[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 21, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING DIANE B. GARRO OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2008

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and Ways 
and Means Ranking Member Jim McCrery to recognize Diane B. Garro, an 
exemplary public servant. Ms. Garro is retiring after 36 years of 
distinguished service at the Social Security Administration.
  Ms. Garro has devoted her professional life to serving Social 
Security's current and future beneficiaries. Like many other dedicated 
SSA employees, Ms. Garro began her career on the front lines, directly 
serving beneficiaries. Through her talent and hard work, she rose to 
become a key senior executive.
  Ms. Garro started her career with SSA while she was still a college 
student, and later took a full-time job as a claims authorizer for 
disability benefits. Her skill and commitment were recognized as she 
was promoted to a variety of management positions throughout the 
agency, and she eventually was named as Assistant Deputy Commissioner--
the top civil service position--in SSA's Office of Legislation and 
Congressional Affairs, OLCA. She has served with distinction for over 
12 years in that position or as Acting Deputy Commissioner. She has 
helped to establish a high standard for knowledge, cooperation and 
professionalism in representing SSA with Members of Congress and their 
staff.
  Ms. Garro is recognized as an expert on SSA's disability policies, 
with a particular expertise in the complex challenge of determining 
childhood disability. With her early experience as a disability claims 
authorizer as a base, and additional experience gained in 
organizational management, she was named Director of SSA's Division of 
Medical and Vocational Policy, which is responsible for developing the 
regulations and policies used to determine whether an applicant meets 
the test of disability in the law. She was chosen to represent SSA on a 
White House workgroup on children with disabilities, and she addressed 
the National Commission on Childhood Disability on behalf of SSA.
  Ms. Garro also led the development of SSA's medical listing for HIV, 
creating a streamlined process that allowed individuals with HIV to 
qualify for presumptive disability payments based on a doctor's 
certification. As a result, payments for individuals suffering from HIV 
could begin in a matter of days rather than months. She also played a 
pivotal role in developing and implementing the procedures the Agency 
continues to use to expedite benefits to terminally ill applicants.
  At the Committee on Ways and Means, we are grateful for Ms. Garro's 
vast expertise covering Social Security programs and agency operations, 
and her skill in communicating vital information to Congress. She has 
led the Congressional affairs team with a high degree of integrity, 
knowledge, and compassion. The Subcommittee on Social Security 
particularly appreciates her unfailing responsiveness, and her timely, 
accurate, and insightful analysis on issues ranging from disability 
determination to disclosure of information to the impact of immigration 
reform on SSA. The technical assistance she and her staff have provided 
over the years has been invaluable in perfecting the laws Congress has 
enacted.
  Ms. Garro's tenure in OLCA spanned six SSA Commissioners. She led 
SSA's preparation of witnesses for many hearings, and the Committee 
learned to expect those witnesses to be ready to handle any question we 
would ask. Ms. Garro also participated in innumerable Congressional 
briefings. Her hallmark was a thoughtful, practical, well-reasoned 
approach to any issue, leavened by a sense of humor that ensured 
balance and perspective.
  Diane Garro's career exemplifies her commitment to providing 
effective, compassionate, and knowledgeable service to the Agency and 
to the American public. She can retire knowing she has the respect and 
admiration of those who have worked with her, and she can be very proud 
of her accomplishments.
  We wish Ms. Garro all the best in her retirement from the Social 
Security Administration. We thank her for her many years of dedicated 
Federal service, and we will certainly miss her.

                          ____________________