[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 30 (Wednesday, March 18, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO FRAN LAWTON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 18, 1998

  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention 
Fran Lawton of Passaic, New Jersey.
  Fran is a certified senior HUD Housing Counselor, and was a member of 
the United Passaic Organization (UPO) Board of Directors for seventeen 
years. For 5\1/2\ of those years, she worked in the capacity of Board 
Chairperson. Presently, Fran serves in the capacity of advisor to the 
Board, drawing upon her vast experience in providing guidance to the 
Board as it engages in community planning with an eye towards the year 
2000.
  Fran has developed a distinghished track record of contributions to 
the UPO and to the community at-large. It was under her administration 
that the organization added the dimension of direct service to its 
mission. She was instrumental in keeping community action funds in the 
City of Passaic by spearheading the drive to make the UPO the Community 
Action Agency for the City in 1993. Other achievements Fran has made in 
terms of her affiliation with the UPO are as follows: orchestrated the 
first fashion show at ``The Bethwood'' in 1982 as a major fundraiser 
for the organization; was instrumental in the UPO introducing a 
breakfast program in the Passaic school system; and was very active in 
the protracted but successful fight against the proposed incinerator 
for the City of Passaic that was officially nullified by Governor 
Florio in 1991, to name a few.
  As indicated earlier, Fran has forged a very distinguished career in 
the arena of community service. She is very active in the National 
Federation of Housing Counselors, being certified by that organization 
as a housing counselor. She also held the position of Regional Vice-
Chair for the Federation. Fran was named Housing Counselor of the Year 
by the Federation in 1993, when in the same year she was largely 
responsible for bringing the 23rd Annual Convention of the 
National Federation of Housing Counselors to New Jersey. At the 
convention she received a proclamation from the then-Mayor of Paterson 
William J. Pascrell, Jr. which made June 19, 1996 ``Fran Lawton Day.''
  Other areas of achievement in Fran's service to the community are as 
follows: past Chair of the Rainbow Coalition from 1984 to 1989; past 
Director of Housing for the Paterson Task Force; Passaic Urban 
Enterprise Zone Board, where she initiated the Adopt-a-Block Program 
which was later imitated by other communities; member of the Passaic 
Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) Board; past 
consultant of Fair Housing for the City of Passaic; present Director of 
County Homelessness Prevention Program; and new Director of the 
Regional Opportunity Counseling Program for Essex and Hudson Counties. 
Recently, Fran was appointed as a Commissioner for the Passaic Housing 
Authority where she helps to oversee procedures and policies of the 
Housing Authority.
  Fran is a mother of two and grandmother of one. She remains an active 
participant with her church, the Bethel A.M.E. Church. She is also 
President of the Lay Organization for Bethel.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me, our colleagues, Fran's family 
and friends, and the City of Passaic in recognizing Fran Lawton's many 
outstanding and invaluable contributions to our community.

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