[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A TRIBUTE TO ELLEN SNORTLAND, 29TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE 
                               YEAR--2012

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 28, 2012

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History 
Month. Each year during the month of March, we pay special tribute to 
the accomplishments made by our nation's most distinguished women.
  I stand today to pay tribute to Ellen Snortland of Altadena, 
California, who is an inspiring and extraordinary individual. Ellen has 
spent her life following a variety of passions ranging from human 
rights to journalism to self defense. Ms. Snortland received a Bachelor 
of Arts from the University of California, Irvine in Theater and Film, 
and later a Juris Doctor, JD, from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. 
After graduating, Ellen decided that she could provide the most service 
to her community as an advocate for women and children, a teacher, 
performer and media professional.
  Ms. Snortland is the author of Beauty Bites Beast, which has been 
translated in Portuguese and Spanish, featured on Dateline NBC, and 
sold around the world. Ellen has also performed ``Now that She's 
Gone,'' a one-woman show, which is a touching piece about family and 
forgiveness, and in 2008, was nominated for a Pulitzer in Drama. She 
has performed this show in New York, Los Angeles, Kansas, and France 
among other cities, states and countries.
  She is currently a Board Member and lead female instructor for IMPACT 
personal safety, and teaches young boys and girls how to defend 
themselves from predators, both physically and verbally. She provides 
valuable services to our youth which they can draw from for their 
entire lives.
  Ellen's accomplishments and roles in our community are innumerable. 
She serves on the Board of 50/50 Leadership and Consumer Watchdog, and 
is the Past President of the United Nations Association, Pasadena/
Foothills Chapter. Ellen attended the U.N. Fourth World Conference on 
Women in Beijing in 1995, the World Conference Against Racism in 
Durban, South Africa, in the year of 2001, and the U.N. Commission on 
the Status of Women for many years as part of the U.N. Press Corps as 
well as a NGO delegate.
  Today, Ms. Snortland is a columnist for the Pasadena Weekly and a 
blogger for Ms. Magazine and Huffington Post. Ellen's work has been 
exceptional, and has proven that one woman can truly achieve all she 
sets her mind to.
  I ask all Members to join me today in honoring an outstanding woman 
of California's 29th Congressional District, Ellen Snortland, for her 
exceptional service to the community.

                          ____________________