[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 15, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                          TRIBUTE TO LIZ RYAN

 Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I 
rise to honor the exemplary service of Liz Ryan, a Delawarean and 
founder, president and CEO of the Campaign for Youth Justice. Liz's 
love of helping others was inspired at a young age by her family's 
participation in a host program called the Ulster Project. The Ulster 
Project is designed to bring young Catholic and protestant youth from 
Northern Ireland to Wilmington, DE, where they live with Delaware 
families. The program allows these young potential leaders to build 
bridges in a safe environment and then return, hopefully to develop and 
maintain those bridges in their native Northern Ireland. Hopefully, 
they learn skills and attitudes that are needed to unite people when 
differences divide them. This program inspired Liz to work with 
children at risk both overseas and here in the United States. Bridging 
differences has become the hallmark signature of Liz's work.
  I came to know Liz when she joined my congressional staff as a 
legislative aide in the late 1980s, and she eventually rose to the 
position of legislative director. After I was elected Governor of 
Delaware in 1992, Liz worked on my transition team and then took on the 
assignment of setting up Delaware's first staffed Washington, DC, 
office. In addition to her work for our State, she also worked closely 
with the National Governors Association, where she was a respected 
contributor to the development and growth of that organization.
  After establishing the Delaware office, which has continued to make 
valuable contributions to the administrations of the governors who 
followed me, Liz returned to Delaware as my Deputy Chief of Staff, 
where she focused her attention on the Cabinet Family Services Council. 
She worked to develop programs for special needs and at-risk children.
  Liz's commitment and energy needed a bigger stage. She left 
Washington to become a VISTA volunteer, but eventually returned to 
continue her work advocating for children at the Children's Defense 
Fund, Juvenile Court Centennial Initiative, and the Youth Law Center 
before founding the Campaign for Youth Justice in 2005. The campaign 
under Liz's dynamic leadership focused on changing both state and 
federal laws and policies impacting on youth caught up in the adult 
criminal justice system. As a result, today there are several thousand 
fewer kids in the adult system, giving them a better prospect for a 
successful transition to adulthood. Through many years of work, she has 
become one of the most influential people in the field of juvenile 
justice today.
  It is clear that children in Delaware and across the country have 
benefitted from Liz's steadfast work on their behalf. Even though she 
will be missed as she steps down from the Campaign for Youth Justice, 
she leaves beyond a strong and vibrant organization that will continue 
her valuable work. I am proud of the work Liz accomplished during her 
time on my staff and for her work for our nation's youth. I know Liz is 
not done, and I can't wait to see what comes next. Today I say thank 
you, Liz, and good luck in all that lies ahead.

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