[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H1208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REPRESENTATIVE CAPPS BRINGS WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE TO CONGRESS

  (Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, Lois Capps' journey to Washington, 
D.C., began in tragedy with the sudden death of her husband and our 
colleague, Walter Capps. Today, however, the journey has ended in joy 
and victory, not only for Lois and her family, but for her 
constituents.
  Lois brings to Congress a wealth of experience as a health 
professional, community activist, and educator. Lois was a nurse for 
the Santa Barbara School District for 20 years. In this capacity, she 
served as an elementary district nurse for the entire public school 
system. She was a coordinator of the teen parent program and was a 
health consultant for all child development programs. Since 1983, she 
has periodically taught in the Early Childhood Education Department at 
Santa Barbara College.
  Thousands of Santa Barbara's children and families have benefited 
from Lois's personal care and leadership. Under her direction, hundreds 
of young parents have received the encouragement and the support to 
stay in school as well as the child development education to ensure 
that their children grow up healthy and in loving environments.
  Lois also has vast working experience in the community, having 
devoted herself to many community organizations, including the American 
Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and the Family Service 
Agency.
  During Walter's all too brief tenure, Lois was an active partner, 
traveling with Walter around the central coast, to see firsthand the 
needs of the people he represented, and also, she traveled to 
Washington, D.C. where he fought for them and where she was one of the 
most visible of congressional spouses, frequently sitting in the 
gallery during votes and debates.

                              {time}  1800

  Lois is committed to continuing the Capps legacy of reconnecting 
people to their representatives, to helping families improve their 
everyday lives through better schools, quality health care, and a 
cleaner, healthier environment. Lois is also committed to following the 
Capps tradition of working with the delegation in its effort to find 
bipartisan solution to California problems.
  We welcome Lois to Congress and to our delegation. We know that she 
will be an effective advocate for her constituents, and we look forward 
to working with her to ensure that the priorities of her district and 
of all Californians are the priorities of this Congress.
  Lois, Walter would be very proud of your commitment and your 
dedication to the people of the 22nd Congressional District.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), 
the Democratic leader.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, this is indeed a joyous day of celebration as we swear 
in a new Member of the Congress.
  I would simply say this one thing. There are a lot of reasons 
attributed to political victories in congressional seats, but in my 
view this victory is due to the character, the integrity, and the 
wonderful citizenship of a woman named Lois Capps. We are very proud of 
Lois Capps.

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