Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 1235, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act.

Basketball was invented in Springfield, Massachusetts, by Dr. James Naismith in 1891.
I have the privilege of representing the Sixth Congressional District of Kentucky, home of the University of Kentucky Wildcats. We affectionately know the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball team as the greatest tradition in the history of college basketball; the winningest program in college basketball; eight national championships; and, of course, the greatest fans in the history of college basketball.

We call them the Big Blue Nation.

While it may be to the surprise of many that a Kansas Jayhawk and not a Kentucky Wildcat invented the game, there is no doubt that this sport has helped many Americans learn the value of teamwork, sacrifice, and hard work.

Today, by some estimates, basketball is considered the fastest- growing sport in the world. With current megastars like LeBron James, Steph Curry, Candace Parker, and Brittney Griner, we don't have to wonder why we are in the Golden Age of basketball again.

And while the sport is wildly successful today with rising stars like former Kentucky players John Wall, Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, and Karl-Anthony Towns, the future is in good hands.

I could talk all day about the upcoming NCAA basketball season, but instead I want to turn my attention to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Established in 1959, the Basketball Hall of Fame has honored players, coaches, referees, and other basketball icons for their contributions to this great American sport. From Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, Charles Barkley, Bill Russell, Jerry West, Patrick Ewing, Oscar Robertson, Pete Maravich, Bill Walton, Yao Ming, Shaq, Tmac, A.I., the Millers, Swoopes, Coach Summitt, Coach Calipari, Magic Johnson, Dr. J., Wilt Chamberlain, Coach Adolph Rupp, Coach John Wooden, to Coach Dean Smith, the Basketball Hall of Fame allows fans, young and old, to reminisce or even discover the rich history of the game they love.

To the basketball lore of Chamberlain scoring 100 points in a single game, to the athletic heroics of Michael Jordan, to Lisa Leslie's dunk, to the Uconn Ladies' streak of 111 wins, to Curry and company revolutionizing the game with a constant barrage of 3-pointers, the Basketball Hall of Fame is helping fans relive the greatest moments in basketball history while teaching important life lessons to youngsters through educational programs.

To honor 60 years of excellence in 2020 by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, it is with great pleasure that I am on the House floor today encouraging my colleagues to support the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act. This legislation requires the U.S. Mint to produce commemorative coins for fans to collect and enjoy in celebration of this momentous occasion, in denominations of $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins. Importantly, these coins would be produced at no cost to the taxpayer, and surcharges on the sale of these coins would go to support programs at the Hall of Fame after raising matching funds from the private sector.

I especially want to thank Congressman Richard Neal from Massachusetts, home to the Springfield location of the Hall of Fame; and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy from California, for their hard work on this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation honoring this great American sport.

Go Cats, go Big Blue.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from Texas and, as I said before, the gentleman from Massachusetts for their advocacy of this bipartisan piece of legislation, again, honoring a great American tradition: the great sport of basketball.

Whether at the high school level, the collegiate level, or the professional level, it is true--the gentleman from Texas is absolutely right--this great sport unites our country. There is friendly competition--sometimes vigorous competition--in the rivalries that we see, whether it is Kentucky playing Louisville or North Carolina versus Duke, or if it is the Lakers and the Celtics from the 1980s or the Pistons and the Bulls in those great games in the 1990s.

There are a lot of people behind this legislation that deserve thanks and appreciation. I want to thank, in particular, Jim Host, who is credited for coining the phrase the ``Final Four,'' and Coach Calipari of the University of Kentucky, who has been a tireless champion of this effort. Without his leadership, I don't think this would have happened.

I want to also thank all of the members of the Hall of Fame who have come to Washington to talk to us. Jay Bilas came down here in the Ways and Means Committee and talked about the importance of this, and many of the other former players. I have to thank the players because the Hall of Fame recognizes their amazing skills and their talents, and if it weren't for their advocacy, this wouldn't have happened as well.

Finally and probably most important of all, the Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act that we are enacting here today is in honor of the fans who make this great sport possible, the American people who have fallen in love with this great American sport. We have to thank the fans for creating such excitement. Whether it is the McDonald's All American Basketball Game at the high school level, or if it is the Final Four in the national title in the NCAA in both men's and women's basketball, or if it is Game 7 of the NBA Finals, there is nothing more electric than this sport at crunch time.

Again, I urge my colleagues to come together and support the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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