[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 90 (Friday, June 25, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   A TRIBUTE TO CHRISTINA SUNDSTROM ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT

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                         HON. CALVIN M. DOOLEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 25, 2004

  Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
Christina Sundstrom at the conclusion of a remarkable career in public 
service in California's San Joaquin Valley. After many years dedicated 
to improving the Valley's rural communities, Ms. Sundstrom is retiring 
from her position as Director of Empowerment Programs for the USDA 
Rural Development office in Visalia, California, the capstone of a 
distinguished career.
  Ms. Sundstrom began her career in public service working for the Army 
National Training Center at Fort Irwin in Barstow, California. After 
several years spent raising a family in Los Angeles, Ms. Sundstrom 
devoted a significant portion of her career to helping retirees and 
disabled citizens in the Social Security Administration office in 
Visalia. In this role she became intimately familiar with the needs of 
our vibrant, yet economically challenged region.
  Christina Sundstrom's tireless dedication to serving the Central 
Valley's families and her efforts to improve the Valley's communities 
earned her the respect of her peers in state and federal agencies and 
made her a key community leader in the region. I was fortunate to have 
her join my Congressional staff after my election in 1990 as my 
District Director. Over the next seven years, Ms. Sundstrom excelled as 
my representative in the district and as a skilled liaison between 
state and federal agencies, community groups, and constituencies. As my 
District Director, Ms. Sundstrom played a significant role in providing 
relief to many Valley agricultural communities following a crop freeze 
in the early 1990's. She played a key role in addressing this region's 
compelling needs by helping to secure key economic development grants 
and coordinating visits by Cabinet officials and by the President of 
the United States in the mid-1990's.
  As an extension of her proven commitment to the Central Valley's 
economic development, Ms. Sundstrom later accepted a position as 
Programs Coordinator with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural 
Development Office in Visalia. In this capacity, she assisted many 
struggling Valley communities in their efforts to obtain grant funding, 
tax incentives, and other forms of assistance necessary to combat the 
Valley's persistent double-digit unemployment. Many local leaders have 
praised Ms. Sundstrom as an effective and invaluable resource to the 
region.
  Christina Sundstrom's retirement this week from the Department of 
Agriculture marks a significant loss for the San Joaquin Valley, which 
has come to rely on her as a one of its best and brightest advocates 
for positive change. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the distinguished career of Christina Sundstrom and her 
notable record of service to our community on this special occasion.

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