[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 19, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO THE HOUSE OFFICE OF EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT W. NEY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2001

  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge that the House 
Office of Employee Assistance has been recognized with the EAP Digest/
Employee Assistance Professionals Association Quality Award for EAP 
Excellence for 2001.
  The House of Representatives, for the last fourteen years, has been 
privileged to have a high-performing team in its Office of Employee 
Assistance. Those of us who have worked with these individuals have 
often experienced their high level of service and passion for their 
work. Now, the entire nation will know too, as the House Office of 
Employee Assistance has been recognized with the EAP Digest/Employee 
Assistance Professionals Association Quality Award for EAP Excellence 
for 2001.
  The award states, ``Evaluation and quality improvement has always 
been a key component of the U.S. House of Representatives program. 
Whether through client satisfaction surveys, peer reviews or more 
innovative techniques such as customer interviews and the system-wide 
evaluation, all modes of evaluation came to the same finding: The 
Office of Employee Assistance demonstrates exemplary continuous 
improvement efforts that enhanced the quality of EAP services.''
  The House team of Bern Beidel, Liz McBride, Debbie Frank, Kristin 
Welsh-Simpson, and Patty Prince should feel quite proud of its 
accomplishments and for this recognition that is well deserved.
  It's also appropriate to pay tribute to a number of former House 
Members and employees who laid the groundwork for this program. First, 
former Clerk of the House, Donnald K. Anderson, whose initiative and 
vision were instrumental in the House instituting an employee 
assistance service. Second, thanks goes out to the initial Members of 
Congress who were critical to winning the endorsement of the elected 
Members--former Speaker Tom Foley, former Minority Leader Bob Michel, 
former Members Bill Emerson, Rod Chandler, Ben Jones, Mary Rose Oakar, 
and current Senator Pat Roberts.
  The combined work of these professionals has yielded an exemplary 
level of support for House employees through a program that is now 
recognized as among the best in its field. Congratulations to the 
Office of Employee Assistance team, and keep up the outstanding work!

                          ____________________