[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 188 (Thursday, December 8, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF MARY ANN CHRISTOPHER

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2011

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Mary Ann 
Christopher, who, after 29 years of service, will depart her position 
as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Visiting Nurse 
Association Health Group, Inc. to assume the same position at the 
Visiting Nurse Service of New York. Her dedication to the well-being of 
New Jerseyans in need deserves this body's recognition.
  During her decade long-tenure as CEO, Mrs. Christopher spearheaded a 
geographic expansion which transformed the agency from a two-county 
provider to a statewide organization. Mrs. Christopher led the 
development of a continuum of services, including home-health care, 
hospice care, community-based prevention and outreach initiatives, 
clinics for the poor and school-based health care. In recent years, she 
skillfully steered the organization through a myriad of federal and 
state policy changes, directed a second capital campaign that resulted 
in the agency's new, modern headquarters, and launched a name change 
and comprehensive branding initiative.
  Mrs. Christopher is a leading national voice on a wide range of 
health care issues. She regularly interacts with decision makers on 
Capitol Hill, and in Trenton to develop legislative and regulatory 
policies to enhance the quality of health care for New Jersey citizens. 
Her public policy work has included advancement of public-private 
partnerships to address the growing nursing shortage, expansion of 
telehealth services, ensuring adequate reimbursement for Medicare home-
health care, and improving Medicaid care programs strengthening her 
state's human services system for the most vulnerable.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in recognizing and thanking 
Mrs. Mary Ann Christopher for her 29 years of service to New Jersey and 
her dedication to providing healthcare to those in need.

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