Iowa

Floor Speech

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Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, we are in the middle of what is known as March Madness. I am not talking about budget reconciliation or tax season; I am here to congratulate and say thank you to our outstanding student athletes who have competed their hearts out on the court and on the mat these last few weeks.

First, I want to pay tribute to our Iowa teams who made it into the NCAA Division I basketball tournament. That includes Iowa State University women's and men's teams, the University of Iowa women's team, and the men's team at Drake University in Des Moines.

Division I wrestlers from the Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones, and my alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa, competed earlier this month in Philadelphia.

I want to congratulate two teams from my home State who won their respective collegiate championships this month. In the NCAA Division III wrestling national championship, the Knights from Wartburg College returned from Rhode Island as cochampions and with their 16th national title--the most in Division III history. The women's basketball team at Dordt University in Sioux Center returned to the NAIA national championship held last week in Sioux City, IA. The Dordt Defenders defended their title and are back-to-back champions.

Sports brings communities together from one generation to the next. As loyal UNI Panther fans and proud boosters for Dike-New Hartford athletics, Barbara and I would say that sports are like glue that sticks, a refreshing antidote in these polarizing times.

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