[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 114 (Thursday, September 14, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO TAMMY MAHAN

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, one of the great joys of my job as 
Senator is working closely with talented, dedicated Iowans from all 
walks of life. I would like to take a moment to salute one of those 
exceptional people, Tammy Mahan, an outstanding social worker, and a 
passionate advocate for adoption and foster care.
  Tammy has dedicated her life to children, and has made a profound 
difference in the lives of countless foster and adopted youngsters in 
Iowa and across the United States. In her ``day job,'' Tammy works at 
Children and Families of Iowa, where she is responsible for assisting 
foster parents through the licensing process.
  A year ago, Tammy went beyond the call of duty by starting up a new 
organization in Des Moines called Elevate. Elevate is a growing team of 
young people who are active in a variety of important ways. They 
recruit families to foster or adopt teenagers. They educate legislators 
and the public about foster care and adoption. And they work to empower 
and increase the self-esteem of other teenagers who join the team as 
advocates. Elevate is doing wonderful things nationwide to encourage 
foster care and adoption. And the young people who are active in 
Elevate are just fantastic; they are passionate about their work, and 
they are setting a wonderful example for their peers.
  I am deeply grateful to Tammy Mahan for all that she is doing in the 
community. By the way, Tammy and her husband Mitchell, are adoptive 
parents of two children. While it is easy for some professionals to 
talk the talk of youth empowerment and improving the system, Tammy and 
her family are walking the walk. Ghandi said that ``You must be the 
change you want to see in the world.'' And that is exactly what Tammy 
and the young people of Elevate are doing.
  This week, Tammy Mahan is in Washington to be honored for her 
outstanding public service. She is receiving a 2006 ``Angel in 
Adoption'' award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption. This is 
an honor richly deserved. I congratulate Tammy, and I salute not only 
her work but also the good work being done by all the young activists 
in Elevate.

                          ____________________