[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 25 (Friday, February 15, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF PAMELA GREEN-JACKSON

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 15, 2013

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and honor to 
extend my sincerest congratulations to Ms. Pamela Green-Jackson, 
Founder and CEO of the Youth Becoming Healthy Project (YBH), on being 
named a recipient of the 2012 Presidential Citizens Medal by President 
Barack Obama. Ms. Green-Jackson, along with the other medal recipients, 
will be honored at an event at the White House in Washington, DC on 
Friday, February 15, 2013.
  An Albany, Georgia native, Ms. Green-Jackson serves as Public Affairs 
and Community Relations Specialist at the Marine Corps Logistics Base 
in Albany, a role she performs exceptionally well. She attended Albany 
State University and graduated from LaGrange College with a degree in 
Organizational Leadership. She also earned a Master of Science in 
Management degree from Troy University and is currently pursuing a 
Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration at Walden University.
  After watching her only brother, Bernard, suffer from obesity-related 
illnesses that led to his death at the young age of 43, Ms. Green-
Jackson founded Youth Becoming Healthy (YBH), a non-profit organization 
dedicated to reducing childhood obesity and helping young people 
develop healthy lifestyles through nutrition, fitness education and 
physical activity programs.
  With obesity being the second leading cause of preventable death and 
the number one health threat in the U.S., Ms. Green-Jackson took it 
upon herself to lead the effort in implementing changes in schools and 
in policy to prevent children from suffering like her brother did. She 
has worked with school food service managers to promote healthier 
school lunches and vending machine contents as well as to implement 
safe physical activity programs. Expanding to the surrounding 
community, Ms. Green-Jackson spearheaded the Albany Savannah Family 
Wellness Challenge, which aims to engage the entire community in making 
healthy lifestyle and behavioral choices by creating a family and 
community support system.
  Established in 1969, the Presidential Citizens Medal, the Nation's 
second-highest civilian honor, recognizes American citizens who have 
performed meritorious deeds of service for their country or their 
fellow citizens. The President calls on members of the public to 
nominate people in their lives who have demonstrated commitment to 
service within the community, who have helped their country or fellow 
citizens through an extraordinary act, whose service relates to a long-
term or persistent problem, and whose service has had an impact on 
others' lives. Ms. Green-Jackson was named as a 2012 Citizens Medal 
recipient because of her work in schools and the community to combat 
obesity in youth and promote healthy lifestyle patterns that will serve 
them now and into the future.
  Prior to receiving this prestigious honor, Ms. Green-Jackson was also 
named a 2009 CNN Hero for superior leadership, community service, and 
being an excellent role model and mentor. She was also recognized as 
the Department of Defense's 2010 Women's History Month STEM Winner for 
the Marine Corps and has been awarded the King Dream Award and the 
Congressional Black Caucus Leadership & Unsung Hero Award, among many 
others.
  In addition to her work at MCLB and YHB, Ms. Green-Jackson is also 
active in numerous community organizations including the Chamber of 
Commerce Ambassadors and Legislative Affairs Committees, UGA Extension 
Advisory Council, Liberty House, and the Southwest Georgia Rural Health 
Collaborative.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to 
Pamela Green-Jackson for her outstanding service to her community and 
her country. She is a dear friend and longtime supporter of mine and I 
know this award is well-deserved for she performs her numerous roles 
with humility, empathy and refinement. I commend Ms. Green-Jackson for 
her commitment to this worthy cause and her procurement of this 
esteemed and well-deserved award.

                          ____________________