[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1348-E1349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING SANDRA SOPAK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. AMO HOUGHTON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 22, 1999

  Mr. HOUGHTON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize a constituent of 
mine, Sandra Sopak. Sandy is the County Clerk for Chautauqua County, 
New York and recently won the National Genealogical Society's Award of 
Merit. It reads:

       Sandra Sopak receives the NGS Award of Merit for her 
     willingness to cooperate with the Chautauqua County 
     Genealogical Society in order to make records more available 
     to the public. Her latest efforts include arranging to have 
     photocopies made of all county tax lists, many of which date 
     from 1850 and before, so the Society's publications committee 
     can extract, index, and ultimately publish this valuable 
     historical information. The Society, in turn, donated a set 
     of their genealogical indexes to aid the county clerk when 
     she is asked for vital record information. This is a fine 
     example of record-keepers and record-seekers working together 
     for the benefit of both.


[[Page E1349]]


  This is the first time that this award has been given to a County 
Clerk--and a popular County Clerk at that. Sandy was elected in 1993, 
and was re-elected in 1997 overwhelmingly. In praise of her 
contribution, a friend and coworker of Sandra writes, ``She is a 
thoughtful leader within Chautauqua County government, a former town 
supervisor, a former hospital nurse, as well as a dedicated mother and 
wife. Her example should be recognized by Americans from not only New 
York but from all across America.''
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise to spread that recognition across America. 
Thank you, Sandy, for your hard work.

                          ____________________