[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 162 (Wednesday, October 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO SHIRLEY L. JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 24, 2007

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Shirley L. 
Johnson, a remarkable woman who has distinguished herself with a long 
and impressive record of dedicated public service and advocacy for 
human rights and social justice.
  A resident of Rockville, Maryland, Shirley worked for the U.S. Public 
Health Service where, for many years, she served as Deputy Director of 
the Department of Medicine. At the time of her retirement, she was 
Director of the Office of Program Development, Bureau of Health 
Professions. Her tenure at the government health agency spanned 37 
years and was highlighted by numerous awards, including the Public 
Health Service Superior Service Award, the highest public service level 
award to be granted to a civilian.
  Since her retirement, Shirley has worn many hats and taken 
volunteerism to new heights. An outspoken champion of health care for 
the disenfranchised, Shirley was appointed to the Montgomery County 
Commission on Health and served as its Commissioner from 1995-2000. She 
also served on the Board of the Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery 
County, a charitable organization committed to bringing high quality, 
accessible, and efficient health care services to low-income, uninsured 
county residents.
  Combining her concern for public health with her knowledge of the 
governmental process, Shirley testified frequently before the 
Montgomery County Council and the Maryland General Assembly, urging 
lawmakers to pass legislation to ban smoking in public places. From 
1997-98, she served on the board of directors of Smoke Free Maryland 
and as co-chair of the Montgomery County Smoke Free Coalition.
  In the civil rights arena, Shirley challenged local officials to 
eliminate prejudice and injustice and lobbied persistently for fair 
housing to correct the discriminatory practices of landlords in 
Montgomery County.
  Education always has been high on Shirley's agenda. This cum laude 
graduate of Howard University has worked tirelessly for scholarships 
for minority students and has spent countless hours teaching and 
promoting economic empowerment concepts to at-risk students in public 
schools.
  An active Democrat, Shirley has been president of the Montgomery 
County District 19 Democratic Club for the past 5 years and serves as 
chair of Precinct 8-03 in Rockville. She counts as one of her proudest 
achievements her efforts to establish the African American Democratic 
Club of Montgomery County, where she served as first vice president.
  Shirley is a 1996 graduate of Leadership Montgomery, a program 
designed to train individuals to be effective leaders in the Montgomery 
County community. From 2000-06, she served on the Montgomery County 
Commission for Women, a resource and an important voice for women 
throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

  In 2002, Shirley was inducted into the Montgomery County Human Rights 
Hall of Fame. Two years later, she was selected as the Volunteer of the 
Year by the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee. In 2005, 
she was named a ``Woman of Achievement'' by the Montgomery County 
Business & Professional Women and received the ``Community Services 
Award'' from the Black Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., 
the ``Civil Rights Award'' from the Montgomery County, Maryland Branch 
of the NAACP, and the ``Distinguished Leadership Award'' from the 
Community Leadership Association.
  Madam Speaker, Shirley L. Johnson exemplifies community service. She 
is an individualist and an idealist who believes in equal opportunity 
for all men and women. She cares deeply about the quality of life in 
her community and is a model to others of what one person can 
accomplish through commitment, hard work and perseverance.
  On Sunday, October 28, 2007, Shirley Johnson will be honored at an 
event at the Bauer Drive Community Center in Rockville, Maryland. 
Referred to by her friends as ``One Classy Lady,'' Shirley will be 
``roasted, toasted, and appreciated.'' I am proud that she is my 
constituent and am pleased to add my praises to the chorus of family, 
colleagues and friends who will gather to salute her.

                          ____________________