[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 22 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO ELIZABETH BENSON FORER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pearce). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I stand to commend a great citizen and a 
contributing member to the betterment of family life in the greater Los 
Angeles area. Her name is Elizabeth Benson Forer. She is the chief 
executive officer and executive director of the Venice Family Clinic.
  The Venice Family Clinic is the largest free clinic in the Nation, 
providing services to 18,500 people in 93 patient visits. Ms. Forer 
joined the clinic in 1994, and under her leadership, board, staff, and 
volunteers have doubled the clinic's capacity and capabilities. The 
budget has gone from $5 million to $14 million and additional sites 
have been added. Sites most recently in place include a teen clinic on 
the campus of Culver City High School, a primary care facility located 
at Mar Vista Gardens, and a public housing project, all sites that she 
founded.
  Ms. Forer holds a Master's degree in Social Work and Public Health 
from Columbia University. Prior to coming to the Venice Family Clinic, 
she served for 5 years as executive director of Settlement Health and 
Medical Services, a nonprofit community health center in east Harlem, 
New York. She also directed a department at the Metropolitan Hospital 
in New York City, where her mission was to make the hospital more 
accessible to local residents.
  As Venice Family Clinic's CEO and executive director, she reports to 
the board of directors, which guides the development of services and 
fund-raising. She also is responsible for the administration of the 
clinic's 220-member staff and 1,900 volunteers.
  Ms. Forer is currently a board member of the Community Clinic 
Association of Los Angeles County and the secretary and founding board 
member of the National Association of Free Clinics. Through these 
organizations and her direct advocacy work, Ms. Forer is involved at 
the local, State, and national levels in developing health care 
legislation and policy initiatives that will help people with low 
incomes and no health insurance.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Elizabeth Benson Forer for her commendable 
works and her commitment to families in our greater Los Angeles area.

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