From the Office of Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger
Maryland's 2nd District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 28, 2003

Contact Information
Heather Moeder Molino
202-225-3061

Ruppersberger Proposes the Orioles Amendment;
A Swing and a Miss

Washington, DC - In a 9th inning rally before the US House of Representatives wrapped up for the summer, Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2) tried to give the Baltimore Orioles the honor it is due on Capitol Hill. The Congressman put together the "Orioles Amendment."

Congressman Jose Serrano (NY-16) authored a resolution honoring the New York Yankees on their 100th Anniversary. Congressman Ruppersberger heard this resolution might come before the Government Reform Committee and in good fun the Congressman put together his own amendment honoring his hometown ball club - the Baltimore Orioles - especially because it is the 20th Anniversary of the Orioles 1983 World Series win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

"While I fully respect what the New York Yankees have done in their hundred years, we must look to the nation's . . . no, the world's best baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles, and honor them," read Congressman Ruppersberger's resolution.

"Why we should honor the Baltimore Orioles and not the New York Yankees is simple. The Orioles represent the best of what the game of baseball and our country are about. The Orioles have heart. They come to work everyday and play hard ... But more importantly all Orioles players are community leaders who have given so much back to the Baltimore area," read Congressman Ruppersberger's amendment.

The resolution fouled out during the final days of the House session on Capitol Hill and was pulled from the agenda on Thursday, July 24, 2003. The House recessed for its summer break Friday evening, July 25th, 2003, and Congressman Ruppersberger is pledging to go up to bat again for the Orioles when Congress is back in session in September.

For more information, contact Heather Moeder Molino at (202) 225-3061