[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MS. MARY FINLAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2012

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Women's History 
month, I rise today to honor Ms. Mary Finlan, an exceptional individual 
who has served South Florida for decades.
  Ms. Finlan began her work at the Greater Homestead/Florida City 
Chamber of Commerce in 1998, and was promoted to Executive Director a 
year later. Throughout her career, she has worked tirelessly for the 
community, earning the respect and trust of many in South Florida. 
After Hurricane Andrew, she worked for four years with Habitat for 
Humanity, Lutheran Disaster Response, and ICARE to rebuild homes and 
clean up the disaster. During this time, she also worked to gather 
volunteers and raise funds nationwide.
  From 1987 to 1992, Ms. Finlan served as Executive Director of the USO 
of Dade and Monroe Counties headquartered on Homestead Air Force Base 
before Hurricane Andrew. The agency provided services to the U.S. and 
allied military personnel and dependents from Opa-Locka to Key West. 
During that time she was a member of the Military Affairs Committees of 
the Greater Homestead/Florida City Chamber of Commerce, the South Dade 
Chamber of Commerce (now Chamber South) and the Greater Miami Chamber 
of Commerce.
  Ms. Finlan is a charter member of the Miami-Dade Defense Alliance, 
and works diligently on behalf of Homestead Air Reserve Base and the 
other military installations to protect them from closure. She 
currently serves as Chairman of the board of the Everglades Community 
Association for migrant housing. She also sits on numerous advisory 
councils including the Miami-Dade Farm Worker Jobs and Education 
Program, the board of Rural Neighborhoods, Inc., and the Industry 
Advisory Council of the Homestead Job Corps Center.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to Ms. Mary Finlan for her 
continued service to the South Florida community and I ask my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing a remarkable individual.

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