[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 131 (Thursday, September 6, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S11209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING MARY McALENEY

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I commend a Mainer who has 
gone above and beyond the call of duty in public service to our State 
and the Nation. On June 30 of this year, Mary McAleney retired from her 
position as district director of the U.S. Small Business 
Administration's Maine district Office after serving in that capacity 
for 9 dedicated years. Her retirement from this post is a loss to all 
of Maine's 151,000 small businesses. Mary has always worked with the 
best interests of Maine's small businesses in mind, and her efforts on 
behalf of our State's small firms has been widely praised. In March of 
this year, the Maine Small Business Development Centers named Mary 
their Small Business Champion for her tireless efforts to serve 
Mainers. Her commitment to, and enthusiasm for, small enterprises has 
impressed all who have had the privilege of working with her.
  I will never forget when, in the spring of 2006 following devastating 
flooding in York County, Mary helped to organize a tour for me of the 
damage. On very short notice, she made arrangements to visit numerous 
businesses affected by the flooding, rallying business leaders to stay 
optimistic and begin the recovery process. Over the years, Mary proved 
time and again that she could be relied upon in times of crisis to 
assist small businesses in need, and as a Mainer herself, she knew 
exactly how to be helpful, knew the right person to call, and found a 
way to get results.
  Mary's public service began with her work as a staffer in the Maine 
Legislature. Leaving Augusta, Mary came to Washington to work for 
former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, where she served as 
chief of staff. Prior to her appointment to the Maine SBA, Mary served 
as district director for the Massachusetts SBA from 1995 to 1998. 
Without any doubt, it is clear from the first time Mary meets anyone 
that Mary McAleney's passion is Maine! She grew up in eastern Maine, in 
the town of Vanceboro, where she undoubtedly learned the value of 
sustaining a rural economy, and realized the challenges many Mainers 
from rural areas of the State face in order to support a family. 
Throughout the years, Mary has demonstrated this zeal by her remarkable 
ability to work with people from all sides of the spectrum, because she 
is among them in spirit and determination.
  The State of Maine owes a debt of gratitude to Mary McAleney for the 
outstanding work she has done fighting for Maine's small businesses. 
While she will be sorely missed at the SBA, I know Mary will continue 
her distinguished service to Maine in innovative and beneficial ways. I 
wish my good friend continued success and offer my sincere appreciation 
for her devotion to Maine's small business community.
  Thank you, Mr. President, for affording me the opportunity to speak 
about this truly exceptional Mainer and American.

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