[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 153 (Tuesday, October 28, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO RICHARD C. SCHUTT, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE 
    AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HOMES AND SERVICES FOR THE AGING (AAHSA)

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JUDY BIGGERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 28, 2003

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to 
Richard Schutt, who for the last two years has chaired the board of 
Directors of the American Association of Homes and Services for the 
Aging (AAHSA). The association represents 5,600 mission-driven, not-
for-profit nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities, 
assisted living and senior housing facilities, and community service 
organizations which are committed to advancing the vision of healthy, 
affordable, ethical long-term care for America. Every day, AAHSA's 
members serve more than one million older persons across the country.
  Mr. Schutt has been a member of AAHSA for many years, and has served 
in a number of leadership capacities. On October 28, at AAHSA's 42nd 
Annual Meeting and Exposition in Denver, Mr. Schutt will complete his 
term as the organization's chair, having served as its top elected 
leader since 2001. Prior to that, he served with distinction on the 
association's House of Delegates and as the chair of AAHSA's public 
policy committee. Mr. Schutt also previously chaired Life Services 
Network of Illinois, AAHSA's State association partner in my State, and 
the Health Resources Alliance, a group of 19 long-term care facilities 
serving more than 7,000 clients in the Chicago area.
  Under Mr. Schutt's leadership, AAHSA has developed the Quality First 
Initiative, a comprehensive approach to achieving true excellence in 
the quality of care across the continuum of aging services. The goals 
for Quality First are continued improvements in compliance scores under 
federal regulations, progress in promoting fiscal integrity, 
demonstrable improvements in clinical outcomes, better measurement of 
quality, high scores on consumer satisfaction surveys, and higher 
employee retention rates and reduction in turnover. Over 1,000 AAHSA 
members have signed a covenant committing their facilities to working 
toward these goals.
  Although Mr. Schutt is stepping down from the chairmanship of AAHSA, 
he will return to Illinois 13th Congressional District to continue his 
work in Lockport as executive director of Rest Haven Christian 
Services, a group of long-term care facilities that provide an array of 
independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing services. He 
also presides over Providence Management Company, which owns a home 
health agency and manages long-term care facilities in Illinois, 
Indiana and Michigan.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing Richard 
Schutt for his distinguished record of service to older Americans in my 
district, in the State of Illinois, and across the nation.

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