[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 167 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO SUPERVISORS GAIL STEELE AND ALICE LAI-BITKER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 16, 2010

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Gail Steele 
and Alice Lai-Bitker, who have chosen to retire from their exemplary 
service on the Alameda Board of Supervisors at the end of this year. 
Supervisors Steele and Lai-Bitker have served their districts with 
honor and distinction.
  Supervisor Steele has held many positions of leadership in 
organizations in Alameda County including Alameda County Mental Health 
Advisory Board; Chair, Alameda Alliance for Health; Chair, Alameda 
County Children's Memorial Grove and Flag Committee; President of 
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum/Area Joint Power Authority; Chair, 
Local Agency Formation Commission; Executive Committee of the 
Association of Bay Area Governments; and the Liaison Committee of the 
East Bay Regional Parks.
  She served on the Hayward City Council from 1974 to 1982, and has 
represented the Second Supervisory District since June 1992. She served 
as President of the Board of Supervisors from January 1995 to January 
1997, and again from January 2003 to January 2005.
  Alice Lai-Bitker was unanimously appointed to the Alameda County 
Board of Supervisors in December 2000. She was re-elected twice by 
voters in District Three, where she is serving until her tenure ends at 
the end of December 2010. In January 2009, she was selected by her 
colleagues to serve as President of the Board for 2009 and 2010.
  During her tenure as Supervisor, Ms. Lai-Bitker has been a strong 
advocate for increasing health care for children. She spearheaded the 
No Wrong Door policy in Social Services to ensure quick and efficient 
service. Her work on domestic violence includes A Day of Remembrance, 
honoring victims of domestic violence and assisting in obtaining 
federal funds for a Family Justice Center in Alameda County.
  Ms. Lai-Bitker chairs the Board's Health Committee and serves on the 
Social Service Committee. She is a member of the Alameda County 
Transportation Authority and she represents the Board of Supervisors on 
the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. She is a member of the 
Board of the George Mark Children's House, the UC Berkeley School of 
Social Welfare Community and California State University East Bay 
Institute for Mental Health and Wellness Education.
  Supervisors Steele and Lai-Bitker have many notable accomplishments, 
and have won many awards for their contributions. I join the community 
in thanking each of these outstanding women for the significant impact 
they've had in our community.

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