[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 26 (Friday, February 12, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E175]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING LAURIE HARKNESS, PH.D., ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT

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                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 12, 2016

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to join the 
many family, friends, and colleagues who have gathered as Dr. Laurie 
Harkness, founder and Director of the VA Connecticut Healthcare 
System's Errera Community Care Center, celebrates her retirement after 
decades of dedicated service to our community's veterans.
  To say that Laurie is a remarkable public servant is an 
understatement. During her tenure with the VA Connecticut Healthcare 
System, Laurie has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to ensuring 
that our veterans are receiving the best possible care and have access 
to the programs, services, and resources they need to live healthy, 
independent, fulfilling lives. While her contributions to veterans care 
are innumerable, the most well-known is the Errera Community Care 
Center which she founded more than twenty years ago.
  Over the course of its history, the Errera Center has evolved into 
one of the leading centers of innovation in psychosocial rehabilitation 
and in the integration of the psychosocial and biomedical approaches. 
Serving veterans struggling with mental illness and/or substance abuse 
disorders, homelessness, and/or aging, the team of multidisciplinary 
mental health professionals at the Errera Center work together to 
provide an array of community-based rehabilitative programs including 
day and crisis intervention programs, vocational programs, housing 
programs, homeless outreach and advocacy and case management programs. 
Providing a myriad of support to hundreds of veterans every year, the 
Errera Center has been nationally recognized for its exceptional model 
of care that emphasizes evidenced-based clinical programs provided in 
conjunction with a comprehensive network of community partnerships and 
repeatedly been awarded status as a VA Center of Excellence for the 
Care of Individuals with Mental Illness.
  Laurie's work has also been recognized with numerous local, state and 
national awards and recognitions. She is the recipient of the Olin E. 
Teague Award, the highest VA clinical award given, as well as the 
distinguished Eli Lilly Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in 
developing programs that assist veterans with serious mental illnesses 
reintegrate back into their own communities. She has been recognized by 
Vietnam Veterans of America for her service and dedication to Vietnam 
veterans and their families and was awarded the ``Excellence in 
Community Mental Health Services'' award from NAMI, the first non-MD 
recipient and first VA employee to be so honored. Her legacy of service 
will serve as a standard for which to strive for generations to come.
  I would be remiss if I did not extend a personal note of thanks to 
Laurie for her many years of guidance and assistance. Over my tenure in 
Congress, Laurie has been an invaluable resource for myself, my staff, 
and my constituents. Her expertise, compassion, and leadership has made 
all the difference and I consider myself fortunate to have had so many 
opportunities to work with her.
  Laurie Harkness is a reflection of the very best in public service 
and her presence will certainly be missed by all of those fortunate 
enough to have worked with her as well as the countless veterans who 
have benefitted from her outstanding work. Today, as she reflects on 
her career with the VA, she can be proud of the indelible mark she has 
left on the agency. It is my great honor to extend my heartfelt 
congratulations to Laurie as she celebrates her retirement and extend 
my sincere thanks and appreciation to her for her many years of 
service. I wish her all the best for many more years of health and 
happiness as she enjoys her retirement.

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