Letting the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby Use the Capitol Grounds (H. Con. Res. 113)

What is H. Con. Res. 113?

(Updated November 15, 2018)

This concurrent resolution would allow the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby Association to sponsor free and public soap box derby races on the Capitol grounds for an event on June 16, 2018. Congressional approval is required for using the Capitol grounds.

As a concurrent resolution, this legislation would have to be approved by both the House and Senate, but wouldn't require a presidential signature.

Argument in favor

Soap box derbies are fun, family-friendly events and D.C.'s race has traditionally been held on Capitol Hill, which can’t occur without congressional approval.

Argument opposed

The Greater Washington Soap Box Derby can happen some place else other than the Capitol Grounds.

Impact

Soapbox derby racers and their dreams of making it big, the general public, tourists, and the Capitol grounds.

Cost of H. Con. Res. 113

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Unlike other derbies that happen around the country, this D.C. soapbox derby requires an act of Congress to ensure that the appropriate parties are authorized to plan the event (including the Architect of the Capitol, the Capitol Police Board, and the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby Association).

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) has been sponsoring this concurrent resolution to ensure that the derby can be held on Capitol Hill for over two decades.

Of Note: Roll Call has a helpful description of this event:

"Enterprising young builders will careen down Constitution Avenue in home-assembled vehicles this summer, pending a green light from the House and Senate ... Scores of children and their families typically attend the event, which blocks off traffic around the Hill to make way for the wild driving. The winners go on to compete at the national final in Akron, Ohio. Soap box racing has a long history in Washington, beginning in 1938. The annual event has been moved around the city from Eastern Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue before finding a home on Capitol Hill."

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Statement in Favor (Video)

• CBO Cost Estimate (Previous Version)

• The Greater Washington Soap Box Derby Facebook Page

• Roll Call

• IndependentMotors.net