[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 150 (Thursday, October 24, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1572]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING JAMES M. ``JIM'' SCOTT ON HIS RETIREMENT AFTER FOUR DECADES 
                           OF PUBLIC SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 24, 2013

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleague, 
Rep. Jim Moran, to recognize and commend James M. ``Jim'' Scott on the 
occasion of his retirement after a distinguished career in public 
service to the residents of Fairfax County and the City of Falls 
Church. For more than 40 years, Jim has been a passionate advocate for 
our community on issues such as education, affordable housing, 
technology, health care, and transportation. He spent 14 years 
representing the Providence District on the Fairfax County Board of 
Supervisors and then 22 years representing the 53rd District in the 
Virginia House of Delegates.
  Jim's true public service began in a local classroom, when he was a 
teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools. He taught at Edison High 
School among others before leaving the schools to take the lead on 
Fairfax County's anti-poverty efforts. In 1971, he was elected to the 
Board of Supervisors representing the Providence District, which 
encompassed the central part of the county. During his 14-year tenure 
on the Board, Jim played a central role in drafting the county's Human 
Rights Ordinance and launching the School Aged Child Care Program, 
which continues to provide safe, fun, and educational before- and 
after-school activities for local elementary school children.
  During his tenure as Providence Supervisor, Jim took an active role 
in regional organizations, serving as chairman of the Northern Virginia 
Transportation Commission, member of the Northern Virginia Planning 
District Commission (now known as the Northern Virginia Regional 
Commission), member of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit 
Authority (Metro) Board of Directors, chairman of the Metropolitan 
Washington Water Resources Planning Board, and president of the 
Virginia Association of Counties.
  He also served on the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan 
Washington Council of Governments, which in 1985 recognized Jim with 
the Elizabeth and David Scull Award, the highest honor for regional 
service in the National Capital Region. Fairfax County also recognized 
Jim by creating the James M. Scott Community Spirit Award, which is 
presented annually as part of Celebrate Fairfax, the summertime fair he 
helped champion. Jim left the County Board in 1986 to become the 
director of community affairs for Inova Health System, the region's 
largest health care provider.
  Throughout his career, Jim has served as an invaluable mentor and 
partner to a number of community leaders, including his successor in 
the Providence District, Katherine K. ``Kate'' Hanley, who was later 
elected chairman of the Board of Supervisors. I too was proud to follow 
in Jim and Kate's footsteps in Providence District when I first joined 
the Board in 1994 and then during my tenure as Chairman.
  In 1992, Jim was elected to represent the 53rd District, which 
includes Merrifield and the City of Falls Church, in the Virginia House 
of Delegates. He won that first race by a single vote, earning him the 
moniker ``Landslide Jim.'' He stayed true to his local government roots 
in the General Assembly, introducing legislation allowing cities and 
counties to implement affordable dwelling unit ordinances to increase 
the availability of low-cost and workforce housing.
  During my tenure in Fairfax, Jim worked closely with us to advance 
the county's Affordable Housing Initiative and the 10-year Plan to 
Prevent and End Homelessness. Working with the faith, nonprofit, and 
business communities, we have created a safety net to provide wrap 
around support services and move people off the streets into stable 
housing. Thanks to those ongoing efforts, Fairfax was one of the few 
metropolitan localities to see a decline in its homeless population 
during the Great Recession. In recognition of his tireless work in this 
field, Jim was named the Virginia Housing Coalition's Public Official 
of the Year in 1992, and he was inducted into the AHOME (Affordable 
Housing Opportunity Means Everyone) Hall of Fame last year.
  In addition to those accomplishments, Jim worked closely with the 
local Northern Virginia business community. He introduced the 
legislation that created the office of Secretary of Technology in the 
Commonwealth of Virginia. More recently, he worked with me, Rep. Moran, 
and our colleague, Rep. Frank Wolf, on both federal and state 
legislation to facilitate the increased use of telework. Our bill, the 
Telework Enhancement Act, was signed into law in 2010 and federal 
agencies continue to expand their use of telework and mobile work 
strategies.
  In announcing his intention earlier this year to retire, Jim cited 
the passage of the bipartisan transportation funding bill by the 
General Assembly. The long-sought infusion of new funding for the 
regional and state transportation network is something Jim and his 
colleagues have been working on for the past decade.
  Mr. Speaker, Jim Scott's commitment to our community will be sorely 
missed and he leaves behind a legacy that will enrich our community for 
generations to come. On a personal note, he has been not only a mentor 
but also a wonderful friend, and I have admired his graciousness and 
his knack for avoiding the spotlight to focus on getting things done. 
His career in public service is truly commendable and deserving of our 
heartfelt gratitude. On behalf of myself and Rep. Moran, we wish Jim, 
his wife, Nancy, and their family the best of luck in this well-
deserved retirement, and I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in 
expressing our appreciation for his commitment and service to this 
community and our nation.

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