[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 23, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 IN HONOR OF ZULIMA FARBER AND JOAN VERPLANCK, WINNERS OF THE BARBARA 
                          BOGGS SIGMUND AWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 23, 1999

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
Zulima Farber and Joan Verplanck for being awarded the Women's 
Political Caucus of New Jersey's Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award for their 
outstanding contributions to New Jersey and their trailblazing efforts 
on behalf of women.
  For over 20 years Zulima Farber has faithfully defended and been an 
advocate for New Jersey's neediest citizens. From 1992 to 1994, Ms. 
Farber was appointed Public Advocate and Public Defender for the State 
of New Jersey. As a member of Governor Florio's cabinet, she faithfully 
advocated the interests of the public in all policy matters. 
Specifically, she led efforts to regulate utility rates and protect the 
developmentally disabled, consumers of mental health services, and 
abused children. She also oversaw a major overhaul of the management of 
Public Defender Offices.
  Being New Jersey's Public Advocate was Ms. Farber's most public 
position, but many are not aware of the other aspects of her remarkable 
career. As a young woman, her family fled Castro-controlled Cuba and 
settled in New Jersey. In order to support her family and fund her 
college education, Ms. Farber got a job as a secretary in a law firm of 
my hometown of Union City, New Jersey. After completing an 
undergraduate and masters degree from Montclair State, Ms. Farber 
received her JD degree from Rutgers Law School in Newark. At Rutgers 
Law she became a founding member of and vice-president of the 
Association of Latin American Law Students.
  After law school Ms. Farber pursued a successful career as a 
prosecutor in Bergen County, was named Assistant Counsel to Governor 
Byrne and then became the first female partner of the renowned firm 
Lowenstein, Sandler.
  Zulima Farber is a member of the State Court Advisory Committee on 
Ethics, the Fairleigh Dickinson University Board of Trustees, the 
Meadowlands Hospital Board of Trustees and the State Advisory Committee 
to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
  Joan Verplanck was elected the first ever female president of the New 
Jersey Chamber of Commerce in December, 1994. In this position she has 
served as a powerful advocate for our state's business interests and 
through her leadership, local and regional chambers of commerce have 
coordinated their efforts to form a grass-roots network in support of 
business issues.
  Ms. Verplanck was also instrumental in the creation of the State 
Chamber Education Foundation which is facilitating science and 
technology training for New Jersey's schools. Prior to her election as 
president of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, she accumulated 18 
years of experience managing local chambers of commerce, including 8 
years as the president of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. Ms. 
Verplanck is also a member of the board of directors of the U.S. 
Chamber of Commerce.
  In addition to her outstanding service through the Chamber of 
Commerce, Joan Verplanck also twice chaired the State's conference on 
women and she currently serves on the Board of Advisors for Management 
Education at Rutgers University, the New Jersey Employment Security 
Council and the Dredging Project Facilitation Task Force.
  These women, Zulima Farber and Joan Verplanck, exemplify the 
principles which Barbara Boggs Sigmund stood for as a Mayor, a 
freeholder and a public servant. For these tremendous contributions to 
New Jersey and their incredible example as public servants, I cannot 
think of two people more deserving of the Women's Political Caucus of 
New Jersey's Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award. I salute them and 
congratulate them on this accomplishment.

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