[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 132 (Monday, September 28, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     1998 ANNUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 28, 1998

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, Mr. Sherman and Mr. Waxman 
rise today to pay tribute to our close friend, Georgia Mercer, who is 
receiving the 1998 Annual Achievement Award from Action Democrats. We 
can think of no one who consistently over the years has done more for 
her community than Georgia. She has been devoted to an extraordinary 
number of organizations and important causes. Her dedication and 
compassion serve as an inspiration to us all.
  It would be impossible in this short space to list all of Georgia's 
accomplishments. She is one of those special people who make every day 
count. Her zest for life is contagious. She is filled with ideas, 
suggestions and plans for improving the world.
  Georgia's career has taken her from teaching fourth grade in the Los 
Angeles Unified School District to serving as a member of the Board of 
Directors of Valley Presbyterian Hospital. However, there are two 
causes that have consumed the bulk of her attention: women's rights and 
the Jewish community.
  She served for 16 years with Women For, a non-partisan organization 
supporting issues and candidates; was a founding member of the Board of 
Directors of the Women's Campaign Fund; and spent many years on the 
staff of Planned Parenthood. Her involvement with the Jewish community 
includes membership on several committees of the Jewish Federation 
Council of Los Angeles and Founding President of the Board of Trustees 
of the New Reform Congregation.
  In the past few months, Georgia received a prestigious appointment to 
the Board of the Los Angeles Community Colleges. The Board could not 
have made a better choice. For more than three decades Georgia has 
demonstrated her unshakable commitment to quality public education. We 
have no doubt that she will be an exceptional Trustee.
  We ask our colleagues to join us in saluting Georgia Mercer, who has 
built a remarkable career around the idea of helping others. We are 
proud and honored to be her friends.

                          ____________________