[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 22, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING JORGE J. LAMBRINOS FOR MORE THAN 38 YEARS OF SERVICE ON BEHALF 
   OF OLDER AMERICANS AND ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE 
      UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ROYBAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

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                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 22, 2010

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jorge J. 
Lambrinos, founding director of the University of Southern California 
(USC) Roybal Institute on Aging, who is retiring this month after more 
than 38 years of working in and out of government on behalf of older 
Americans.
  Jorge was born in Panama City, Panama and arrived to this country at 
the age of 11 speaking no English. He fondly recalls his first job, at 
age 12, shining shoes in the barbershop where his father worked. From 
then on, Jorge's strong work ethic and love for our country motivated 
him on a non-stop mission in pursuit of the American Dream--not only 
for himself but for our nation's elderly as well.
  Jorge first got involved in advocating for seniors as Director of 
Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development. There, he was 
instrumental in getting the City of Detroit to establish a senior 
center in the Latino community of southwest Detroit. Jorge's leadership 
in his adopted hometown led to a prestigious fellowship opportunity in 
our nation's capital. As one of 10 national Health, Education, and 
Welfare Fellows, Jorge worked under Arthur S. Flemming, the U.S. 
Commissioner on Aging at the Administration on Aging.
  After his one-year fellowship ended, Jorge became director of the 
U.S. Administration on Aging's Executive Secretariat and Special 
Assistant to the Commissioner on Aging. During that time, as an advisor 
to Commissioner Flemming, Jorge played a key role in the establishment 
of four national minority aging organizations. He also worked to ensure 
that minority communities had a voice in the emerging field of 
gerontology.
  Building on this area of expertise, in 1977, Jorge joined my father, 
Congressman Edward R. Roybal, as Director of the Subcommittee on 
Housing and Consumer Interests of the House Select Committee on Aging. 
During that time, Jorge guided the development of the Congregate 
Housing Services legislation signed into law by President Jimmy Carter, 
which authorizes all Sec. 202 senior housing to provide temporary 
supportive services to ailing residents. When my father became chair of 
the full Committee on Aging, Jorge served as the full committee's staff 
director--becoming one of the first Latino staffers to hold such a 
position.
  Several years later, Jorge then moved on to become my father's Chief 
of Staff. Together, they worked to address many critical priorities for 
older Americans, including the availability of congregate meals and 
stepping up research initiatives into the aging process as well as 
Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. Jorge is particularly proud of his 
work with my father to strengthen the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC).
  Jorge was integral in the formation of the Roybal Institute on 
Applied Gerontology. In my father's last few years in office, seniors 
from East Los Angeles petitioned California State University Los 
Angeles to establish an endowed chair in Congressman Roybal's name. 
Jorge's strategic recommendations resulted in the establishment of the 
Edward R. Roybal Foundation and the creation of the Institute.
  After my father's retirement in 1993, Jorge joined him at Cal State 
Los Angeles and became the first full time director of the Roybal 
Institute. He was responsible for the management of several health 
promotion and disease prevention projects, including a collaborative 
research project with the CDC to determine the levels of older adult 
vaccinations in the Latino community of East Los Angeles. He also 
collaborated with USC's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center to 
translate findings from its clinical trials research to community 
application. In addition, Jorge was the Principal Investigator of a 
project funded by the Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine to 
develop interventions to reduce the incidence of falls and injuries 
among older adults. Jorge moved with the center from Cal State LA to 
its new home at the University of Southern California in 2006.
  Jorge Lambrinos has received numerous awards and appointments, 
including being named as one of the ``Top 100 Most Influential 
Hispanics in the U.S.'' by Hispanic Business Magazine. He has served as 
a member of the National Advisory Council of the National Institute on 
Aging, the California Commission on Aging and the Executive Council of 
AARP California, where he continues to serve as health policy advisor.
  In addition to his work in public service, Jorge's dedication to our 
country is also evident through his distinguished military service. A 
graduate of the U.S. Army War College and a decorated Bronze Star Gulf 
War veteran, Jorge retired as a Lt. Colonel after 27 years of military 
service.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing 
Jorge's long record of service to our country. His significant 
contributions have made life healthier and more just for older 
Americans from all walks of life and I wish him many more years of 
fulfillment and success in retirement.

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