[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 48 (Monday, March 23, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING NANCY J. DiNARDO FOR HER OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT 
                           TO PUBLIC SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 23, 2015

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep respect and deep admiration 
that I rise today to pay tribute to an outstanding leader and my dear 
friend, Nancy J. DiNardo. Tonight, family, friends, and colleagues 
gather to express our thanks and appreciation to Nancy as she marks the 
end of her decade long tenure as Chairman of Connecticut's State 
Democratic Party. As the first woman to hold the office, Nancy has 
shattered glass ceilings while her tenacity and commitment has earned 
her respect from Democratic and Republican political leaders alike.
  Nancy's desire to give back to her community led her to public 
service. She was first elected to public office over forty years ago as 
a member of the Trumbull Town Council and she went on to serve on 
several other local boards and commissions by both election and 
appointment. Nancy has also served as the local Chairperson of the 
Trumbull Democratic Town Committee for thirty years. She dedicated her 
professional career to education, serving in the Bridgeport public 
school system as a teacher, school psychologist, and later Director of 
Psychological Services.
  Central to Democrats ideology is our belief that we, as individuals 
and as a society, are greater together than we are on our own--that our 
communities and our nation are most successful when everyone gets a 
fair shot, when everyone does their fair share, and when everyone plays 
by the same rules. Nancy's dedication to these values led her to seek a 
more active role in Connecticut's Democratic Party. She sought and won 
election to the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee in 1998 
and has been an active member ever since, even serving as Finance Chair 
from 2002 to 2004.
  In January of 2005, Nancy was the first woman to be elected Chair in 
the history of the Connecticut Democratic Party. She brought a renewed 
focus to both the position and the Party. She re-engaged local town 
chairs and committees, created special caucuses under the Party 
umbrella to ensure a broader voice was being heard, and provided new 
opportunities for younger people to get involved. As Chair, Nancy 
supported candidates on the municipal, state, and federal level--often 
spending a majority of the day crisscrossing the state to attend events 
and functions. Under her tenure, Democratic candidates enjoyed great 
success including bringing an entirely Democratic federal delegation to 
Washington and winning back the Governor's office after more than two 
decades.
  Though Nancy stepped down from the Chairmanship, she continues to 
remain involved in the Democratic Party on both the state and national 
level. Earlier this year, she was unanimously elected Vice Chair of the 
State Party and continues to serve on the Democratic National Committee 
where she has been elected twice to serve as Chair of Eastern Regional 
Caucus and is a member of the Executive Committee.
  Nancy J. DiNardo left an indelible mark on the office of State Party 
Chair and I could not be more proud to stand today to pay tribute to 
her remarkable dedication and extend my heartfelt thanks for her 
outstanding public service. I, like so many others, cannot thank her 
enough for her continued friendship and support. We are more than 
friends--we are kindred spirits. I know that she will continue to make 
a difference and wish her the best for continued success in all of her 
good work.

                          ____________________