[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 188 (Thursday, December 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2212-E2213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE CAREER AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE HONORABLE NETTIE 
                               MAYERSOHN

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2011

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
exceptional achievements and outstanding career of New York State 
Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn. Nettie was the political midwife to a 
generation of young politicians in New York. She spent decades working 
tirelessly for the people of Queens, and I know I speak for many when I 
say that her recent retirement from the Assembly has truly marked the 
end of an era. Nettie is being honored this week for her innumerable 
accomplishments over many years by the Stevenson Regular Democratic 
Club at its

[[Page E2213]]

annual dinner, and I would like to join in recognizing the profound 
impact that my very dear and long-time friend, Nettie Mayersohn, has 
had on our community.
  Nettie Mayersohn's steadfast dedication to Queens County began long 
before she was elected to the Assembly. For over 20 years, she served 
as a community activist, making a name for herself as an unrelenting 
advocate for children and families in Queens. She was a member of 
Community Board 8 for ten years, at one time serving as the Chairperson 
of its Youth Committee; she served as the Chairperson of the Pomonok 
Community Center; and she continues to serve as a Democratic District 
Leader, a role she has filled for some three decades. Nettie also 
served as the Executive Secretary of the New York State Crime Victims 
Board. In 1977, Nettie was New York State's delegate to the 
International Women's Conference and the recipient of the Builders of 
Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews. 
She received a B.A. from Queens College in 1978, and was elected four 
years later to represent the 27th District in the New York State 
Assembly.
  As an Assemblywoman, Nettie led the charge to improve healthcare for 
New Yorkers and defend the rights of victims of violent crime. Nettie's 
proudest and best-known achievement was the 1996 passage of her Baby 
AIDS bill, which requires doctors in New York State to tell a mother if 
her newborn child is HIV-positive. While the fight to enact this bill 
was, at times, a lonely battle, Nettie's tenacity and fortitude 
resulted in a landmark law that has saved an untold number of lives and 
led to an increase in the number of pregnant women who receive prenatal 
care. Among Nettie's numerous other legislative accomplishments are her 
HIV Rape Law, which requires a court to comply with a rape victim's 
request to test the accused for HIV; her Partner Notification Law, 
which requires the names of those testing positive for HIV to be 
reported to the Department of Health for the purpose of contact tracing 
and partner notification; her Victim Impact Law, which allows the 
victims of a crime to describe, in court, the effect the crime has had 
on their lives; and her Food Service Law, which implemented crucial 
health safety measures for food service workers.
  Nettie Mayersohn's unwavering commitment to AIDS policy inspired the 
Beyond AIDS Foundation to create the Nettie Award--an annual honor that 
recognizes outstanding efforts to promote HIV prevention and control in 
the United States and across the world. Nettie herself was given a 
special Nettie Award from Beyond AIDS in 2002, in recognition of her 
leadership on HIV/AIDS issues. That year, she also received the Public 
Service Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
  After 28 years of tireless service, Nettie retired from the Assembly 
at the beginning of April 2011 so she can spend time more with her 
wonderful family. While I lament Nettie's retirement from an impressive 
career as a public servant, she will remain my lifelong friend. We are 
all beyond grateful for everything she has done to help New Yorkers. I 
wish her all the best in her retirement--she will be sorely missed in 
public life.
  Mr. Speaker, Nettie Mayersohn is a one-of-a-kind leader and I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing her accomplishments and thanking 
Nettie for a lifetime of dedication to her community.

                          ____________________