[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 7, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E299-E300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING UNSUNG HEROES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 07, 2001

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor three people who have 
dedicated their professional careers to fighting for better lives for 
the children and families of our nation's capital. Each week, all of us 
come to this revered institution to continue the greatest exercise in 
democracy and freedom the world has ever known. And yet, in the shadow 
of the Capitol itself are families and children whose lives we cannot 
imagine. There are children who are not able to contemplate the beauty 
of democracy and freedom because they are only concerned with surviving 
another day with enough food, with proper shelter, and without being a 
victim of abuse.

[[Page E300]]

  Luckily, there are many people who are using their formidable talents 
to provide a better life for these children and their families. On 
Monday, March 6, the Bar Association of the District of Columbia 
honored three special individuals as ``Unsung Heroes.'' I would like to 
take this opportunity to also honor these people.
  Alec I. Haniford Deull has been a lawyer in Washington DC for nearly 
a decade. After graduating from the Washington College of Law at 
American University, magna cum laude, Mr. Deull opened his own practice 
in 1993. For his entire professional career as an attorney, he has 
represented clients in child abuse and neglect cases. He also 
represents children in special education court actions. He is widely 
respected for his passionate advocacy on behalf of his clients. Mr. 
Deull is also working to train the next generation of children's 
advocates, often taking on numerous interns from local law schools.
  Juliet J. McKenna is now the Executive Director of the District of 
Columbia chapter of Lawyers for Children America, a wonderful 
organization. This organization trains lawyers in private practice who 
are volunteering their time as guardians ad litem in child abuse and 
neglect cases. Before joining Lawyers for Children America, she spent 
two years in the District's Office of the Corporation Counsel in the 
Abuse and Neglect section of the Family Services Division. Ms. McKenna 
is a bright and enthusiastic young woman who only graduated Yale Law 
School in 1995, but has already earned a reputation as an outstanding 
advocate.
  Finally, upon graduating from Northwestern University School of Law, 
Anthony R. Davenport joined the Office of the General Counsel of the 
District of Columbia Department of Human Services and then the Office 
of the Corporation Counsel. In all, he spent eight years working for 
the people, families and children of the District. For the past six 
years, Mr. Davenport has been a solo practitioner specializing in 
litigation concerning the rights of children and families. He has spent 
countless hours working to provide a better future for children and 
families across this city.
  These are three extraordinary people. I ask that all my colleagues 
join me in recognizing and honoring these people for their contribution 
to making our nation's capital a better place for children and 
families.

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