[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 164 (Monday, December 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE LIDA E. HARKINS FOR HER 22 YEARS OF 
 DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE 13TH NORFOLK DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES 
  THE TOWNS OF NEEDHAM, DOVER, AND MEDFIELD, AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF 
                             MASSACHUSETTS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 13, 2010

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of State 
Representative Lida E. Harkins of Needham, Massachusetts, in 
recognition of her decades of dedicated Public Service to the families 
of the 13th Norfolk District, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
  Representative Harkins resides in Needham, Massachusetts where she 
raised 3 children--Joe, Mike and Julie and is the proud grandmother to 
10 grandchildren.
  Representative Harkins graduated from Regis College earning a B.A. 
degree and then pursued her education earning a graduate degree at 
Boston College.
  After attending Boston College, Representative Harkins began her 
career as an Elementary School Teacher and served 6 terms on the 
Needham School Committee. She also directed a collaborative vocational 
training program for 13 towns in the Metrowest area of Massachusetts.
  Representative Harkins was first elected to the General Court of the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1988 serving the towns of Needham, 
Dover and Medfield. She served as Vice-Chair of the Committee on 
Ethics, Assistant Majority Whip, Majority Whip, and House Chair of the 
Joint Committee on Education, Arts and Humanities. Further, 
Representative Harkins serves as Chair of the Needham Democratic Town 
Committee.
  When reflecting on a lifetime of good works, Representative Harkins 
counts as her greatest achievements raising her 3 children, Joe, Mike 
and Julie and being blessed as a grandmother of her 10 grandchildren as 
well as her 22 years as a public servant to the families of the 13th 
Norfolk District.
  Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take to the floor of the 
House today to join with her family, friends and contemporaries to 
thank Representative Harkins for her dedicated public service to the 
families of the 13th District and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Representative Lida E. 
Harkins' career of dedicated public service.

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