and 

the names of those members voting for and against. There were no 


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recorded votes taken in connection with ordering H. Con. Res. 311 

reported. A motion to order House Concurrent Resolution 311 reported favorably to the House was agreed to by voice vote with a 

quorum present. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in this report. 

COST OF LEGISLATION

Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not apply where a cost estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been timely 

submitted prior to the filing of the report and is included in the report. Such a cost estimate is included in this report. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause 308(a) of 

the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee references 

the report of the Congressional Budget Office included in the report. 

2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the performance goals 

and objective of this legislation are to authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby. 

3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the 

enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. Res. 311 from the Director of the 

Congressional Budget Office: 

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE

Washington, DC, May 15, 2008. 

Hon. JAMES L. OBERSTAR, 

Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. Res. 311, authorizing 

the use of the Capitol grounds for the Greater Washington Soap 

Box Derby. 

If you wish further details on these estimates, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew Pickford. 

Sincerely, 

ROBERT A. SUNSHINE

(For Peter R. Orszag, Director). 

Enclosure. 


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H. Con. Res. 311—Authorizing the use of the Capitol grounds for 

the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby 

H. Con. Res. 311 would authorize the Greater Washington Soap 

Box Derby Association to use the Capitol grounds on June 21, 

2008, or on such other date as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration may jointly designate. Because it would require that the association assume responsibility for all expenses and liabilities associated with the event, CBO estimates that adopting H. Con. Res. 311 

would result in no significant cost to the federal government. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew Pickford. The 

estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Assistant Director for 

Budget Analysis. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI

Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of 

Representatives, H. Con. Res. 311, does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as 

defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, committee reports on a bill or joint resolution 

of a public character shall include a statement citing the specific 

powers granted to the Congress in the Constitution to enact the 

measure. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

finds that Congress has the authority to enact this measure pursuant to its powers granted under article I, section 8 of the Constitution. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 

pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

(Public Law 104–4). 

PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION

Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires the 

report of any Committee on a bill or joint resolution to include a 

statement on the extent to which the bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, or tribal law. The Committee states 

that H. Con. Res. 311 does not preempt any state, local, or tribal 

law. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this legislation. 

APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 


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accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104–1). 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

H. Con. Res. 311 makes no changes in existing law. 

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