[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 172 (Thursday, December 5, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF CATHERINE ``KATE'' ERTZ-BERGER UPON HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 5, 2013

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 
outstanding career of Ms. Catherine ``Kate'' Ertz-Berger, Executive 
Director of the Contra Costa Child Care Council, and congratulate her 
as she retires after twenty-eight years of dedicated service to the 
children and families of Contra Costa County.
  Kate's deep passion for helping others was evident early in her 
career, during her tenure with the Massachusetts Department of Social 
Work and the United Way of the Bay Area. She brought that same passion 
to the Contra Costa Child Care Council in 1985 and has been the 
heartbeat of that agency for nearly three decades. Under Kate's dynamic 
leadership the Council has grown to be one of the largest and most 
effective nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco East Bay serving 
families throughout our community.
  Kate has shown remarkable command of the issues most critical to 
early education and the needs of families with small children. Under 
her guidance, the Council has greatly increased public awareness of the 
need for quality child care and early childhood education through the 
development of a wide variety of innovative initiatives, programs and 
services. Most importantly, she has forged lasting partnerships with 
the community, parents and child care providers.
  I invite my colleagues to join me in commending Executive Director 
Kate Ertz-Berger, for her committed and diligent service to the 
children and families of Contra Costa County. I am pleased to call her 
my friend and wish her the very best as she begins a well-deserved 
retirement.

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