[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 20, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1212]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE OF JOSEPH VALENZANO, 
                                  JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 2006

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Joseph 
Valenzano's tremendous commitment to public service and his outstanding 
contributions on behalf of the disability community. Later this week, 
Joe, who is a constituent of New Jersey's Fifth District, will be 
honored for his work in Chester, NJ, by the International Brain 
Research Foundation.
  Joe Valenzano has spent more than 30 years in publishing and 
communications, most recently as president, CEO, publisher, and editor 
in chief of EP Global Communications, Inc., which publishes Exceptional 
Parent Magazine. This publication provides both practical advice and 
emotional support to the parents of children and adults with 
disabilities and special health needs. The magazine provides a forum 
for parents, health care professionals, and education specialists to 
work together as a community for the betterment of the disability 
community.
  Under Joe's direction and vision, Exceptional Parent magazine has 
been a pivotal player in important discussions, such as use of 
restraints and aversive punishments, expanded universal newborn 
screening, the use of people first language among journalists, end of 
life issues, and more. Exceptional Parent has led the fight to support 
the frontline workforce of professionals who provide care and 
assistance to those with special needs and to promote the use of tandem 
mass spectrometry to screen for over 60 inborn metabolism errors in 
newborns. And Exceptional Parent has worked with the Department of 
Defense to deliver reliable, accurate information to more than 150,000 
military families around the globe to help them care for their children 
with special needs and disabilities.
  It is the dedication of individuals like Joe Valenzano that gives 
hope to so many parents when they first embark upon the path of raising 
a child with special needs and provides sustenance to those parents who 
have already spent years in loving care of children with special needs. 
I applaud Joe for his efforts and join the International Brain Research 
Foundation for honoring this lifetime of work.

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