[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 130 (Thursday, November 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11053-S11054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING DR. DAVID E. JANSSEN

 Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, today I honor Dr. David E. 
Janssen, who is retiring after an impressive career spanning 40 years 
as a public servant in the State of California.
  Dr. Janssen is retiring as chief administrative officer of the county 
of Los Angeles where he has served with distinction since August 1996. 
I extend to him my sincere congratulations for the decades of dedicated 
service that he has given to his Nation, his State, and his county.

[[Page S11054]]

  For the past decade, Dr. Janssen has played an invaluable role in 
helping the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors accomplish its 
Federal and State legislative priorities.
  While his many accomplishments are too numerous to list here, his 
most recent efforts clearly demonstrate just how much he has meant to 
Los Angeles county and my State over his entire career.
  Dr. Janssen has advocated closely on important Medicaid reform 
proposals and helped to improve the flexibility of Federal foster care 
funds.
  He coordinated and developed advocacy strategies with local 
government and housing and community development groups in the Los 
Angeles region to protect vital community development block grant 
funds.
  Working to improve the county's health system, Dr. Janssen helped 
assure critical Federal funding guarantees and assisted in creating an 
action plan in the event of an avian flu epidemic. He also collaborated 
with the State's congressional delegation, Governor Arnold 
Schwarzenegger, and the administration to secure funding for Martin 
Luther King/Charles R. Drew Medical Center--King/Drew--in south Los 
Angeles, preserving critical, life-saving services, and ensuring that 
the patients served by King/Drew continue to have access to care.
  In an issue that is of utmost importance to my State, he worked 
closely with key administration officials and members of Congress to 
ensure that Los Angeles Air Force Base would not be closed or 
realigned.
  In terms of homeland security, Dr. Janssen led the county in working 
to boost funding and increase the allocation of first responder grants 
to local governments. Likewise, he supported legislation to adopt a 
threat-based formula that directs homeland security funds where they 
are needed most.
  These are just some of Dr. Janssen's significant accomplishments on 
behalf of Los Angeles county and the State of California. As he 
retires, I extend my gratitude to him for his many contributions 
throughout a distinguished career. With sincere best wishes, I 
congratulate him upon his retirement from public service. I am pleased 
to join his many coworkers, family, friends, and associates in wishing 
him health, happiness, and good fortune in all his future 
endeavors.

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