[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S8672]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JUDITH LICHTMAN

   Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to Judith L. 
Lichtman, who stepped down recently after serving for 30 years as 
president of the National Partnership for Women and Families.
  I have been privileged to work with Judy Lichtman for the past 
quarter century on numerous issues of importance to American women and 
families. Judy took the lead in efforts to combat gender-based 
discrimination in the workplace, to protect a woman's right to choose, 
to provide each and every American with affordable health care, and to 
in so many other ways help working families across our Nation.
  Judy began her career at the National Partnership for Women and 
Families in 1974, when it was known as the Women's Legal Defense Fund. 
At the time, she was its executive director and only paid staff member. 
Under her leadership, the National Partnership has become an 
organization that has been at the forefront of many major legislative 
initiatives concerning women and families for the past three decades.
  Judy was particularly instrumental in the successful effort to pass 
the Family and Medical Leave Act, legislation I was privileged to 
author in the Senate. Judy recognized decades ago that each and every 
day, men and especially women in America are forced to make difficult 
choices between advancing their careers and caring for their families. 
The FMLA hasn't eliminated these difficult choices entirely. But by 
providing working men and women with up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave 
to care for a sick loved one or a newborn child, it has been an 
enormous help to women and men as they strive to balance the competing 
demands of work and family.
  In this legislative body, and around our country, we often hear 
rhetoric about ``family values.'' Judy understands that if ``family 
values'' as a term means anything, it must be accompanied by policies 
that actually value families by providing them with access to 
affordable health care, by helping parents care for their children, by 
giving working mothers opportunities for equal jobs with equal pay, and 
by fighting practices that discriminate against parents in the 
workplace.
  Judy understands that the American family's priorities are America's 
priorities. The family is the fundamental building block of our 
society. And when we make the American family stronger, we make America 
stronger.
  Judy has won praise from wide circles for her tireless efforts. 
President Clinton called her ``a remarkable national treasure,'' and I 
echo those words today. The occasion of Judy's retirement is indeed a 
bittersweet one. But I have no doubt that she will continue to lend her 
expertise and passion to the National Partnership as she continues on 
in the role of senior advisor.
  I don't know anyone who is a more passionate, tenacious, and 
intelligent advocate for women and families than Judy Lichtman. She is 
a model for generations to come, and I have truly enjoyed the time I 
have spent working together with her over the years.
  I thank Judy for her many, many years of dedicated work, and I wish 
her luck as she moves on to this new stage in her life and her 
career.

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