[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 87 (Friday, June 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ALFRED STEIGER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2003

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Alfred Steiger in 
recognition of his dedication to improving the lives of foster care 
children.
  Al was born on Marion Street in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New 
York. He and his wife Victoria have been married for 29 years and are 
the proud parents of five children, Victoria, Mary Beth, Al Jr., 
Virginia and Jeffery, and the grandparents of three children, Justine, 
Joseph, and John. Al and his wife reside in Oceanside and are members 
of the First Presbyterian Church in Oceanside.
  Al joined the New York City Sanitation Department in 1981 and was 
promoted to Supervisor in 1989 and was assigned to Brooklyn Community 
Board 8 (BK8) as a field officer on the midnight shift. He conducted 
field operations in the Crown Heights and Bedford Stuyvesant Community 
Board (BK3) areas of Brooklyn. He was promoted to District 
Superintendent of Brooklyn North 5, which is East New York's Community 
Board 5. As District Superintendent, his responsibilities include 
keeping East New York cleaned by garbage collection, and the removal of 
snow during winter. In September 2001, Al became President of the 
Steuben Association of the New York City Sanitation Department. He also 
serves as union delegate for Local 444 Sanitation Officers.
  In early 1990, Al and his wife felt the need to give back something 
to the community for all of the blessings they have received. So after 
filing the necessary documents, they were accepted as foster parents in 
Nassau County for the Department of Social Services. Since becoming 
foster parents, they have fostered over 35 children in their care. They 
were blessed again when they had the opportunity to adopt their son 
Jeffrey who came to them when he was only 4 days old.
  In 1995, Al and Mary saw a need for foster parents to come together 
to better serve the children for which they were caring. After several 
meetings, the Nassau County Foster Parent Association was formed and Al 
was voted in as President. The NCFPA is a not-for-profit organization 
that has raised thousands of dollars for various functions for foster 
children. The funds are used to take children on picnics, swimming 
trips and various other outings. Scholarship and burial funds are also 
available. As President of the organization, Al goes to Albany once a 
year to lobby for children's rights and also to attend a conference 
held by the New York State Citizens Coalition for Children. He feels it 
is an honor to volunteer in the community where he resides and for the 
Department for which he works.
  Mr. Speaker, Alfred Steiger is committed to improving the lives of 
children, especially those in need. As such, he is more than worthy of 
receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
honoring this truly remarkable person.

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