[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E438-E439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JOHN HANSAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TONY P. HALL

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 29, 2000

  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to John E. Hansan, 
a pioneer in the field of social policy and a tireless advocate for the 
elderly, whose contributions in these disciplines span 50 years and 
counting. Celebrating his 70th birthday today, ``Jack'' Hansan has 
effected profound social change throughout his life and career. From 
his social worker days at the Minute Circle Friendly House in Kansas 
City, Missouri, through his active duty service during the Korean War, 
to his stint as chief of staff for the Governor of Ohio, and on to 
Washington, Jack has left an indelible mark on millions of Americans.
  Jack's acumen for assessing real world problems and successfully 
carrying out visionary social programs has been a constant throughout 
his professional life. In the early 1960's, Jack developed an 
innovative educational program to give inner-city, pre-school children 
in Cincinnati a head start before entering kindergarten. The ``Tot 
Lots'' program was successfully rolled out in the metropolitan area and 
become the framework for what is today's Head Start program. From this 
early

[[Page E439]]

professional success, Jack was selected as the first executive director 
of the Community Action Commission in Cincinnati, one of the first and 
largest anti-poverty agencies in the country. Jack designed and 
implemented several programs to combat poverty throughout the greater 
Cincinnati area. His plans became the blueprint for similar programs in 
cities throughout the country.
  During this time, Jack entered into a doctoral program at Brandeis 
University in Waltham, Massachusetts, with a concentration in 
gerontology. Nearing the completion of his studies. Jack was urged to 
accept a directorship position for the Ohio Department of Public 
Welfare to oversee a broad spectrum of programs for all 88 counties in 
Ohio. In 1972, Jack was named chief of staff to the Governor of Ohio, 
John J. Gilligan.
  In 1976, after his tenure as the Governor's right-hand man, Jack came 
to Washington as the director of government affairs for the American 
Public Welfare Association, and later jointed the National Conference 
of Social Welfare (NCSW). As executive director of NCSW, Jack initiated 
several breakthroughs in social policy: the kick-off of the first 
national conference on the homeless; the introduction of the first 
forum on long-term care; and the launch of the three-year project, 
``The Social Role of the Federal Government.''
  Completing his doctorate in gerontology in 1980, Jack was soon 
directing his energies toward health care and social programs for the 
elderly. Much of his work in his area includes the application of new 
computer technologies and data collection practices to provide a look 
ahead at the welfare of the aging population. Also in the area of 
applied technologies, Jack earned a commendation for his work 
spearheading the National Practitioner Data Bank project. Mandated by 
Congress, this ground-breaking program restricts the ability of 
incompetent physicians and dentists to move from state to state without 
discovery.
  While Jack may be joining the ranks of septuagenarians today, he is 
by no means slowing down. He continues to teach classes and lecture on 
social policy and public administration. As an avid researcher, 
discerning editor and prolific writer, Jack is also looking to add a 
sixth book to his body of work. All things being equal, it's business 
as usual for Jack Hansan--pursuing his life's work and building on a 
50-year legacy for which we are most grateful.

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