[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1983-E1984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MARY JEAN DUCKETT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. NATHAN DEAL

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. 
Mary Jean Duckett.
  Ms. Duckett served as the Deputy Director of the Disabled and Elderly 
Health Programs Group (DEHPG) within the Center for Medicaid and State 
Operations at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and 
retired on March 3, 2006 after 39 years of distinguished Federal 
service. More than half of her career was dedicated to the Medicaid 
program at CMS, and I rise in honor of her service.
  Ms. Duckett served as a champion for people with disabilities and 
long-term illness to live meaningful lives in the community. She worked 
tirelessly to ensure Medicaid beneficiaries received effective and high 
quality services. Most recently, her skillful and seasoned insight was 
of great assistance to the Energy and Commerce Committee during the 
development of home and community-based care legislation, including the 
Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration that was passed as 
part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Ms. Duckett can be proud 
that her work on this legislation will have a significant impact on the 
lives of many people with disabilities and enable them to live and work 
in the community.
  Ms. Duckett started her career in the Social Security Administration 
working the graveyard shift as a secretary so she could attend college 
full-time during the day. She received her Bachelor of Science degree 
in Sociology and then went on to earn a Master's degree in Social 
Policy while still working full-time and raising two children with her 
husband. Using this education and her experience, she worked her way up 
into the CMS management team as the Director of the Division of 
Benefits Coverage and Payment in DEHPG within the Center for Medicaid 
and State Operations and eventually became the DEHPG Deputy Director. 
She provided national leadership in increasing care options for 
individuals with disabilities by assisting states and others 
stakeholders in designing financially sound Medicaid programs that 
emphasize long-term services and supports that foster choice and 
opportunity for full participation in community life, including 
independent living, economic self-sufficiency and recovery for 
individuals of all ages.

  Ms. Duckett served as a pioneer in helping states provide 
alternatives to institutional settings. She is part of the foundation 
upon which the home--and community-based service (HCBS) program in CMS 
has been built. The HCBS program was created in 1981, and she 
contributed to the development, approval, and implementation of each of 
the approximately 290 home and community based programs operating 
throughout all 50 states today. The wealth of knowledge she developed 
will continue to benefit individuals with disabilities and long-term 
illnesses across the country every day.
  Ms. Duckett's expertise was invaluable and extensive, and her 
commitment to serving individuals with disabilities and long-term 
illness served as a model for people that worked for her. She provided 
an infallible sense of public service, and she always put other people 
first. Her contributions will be carried on as further steps are taken 
towards improving or maintaining the ability of individuals to 
contribute to society in a setting of their choice, averting 
deterioration in individuals' functional status, and reducing the 
likelihood that individuals with disability and the elderly will need 
institutional care.
  On behalf of the million plus people living in the community of their 
choosing instead of an institution, who may never know who she is, or 
how directly and fundamentally her work impacted them, I sincerely hope 
that you will join me in recognizing and thanking Mary Jean Duckett for 
her dedication and service to the Federal Government, and in wishing 
her the best in her retirement.

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