[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 4 (Monday, January 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E65]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING RONALD S. COOPER

                                 ______


                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, January 9, 1995

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with many 
constituents of my district in honoring Mr. Ronald S. Cooper, managing 
partner of Ernst & Young's Long Island office, for being chosen as the 
secretary-treasurer to help formulate and launch the Long Island 
Association [LIA] Health Alliance. The goal of this newly formulated 
Health Alliance will be to control the cost of health care on Long 
Island.
  Mr. Cooper was recently profiled in the Long Island magazine for his 
outstanding accomplishments. It gives me a great deal of pride to 
reprint this article below for the benefit of my colleagues who do not 
know Mr. Cooper.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues in the House of Representatives 
to join me now in honoring Mr. Ronald S. Cooper for his many years of 
leadership on Long Island.
  Reprinted from the Long Island magazine article ``Making a Positive 
Impact'' by Christa Reilly:

       Ronald Cooper, managing partner of Ernst & Young's Long 
     Island office, is proud to serve as secretary/treasurer to 
     help formulate and launch the LIA Health Alliance. ``It's 
     very innovative and will be very helpful in driving down the 
     cost of health care. It's an absolute win-win situation.'' 
     Years from now, he explained, it will ``probably be the one 
     thing I can be really proud that I helped make happen.''
       Taking a leadership role in projects important to improve 
     the quality of life on Long Island is a way of life for him. 
     As he explained, ''I have always believed, and acted on the 
     belief, that you must get out in front and lead in order to 
     make an impact on life. I don't enjoy being the back of the 
     pack.''
       Cooper has served in leadership roles for a host of 
     important community groups. He is treasurer of the LIA Board 
     of Directors, and has made a strong impact upon the community 
     through his many years of involvement with the UJA-Federation 
     of Jewish Philanthropies. ``When I first realized that UJA 
     has no office on Long Island, I spearheaded a task force to 
     get them one,'' he explained. Subsequently, he was elected as 
     the first chairman for UJA's Long Island cabinet. Today, it 
     is a thriving organization with a $20 million campaign.
       Cooper has been recognized for his leadership. He has 
     received the Long Island Distinguished Leadership Award, the 
     Distinguished Community Service Award of the Anti-Defamation 
     League of B'nai B'rith, the Brotherhood Award of the National 
     Conference of Christians and Jews, and the Franklin H. 
     Ornstein Human Relations Award from the American Jewish 
     Committee.
       He has traveled to Israel about ten times and, with regard 
     to the recent peace treaty between Israel and Jordan, said, 
     ``It's wonderful. I was invited to be in the gallery when 
     Rabin and Hussein addressed the Joint House in Washington. It 
     was a most thrilling moment to see the two of them indicate 
     that the war was over.''
       Just like the peace treaty, the Long Island Action Plan 
     also needs to be put into practice. A cumulative list of more 
     than 250 action items that the 12 Summit committees compiled, 
     the Action Plan represents the hopes of many Long Islanders. 
     Cooper said, ``The summit has a very useful function--to 
     focus the public on issues we must face. The aftermath, 
     however, will determine whether it was successful. Everybody 
     understands we need to solve the cost structure of taxes and 
     LILCO rates.''
       Despite the cost structure, Cooper pointed out that Long 
     Island has been a hotbed of entrepreneurship. Each year, 
     Ernst & Young selects and honors an Entrepreneur of the Year. 
     Although it was a program that began in Indianapolis and 
     spread nationwide, it seems appropriate that a leader, such 
     as Cooper, should wish to recognize another upcoming one. 
     ``It's the best such program on Long Island. It focuses on 
     the great companies--on the positives--of Long Island. It 
     serves as a reminder that Long Island hasn't changed that 
     much in terms of industry. Long Island goes through cycles. 
     It used to be a defense industry economy, now we are moving 
     into high tech and biotech industries.''

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