[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 140 (Friday, October 28, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING ANDREA NAOMI LEIDERMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 28, 2005

  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in gratitude to 
recognize the extraordinary achievements, community leadership and life 
of Andrea Naomi Leiderman of Mountain View, California. She had 
recently celebrated her 10th anniversary on June 21, 2005, as Director 
of Government and Community Relations Director for Kaiser-Permanente 
Santa Clara, California. I am proud to have known Ms. Leiderman for 
over 25 years, and have witnessed her unyielding fervor and tenacity in 
contributing to the community at large. Andrea Leiderman was a tireless 
advocate for those with no voice in the fields of health care, 
education, and youth issues.
  Ms. Leiderman helped others as a member of the Santa Clara County 
Board of Education, serving as president in 1995 and 2000. She was a 
trustee of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, adjunct 
professor at Evergreen Valley College, a member of the Human Relations 
Commission, and former Member of the Executive Board of the California 
Democratic Party. In fact, Ms. Leiderman was the youngest chairwoman of 
the Santa Clara County Democratic Party in 1987 (at age 28) and to 
date, the only woman to hold this position.
  Born in Boston, Andrea came to our Valley when she was 4. She grew up 
on the Stanford University campus and later attended Vassar College, 
majoring in Political Science. After college, she was a legislative 
assistant to former Representative Matt McHugh of New York. She was 
later an LBJ Congressional Fellow for Representative Norm Mineta of San 
Jose. Andrea received two graduate degrees from the University of 
California, Berkeley in both Public Policy and Education 
Administration. She served on the Joint Child Care Commission for the 
county and was on the Boards of the Mission City Community Fund and the 
Euphrat Museum of Art.
  During her last year and a half struggle with cancer, Andrea was 
instrumental in getting the necessary approvals for Kaiser Permanente's 
new Medical Office Building for the South Bay Region.
  The loss of Andrea is a terrible blow to our community, her friends 
and her family. We can take comfort, however, in knowing that in the 
short time she was with us she made a difference. She enriched the 
lives of others, especially those in need. She was a true friend and a 
heroic leader. I join so many others in mourning her.

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