[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 186 (Tuesday, December 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING MARLENE BLUM FOR RECEIVING THE 2011 LAWRENCE V. FOWLER 
                                 AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 6, 2011

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate 
Marlene Blum on receiving the Lawrence V. Fowler Award. The Fairfax 
County, Virginia, government gives the Fowler award annually to a 
citizen volunteer who has served on a County board, authority or 
commission and who has demonstrated exceptional service to the 
community.
  Marlene has committed herself to volunteer service on the often-
overlooked advisory boards and commissions that are nonetheless so 
vital to the functioning of a caring community. She has, through 
mastery of areas like heath care and human services, given us a model 
of how a single person can affect policy and programs that improve the 
lives of our entire community. Her wisdom and counsel continue to be 
indispensable in everything Fairfax County does in health and human 
services.
  I have been privileged to call Marlene a friend for many years now, 
and I have worked very closely with her on countless issues. Her 
dedication and hard work have been inspirational. Marlene has been a 
truly transformative figure, leading by deed and example, improving the 
lives of the very youngest to the very oldest.
  Over the years, Marlene has served in a number of different roles on 
a number of different boards and committees, generously giving of her 
time and expertise. She was President of the Fairfax County Council of 
Parent Teacher Student Association and promoted student needs. As 
Chairman of the Fairfax County School Health Task Force, Marlene led 
the effort to place public health nurses in every school. She led the 
effort to create the Community Health Care Network which provides 
primary health care to uninsured and underinsured individuals. Marlene 
helped create the County's HIV/AIDS Task Force in 1989 providing 
prevention and education assistance. She served on the Planning 
Committee to End Homelessness, providing blueprint recommendations. 
Marlene was instrumental in the creation of the Medically Fragile 
Respite Program in 2006, providing medically needy homeless individuals 
with critically needed care. Marlene served as the first Chairman of 
the Consolidated Community Funding Pool Advisory Committee, providing 
funding allocation recommendations for the County's various human 
services needs and helping to establish a professional, nonpartisan 
procedure for allocating human services funding.
  One cannot overstate the profound impact Marlene Blum has had on the 
daily lives of Fairfax County residents over her more than 20 years of 
service, and she is an indispensable resource for our community. She 
truly represents a living example that one determined citizen does make 
a difference. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Marlene 
Blum for receiving the 2011 Lawrence V. Fowler award and to take this 
opportunity to recognize all of our tireless citizen volunteers who 
give of themselves to better our communities.

                          ____________________