[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 172 (Thursday, November 10, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO MS. ANNA MARIA CHAVEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 10, 2011

  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Anna Maria 
Chavez and to congratulate her on her appointment as the 19th Chief 
Executive of Girl Scouts of the USA. Ms. Chavez officially assumes her 
new role at the Girl Scouts National Council Session/52nd Convention 
being held this week in Houston, Texas.
  I am particularly proud that Ms. Chavez joins GSUSA following an 
incredibly successful term as Chief Executive of Girl Scouts of 
Southwest Texas in my home district in San Antonio, Texas. During her 
tenure, Ms. Chavez oversaw a 20 percent increase in membership in just 
two years. Quickly recognized for her leadership, Ms. Chavez received 
the inaugural ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award in 2010 and was 
inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame in March 2011.
  As the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I also take great 
pride in the fact that Ms. Chavez is the first Latina woman to be named 
the head of Girl Scouts. Her story began in the small town of Eloy, 
Arizona, where she was raised in a Mexican-American family.
  Ms. Chavez holds a law degree from the University of Arizona College 
of Law and a bachelor's degree in American history from Yale 
University. Bar admissions include the U.S. District Court for the 
District of Arizona, Arizona Supreme Court, and U.S. Supreme Court. Her 
professional accomplishments are many. Prior to coming to Girl Scouts, 
she served as deputy chief of staff for urban relations and community 
development for former Arizona Governor and current U.S. Secretary of 
Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano. Prior to being appointed as deputy 
chief of staff, Ms. Chavez served as then Governor Napolitano's 
director of intergovernmental affairs from 2003 to 2007. She also 
served as in-house counsel and assistant director for the Division of 
Aging & Community Services (DACS) at the Arizona Department of Economic 
Security. Ms. Chavez entered state government after serving as senior 
policy advisor to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater. 
Previously, she had been chief of staff to the deputy administrator at 
the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in Washington, D.C. Ms. 
Chavez also served as chief of staff for SBA's Office of Government 
Contracting and Minority Enterprise Development.
  As she takes the helm at Girl Scouts of the USA, Ms. Chavez will 
shepherd a dramatic period of change for the organization. This week, 
Girl Scouts will kick off its 100th Anniversary celebration, 
designating 2012 as the Year of the Girl. In the coming years, Girl 
Scouts has plans to promote its award winning Girl Scout Leadership 
Program, including the exciting new badge book, The Girl's Guide to 
Girl Scouting. Girl Scouts is also preparing to launch an ambitious new 
fundraising effort tied to these activities, and to elevate public 
awareness about girls' unique needs.
  As relevant today as it was when it was founded 100 years ago, this 
organization delivers the best leadership experience for a new 
generation of girls whose lives--and the opportunities they face--are 
ever changing. I am confident that Anna Maria Chavez will continue this 
strong legacy of leadership and service, and look forward to working 
with her for many years to come.

                          ____________________