{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-blumenauer-celebrates-portland-timbers-mls-championship-win-house", "Rep. Blumenauer Celebrates Portland Timbers MLS Championship Win on House Floor", "2015-12-08", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Earl Blumenauer", "B000574", "blumenauer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC Today, on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, donning a Portland Timbers Army scarf, Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) congratulated the Timbers on their victory over the Columbus Crew SC on Sunday, winning the Major League Soccer (MLS) Championship.\nClick here to watch Representative Blumenauer's celebratory speech. To follow are his remarks.\nI come to the Floor this morning barely able to talk, but not having much of a voice is common in Portland, Oregon, these days as fans shouted themselves hoarse after the Portland Timbers' stunning victory over the Columbus Crew on Sunday  winning the Major League Soccer Cup. There is no doubt that my hometown of Portland, Oregon, is Soccer City USA! Fans continue to prove the point with a huge celebration today.\nI want to congratulate the Timbers for an amazing season and for being such a huge part indeed of Portland and all of Oregon. This season had it all  injuries and bumps along the way that made Sunday's results seem highly unlikely. But under the leadership and direction of Coach Caleb Porter, the Timbers stayed focused and made course corrections that led them to a national championship  finishing with a flourish.\nThis team has so many heroes that it's impossible in the time I have to give them their due recognition. But I want to give a special mention to new U.S. citizen Darlington Nagbe, Diego Chara, Rodney Wallace, Jake Gleeson, and the old salty dog, Jack Jewsbury, all of whom have been with the Timbers since our inaugural season.\nI also want to highlight the Maestro, Diego Valeri, defenders Liam Ridgewell and Nat Borchers (he of the beard!), as well as Goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, for their heroic efforts this season.\nMerritt Paulson and his management team deserve recognition for their passion for the sport and their love for our city.\nOf course, you can't mention the Portland Timbers without talking about, as the song goes, the greatest football supporters the world has ever seen  the Timbers Army! Your dedication to Team, Town, and Country is an inspiration  and very much in evidence in Columbus this weekend.\nMr. Speaker, let me conclude by reminding all of America  and several places in Canada  that in case you didn't get the hint with Timber Joey and his chainsaw, there is No Pity in the Rose City!\nAhead of the MLS Cup, Representatives Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) challenged Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Steve Stivers (OH-15), and Pat Tiberi (OH-12) to a friendly wager on the championship match between the Portland Timbers and Columbus Crew  with local products and favorites on the line. With the Timbers win, Representatives Blumenauer and Bonamici will soon receive their winnings  Columbus craft brews and candy buckeyes.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-blumenauer-celebrates-portland-timbers-mls-championship-win-house"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7889410480856895, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}