[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 33 (Friday, March 14, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S2332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO SUSAN HOECHSTETTER

 Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Susan Nan Hoechstetter, a social worker with whom I have been 
privileged to work with for many years. Throughout her 13 years of 
employment with National Association of Social Workers [NASW], Sue 
Hoechstetter tenaciously promoted the social work profession and 
advocated for social policy that recognizes the responsible role of 
government in assisting individuals, families, and communities to work 
together and address their common needs.
  When Sue first began representing the interests of social workers 
before the U.S. Congress, very few Federal statutes directly 
acknowledged the significant role of professional social workers in 
providing health, mental health, and counseling services. Now, however, 
through Sue's able leadership, all Federal insurance programs that 
authorize the provision of mental health care services, including 
Medicare, the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, and the 
Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services, 
recognize the ability of clinical social workers to independently 
diagnose and treat mental illness. Additionally, clinical social 
workers are now identified as health professionals through title VII of 
the Public Health Service Act, and school social workers are 
acknowledged as key members of the pupil services team through various 
educational programs.
  During Sue Hoechstetter's tenure, the National Association of Social 
Workers also provided leadership in promoting progressive social 
policy. Family and medical leave, health care reform, improved staffing 
and training in the child welfare system, and the development of 
Federal managed care standards are just a few of the proactive policies 
that NASW advocated under her direction.
  In recent years, Sue and the association have devoted considerable 
energy in an attempt to preserve the entitlement for children under the 
Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program, as well as to preserve 
the financial and program integrity of the Medicaid and Medicare 
Programs.
  Sue Hoechstetter has never represented a high-powered firm, has never 
enjoyed the luxury of having a host of assistants to support her work, 
and has never received great financial reward for her efforts. I 
suspect that Sue would not recognize an alligator shoe if she saw one. 
Yet, I believe it is absolutely essential that Sue Hoechstetter and 
others who share Sue's values continue their work educating the 
Congress. Our representative form of government requires the active 
engagement of competing interests in the formulation of Federal policy, 
and I am very glad that professionals like Sue Hoechstetter promote 
social policies that support the common good and help people in need 
participate in the process.
  I am deeply saddened that Sue will no longer be representing the 
interests of the National Association of Social Workers. Her 
contribution to the association has been considerable. However, I am 
very pleased that Sue will continue to pursue her interests in 
increasing citizen participation in the political process. I wish her 
the very best.

                          ____________________