[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 22 (Thursday, February 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO GWENN KLINGLER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 5, 2003

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Representative Gwenn 
Klingler a resident of Springfield; she is married to Dr. Gerald 
Klingler and has two grown, married children and one grandson; she 
graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University and later received a master's 
degree in biology from the University of Michigan; she went on to 
receive a law degree with honors from George Washington University.
  Representative Klingler served as an alderman on the Springfield City 
Council from 1991 to 1995 where she was chairman of the Public Safety 
Committee; she was twice elected to the Springfield District 186 School 
Board where she served from 1987 to 1991; she served as Board President 
in 1988.
  Since first being elected to the House of Representatives in 1994, 
Representative Klingler has been regarded as a child's advocate; in 
1998, she received the Daycare Action Award; she helped to pass the 
Foster Parents Bill of Rights; she has served as the Spokesperson for 
the Children and Youth Committee of the House of Representatives; she 
was chief sponsor of the Sex Offender Registration bill and Public Act 
92-137 (``Heather's Law'') as well as House Resolution 63, which 
created the Illinois After School Initiative; she donated legislative 
scholarships to DCFS for foster children who are wards of the court.
  Representative Klingler worked hard for State employees; she 
cosponsored the Early Retirement Plan for State Employees, which 
enabled State employees to retire as early as 50 years old, saving jobs 
and State money.
  Representative Klingler consistently worked to bring State money to 
the 100th district; she sponsored the Springfield Medical District 
bill, which established a commission to create a master plan to 
redevelop the medical district neighborhood and expand existing 
healthcare facilities as well as attract new facilities.
  Representative Klingler was instrumental in securing funding for a 
new classroom at the University of Illinois at Springfield; she was a 
major supporter of the construction process of the new Lincoln 
Presidential Library.
  Representative Klingler has received community honors in recognition 
of her work; she received the Charlotte Danstron Award from Women-In-
Management for the Women of Achievement in Government Award in 1994, 
and in 1996 received the Distinguished Leadership Award from Leadership 
Springfield that is sponsored by the Greater Springfield Chamber of 
Commerce; she received the 1999 Legislative Leadership Award from the 
Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association; further, she 
received the 1999 Goodwill, SPARC, and National Association for the 
Mentally Ill Award, the 2001 Anti-Hunger Advocate Award, and the 2002 
Illinois Women in Government Award.
  Representative Klingler remains active in the community and serves on 
a number of Springfield area community committees; she is a member of 
the Human Values and Ethics Committee at Memorial Hospital, the 
Chancellor's Advisory Committee at the University of Illinois at 
Springfield, and the Central Illinois Blood Bank Board; she is a member 
of The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Women-In-Management, 
Springfield Rotary International, and the Sangamon County Medical 
Alliance.
  We congratulate Representative Gwenn Klingler on a job well done and 
wish her and her family well in all of their future endeavors.

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