[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 71 (Monday, May 17, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                COMMENDING KATE MEHR--WHITE HOUSE FELLOW

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN W. OLVER

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 17, 1999

  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend a public servant of 
the highest caliber--Kate Mehr of Amherst, Massachusetts, who currently 
serves as a White House Fellow.
  Since 1965, the White House Fellowship Program has called upon 
outstanding citizens, like Ms. Mehr, who have demonstrated excellence 
in community service, leadership, and professional achievement. It is 
the country's most prestigious fellowship for public service and 
leadership development. The selection process for White House Fellows 
is very competitive and is conducted by a Commission appointed by the 
President. Every year, there are 500 to 800 applicants nationwide for 
11 to 19 fellowships. Ms. Mehr has demonstrated a long-standing 
commitment to public service through her involvement with many 
community-based organizations. Her service and commitment on behalf of 
the people of Massachusetts have earned her the honor of participating 
in this prestigious fellowship.
  Ms. Mehr earned her BA in political science from Amherst College and 
an MPA from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. She is 
the executive director of the Massachusetts Service Alliance in Boston, 
a statewide non-profit group. Its mission is to strengthen 
Massachusetts's communities through service and volunteerism, running 
over 200 service programs including AmeriCorps and after-school 
programs. During her tenure, the Alliance has increased state support 
for services by 750 percent. Her involvement with youth causes in 
Massachusetts is extensive and impressive. For example, the Governor 
appointed her coordinator of The Massachusetts Summit: The Promise of 
Our Youth, the follow up to the President's Summit, and served as a 
founding member of the Massachusetts, Legislative Children's Caucus. 
Ms. Mehr was also a victim-witness advocate, tutored a young Cambodian 
immigrant and was a volunteer basketball coach at a local YMCA. She 
taught government and history, and coached basketball and golf at the 
high school level.
  As a White House Fellow, Ms. Mehr has been assigned to the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), where she has been involved in 
several important hunger initiatives. She is responsible for developing 
and implementing the Initiative on Community Food Security, which will 
coordinate the resources of the USDA to assist communities in 
developing an infrastructure to fight hunger. Additionally, Ms. Mehr 
serves as a policy advisor to Secretary Dan Glickman on hunger policy 
and international food assistance programs. She also is planning a USDA 
Summit on Hunger for the fall of 1999.
  Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Kate Mehr's remarkable record of 
professional excellence and community service, I ask my colleagues to 
join me in saluting her hard work and good citizenship.

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