[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 65 (Friday, May 10, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO DOREEN ``PAM'' STENEBERG

                                 ______


                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 9, 1996

  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of 
myself and a number of my colleagues to recognize Doreen ``Pam'' 
Steneberg of El Cerrito, CA, on the occasion of her naturalization as a 
U.S. citizen on Tuesday, May 14, and in celebration of her 60th 
birthday on Wednesday, May 15, 1996.
  Pam is an incredible woman and humanitarian. She is foremost a loving 
mother and wife, whose unswerving commitment to her family is only 
rivaled by her infinite dedication to our Nation's children with 
disabilities. Learning of her own daughter's developmental disabilities 
in the early 1970's, Pam was thrust into a movement which now credits 
her as one of its driving forces. Ever acquiring expertise in the 
morass of our special education and related services systems, Pam 
quickly found herself guiding other families through the bureaucracies 
which she herself had been forced to traverse on behalf of her 
daughter. This intimate understanding and insight uniquely positioned 
her to be an effective agent for change, and through this realization 
was born an advocate.
  Pam is as driven by the disability movement as the movement is driven 
by her. Whether in her professional capacity as the parent advocate 
with the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc., or in her 
numerous volunteer roles--president of the National Parent Network on 
Disabilities, chair of the California Developmental Disabilities Area 
Board V, to name just two--Pam's enthusiasm is ever present. I know 
that I am not the lone Member of this Chamber to have been overwhelmed 
and captivated by the fiery person passion which lies just beneath her 
diminutive stature and refined British accent.
  Pam is a truly remarkable woman, and I am deeply honored and proud to 
call her my friend, and now the newest voter in my congressional 
district. Mr. Speaker, I invite all my colleagues to join me in 
saluting Pam Steneberg, welcoming her a citizen of the United States, 
and wishing her a very happy birthday.

                          ____________________