[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO MAUREEN KENNEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 1996

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to pay tribute to one 
of President Clinton's finest appointees, the Administrator of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service, Maureen Kennedy. As 
a result of the reorganization of the Department of Agriculture, 
Maureen Kennedy served as the first Administrator of the newly created 
Rural Housing Service [RHS]. In that role, she broke new ground by 
creating directives to change the priorities of the housing programs 
that were formerly administered by the Farmers Home Administration.
  Shortly after accepting the position of Administrator, she traveled 
throughout the delta of my district to look at the challenges this poor 
section of the country faces each day. This was not a hollow/
perfunctory visit to satisfy the request of the Congressman from the 
Second District of Mississippi. This was the work of a dedicated and 
sincere public servant--she observed, took notes, and then took steps 
to make a visible difference. In fact, she followed through on a 
commitment to return a year later and complete a project she had been 
working on--even though she was actually on maternity leave.
  Maureen Kennedy is now leaving the RHS. I know Maureen well enough to 
know that she will continue to be a tireless advocate for the poor in 
her next undertaking. Many people in my district and across this Nation 
are better off today as a result of Maureen Kennedy's work.
  In an era when it is extremely popular to denigrate public servants 
and label them unfit to represent the Government, I am pleased to have 
the opportunity to salute one who served this President, this Congress, 
and more importantly the people of this country with honor and 
distinction. Maureen will be missed. I am certain she will be 
successful in whatever endeavor she pursues in the future.

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