[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 132 (Thursday, October 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING MICHAEL F. RODGERS FOR HIS SERVICE TO OLDER AMERICANS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. THOMAS M. DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 19, 2000

  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to recognize to a constituent of mine, Michael F. Rodgers, 
for his many years of service to older Americans, particularly those in 
need of housing or various forms of long-term care. For the last 
fourteen years, Mr. Rodgers has served as the Senior Vice President of 
the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA). 
AAHSA is a national nonprofit organization representing 6,000 nursing 
homes, continuing care retirement communities, senior housing, assisted 
living facilities, and community service organizations for seniors. 
AAHSA is a leader in the development of an integrated continuum of care 
for frail elderly people and individuals with disabilities. I am 
familiar with AAHSA through the membership of three excellent 
retirement communities within my district, Goodwin House West in Falls 
Church, The Virginian in Fairfax, and Westminister at Lake Ridge.
  Throughout his tenure at AAHSA, Mr. Rodgers has devoted talent, 
skill, dedication and commitment to advocating for mission-driven, non-
profit senior services across the spectrum of need. He has developed 
and implemented a public policy and advocacy program whose goal is a 
more rational and integrated system of long-term care that will serve 
seniors in the most appropriate and least restrictive environment 
possible. He has fought for effective solutions to issues raised by 
increasing longevity and the emergence of a growing ``old old'' 
population whose needs no longer can be met by the informal care 
network of the past.
  In addition to his work at AAHSA, Mr. Rodgers is a member of the 
Board of Directors of the American Society on Aging and also belongs to 
the Gerontological Society of America. He teaches at John Hopkins 
University as a member of the adjunct faculty in the Center on Aging 
Programs and Studies. Mr. Rodgers was chosen as a delegate to the most 
recent White House Conference on Aging in 1995.
  Prior to joining AAHSA, Mr. Rodgers worked on Capitol Hill for 
several years. For two years, he was the staff director of the House 
Select Committee on Aging's Subcommittee on Housing and Consumer 
Interests. Previously, he spent six years on the senior professional 
staff of the Senate Special Committee on Aging under the chairmanship 
of the late Pennsylvania Senator John Heinz. His work with these 
committees focused on health, long-term care, assisted housing and 
other aging-related legislation. Before coming to the Hill, Mr. Rodgers 
was the Director of the Bureau of Policy, Planning and Evaluation at 
the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. Previously, he served as the 
Executive Director of the Lackawanna County Area on Aging in Scranton, 
Pennsylvania, Mr. Rodgers received a master's degree in rehabilitation 
counseling and psychology from the University of Scranton, where he 
subsequently was on the adjunct faculty as a professional lecturer.
  Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to wish Mr. Rodgers the very 
best as he prepares to depart from the AAHSA to join the Catholic 
Health Association, where he will become the new Director of Government 
Relations. In this capacity, he will have the opportunity to continue 
to work on behalf of faith-based, mission driven providers of high-
quality health and long-term care. I know his colleagues join me in 
recognizing his many years of service to America's seniors and in 
wishing him continued success in his new role.

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