Title: A resolution congratulating Seattle Sounders FC on winning the 2019 Major League Soccer Cup.
Policy area: Sports and Recreation

Summary:
This resolution (1) recognizes Seattle Sounders FC for winning the 2019 Major League Soccer Cup, and (2) supports equity in men's and women's professional sports.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 461 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 461

  Congratulating Seattle Sounders FC on winning the 2019 Major League 
                              Soccer Cup.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 19, 2019

  Ms. Cantwell (for herself and Mrs. Murray) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Congratulating Seattle Sounders FC on winning the 2019 Major League 
                              Soccer Cup.

Whereas, on November 10, 2019, Seattle Sounders FC won the 2019 Major League 
        Soccer Cup;
Whereas that win on November 10, 2019, is the second Major League Soccer 
        championship won by Seattle Sounders FC in the 11 years that Seattle 
        Sounders FC has been in Major League Soccer;
Whereas Seattle Sounders FC beat the Toronto Football Club 3-1 in the 2019 Major 
        League Soccer Cup;
Whereas Seattle Sounders FC--

    (1) dominated the competition in the regular season, with 16 wins and 
10 losses;

    (2) qualified for the Major League Soccer Cup Playoffs for an 
unprecedented 11th straight season; and

    (3) earned the number 2 seed in the Major League Soccer Western 
Conference;

Whereas Seattle Sounders FC plays home games at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, 
        Washington, and, on November 10, 2019, 69,274 Seattle Sounders FC fans 
        from across the State of Washington packed CenturyLink Field and set the 
        record for the largest crowd at a sporting event in the 17-year history 
        of the stadium;
Whereas the 2019 roster of Seattle Sounders FC players includes--

    (1) Saad Abdul-Salaam;

    (2) Xavier Arreaga;

    (3) Will Bruin;

    (4) Handwalla Bwana;

    (5) Jonathan Campbell;

    (6) Emanuel Cecchini;

    (7) Jordy Delem;

    (8) Justin Dhillon;

    (9) Stefan Frei;

    (10) Bheem Goyal;

    (11) Joevin Jones;

    (12) Kim Kee-hee;

    (13) Kelvin Leerdam;

    (14) Danny Leyva;

    (15) Nicolas Lodeiro;

    (16) Chad Marshall;

    (17) Bryan Meredith;

    (18) Jordan Morris;

    (19) Trey Muse;

    (20) Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez;

    (21) Victor Rodriguez;

    (22) Cristian Roldan;

    (23) Alex Roldan;

    (24) Raul Ruidiaz;

    (25) Harry Shipp;

    (26) Luis Silva;

    (27) Brad Smith;

    (28) Gustav Svensson;

    (29) Nouhou; and

    (30) Roman Torres;

Whereas Seattle Sounders FC defender Kelvin Leerdam scored the first goal in the 
        57th minute of the championship game;
Whereas Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Victor Rodriguez--

    (1) scored the second goal in the 76th minute; and

    (2) received the 2019 Major League Soccer Cup Most Valuable Player 
award;

Whereas Seattle Sounders FC forward Raul Ruidiaz scored the third and final goal 
        in the 90th minute;
Whereas Seattle Sounders FC forward Jordan Morris--

    (1) scored a career-high 13 goals and a career-high 8 assists 
throughout the 2019 season; and

    (2) received the 2019 Major League Soccer Comeback Player of the Year 
award after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in 2018;

Whereas Seattle Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer won his second Major 
        League Soccer Cup;
Whereas the 2019 Seattle Sounders FC coaching and technical staff includes--

    (1) Head Coach Brian Schmetzer;

    (2) Assistant Coach Gonzalo Pineda;

    (3) Assistant Coach Djimi Traore;

    (4) Assistant Coach Preki;

    (5) Club Director of Goalkeeping Tom Dutra;

    (6) General Manager and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey; and

    (7) Vice President of Soccer Chris Henderson;

Whereas Seattle Sounders FC is owned by Adrian Hanauer, Drew Carey, Jody Allen, 
        and Peter Tomozawa, and the 11 families that joined the ownership 
        contingent in 2019, namely--

    (1) Terry Myerson and Katie Myerson;

    (2) Russell Wilson and Ciara;

    (3) Benjamin Haggerty ``Macklemore'' and Tricia Davis;

    (4) Satya Nadella and Anu Nadella;

    (5) Amy Hood and Max Kleinman;

    (6) Joe Belfiore and Kristina Belfiore;

    (7) Soma Somasegar and Akila Somasegar;

    (8) Chee Chew and Christine Chew;

    (9) David Nathanson and Sabina Nathanson;

    (10) Brian McAndrews and Elise Holschuh; and

    (11) Mark Agne and Tomoko Agne;

Whereas the owners of Seattle Sounders FC have built a culture of success and 
        contributed greatly to Seattle, Washington, and the surrounding region 
        through philanthropy;
Whereas Seattle Sounders FC has exhibited dedication to positive social impacts 
        by strengthening communities through the RAVE Foundation partnership 
        with organizations in Seattle, Washington, and the surrounding region; 
        and
Whereas the dedication and hard work of Seattle Sounders FC has inspired and 
        empowered girls, boys, women, and men of all ages: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes Seattle Sounders FC for winning the 2019 
        Major League Soccer Cup;
            (2) applauds the people of Seattle, Washington, and the 
        surrounding region for their enthusiastic support of Seattle 
        Sounders FC;
            (3) supports equity in men's and women's professional 
        sports; and
            (4) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
        transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to Seattle 
        Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, General Manager and 
        President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey, and Vice President of 
        Soccer Chris Henderson.
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