[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BERGEN COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 30, 1996

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Bergen County, 
NJ, Housing Authority on receiving the U.S. Department of Housing and 
Urban Development's Sustained Performance Award.
  Presented by the Office of Public and Indian Housing, this award 
recognizes the Bergen County Housing Authority for ``excellence in 
overall management performance'' in the years 1993, 1994, and 1995. The 
housing authority received a perfect score of 100 in fiscal 1995 as 
measured by the Office's Public Housing Management Assessment Program.
  This award is a well-deserved honor for the staff, management, and 
tenants of the Bergen County Housing Authority. Their hard work and 
dedication to making the 503 units operated by the authority some of 
the finest public housing in the Nation is exemplary. I am particularly 
pleased that the entire Nation will now know what we in Bergen County 
have known for a long time.
  No organization can succeed without strong leadership and much of the 
credit in this case must go to Jack R. D'Ambrosio, Jr., executive 
director of the housing authority.
  Responsible for the administration of all affairs of the authority 
and for the formulation of plans for new programs and their 
implementation, Mr. D'Ambrosio has held his position since April 1988. 
He is responsible for an annual operating budget of more than $24 
million and supervises a staff of 75 full- and part-time employees who 
work with 51 member municipalities within Bergen County.
  Mr. D'Ambrosio is also executive director of the Housing Development 
Corp. of Bergen County, a unit of the housing authority created so the 
authority can engage in the financing and development of affordable 
housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families.
  The first major project of the development corporation was a 135-unit 
senior citizens building. Since then, the corporation has been 
responsible for the construction of affordable condominium and 
townhouse units on 26 different sites throughout Bergen County.
  Mr. D'Ambrosio is the former ombudsman for the institutionalized 
elderly for the State of New Jersey. An attorney admitted to the bar in 
both New Jersey and Texas, his past and current activities have 
included member of the board at Bergen Pines County Hospital in 
Paramus, the board of Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, the Bergen County 
Human Services Advisory Board, the Alumni Executive Council of William 
Paterson College in Wayne and many other groups.
  Again, I congratulate the Bergen County Housing Authority and Mr. 
D'Ambrosio on the receipt of this high honor. I wholeheartedly agree 
that it is well-deserved. I am confident their fine work will continue 
for many years to come. Bergen County is fortunate to have such caring 
and dedicated individuals among its leaders.

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