[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 43 (Thursday, March 17, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E331-E332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN CELEBRATION OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RICHARD G. LUGAR 
                  EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE SERIES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2016

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series in celebration 
of its 25th anniversary. The Lugar Series is a political leadership 
development program aimed at increasing the number and influence of 
Hoosier Republican women in local, state, and national elected and 
appointed offices. It is my privilege to honor this strong Hoosier 
organization as it celebrates 25 years of excellence.
  The Lugar Series is named after former Indiana Senator Richard Lugar, 
but his involvement with the group goes far beyond his namesake. In 
1989, Judy Singleton, an Indiana businesswoman and volunteer on Senator 
Lugar's campaign, shared her dream of seeing more women in key roles in 
our government and in the Republican Party with Senator Lugar. She told 
him about her idea to start a program to educate women on the ins-and-
outs of getting involved with public service. He was immediately 
enthusiastic and from there the Richard G. Lugar Excellence in Public 
Service Series was born. Senator Lugar, Judy, and fellow co-founders 
Teresa Lubbers, Melissa Martin, Barbara Mayes, and Sue Ann Gilroy put 
this idea into action and in 1990 the Lugar Series graduated their 
first class of 12 women.
  Since its creation, 449 women have graduated from the Lugar Series. 
Women who are accepted in this program have demonstrated long-term 
success and leadership ability in their careers or in community service 
and have a keen interest in participating in public service. Hundreds 
of these women have gone on to serve in an elected or appointed office. 
They have served on and led numerous boards and commissions, served as 
staff members in various political and governmental offices, and/or 
been elected mayors, state legislators, county clerks and treasurers, 
school board members, city and town councilors, county commissioners, 
superior court judges, State Treasurer, State Auditor, and Lt. Governor 
of Indiana. Additionally, the success of the Lugar Series in Indiana 
led to the implementation of 19 similar programs across the country. To 
date, there are over 2,000 graduates nationwide.
  As a long-time advocate for women in public service and a current 
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, I am familiar with the 
history of women in politics and the barriers to entry women face. When 
the Lugar Series was founded in 1990, there were 29 women serving in 
Congress out 535 members, with only 13 being Republican. Today, there 
are 104 women serving in Congress, including 28 Republicans. State 
legislatures, local offices, and other elected and appointed positions 
see similar trends. We have made small strides, but there is still much 
work to be done.
  As part of their program, the Lugar Series selects one outstanding 
Hoosier woman each year to receive the Nancy Maloley Outstanding Public 
Servant Award. Recipients have served in the public sector for a 
minimum of 5 years and display dedication to public service, a creative 
approach to problem solving, intellectual competency, and effective 
management and leadership. I was humbled and honored to receive this 
award in 2014. While there is still progress to be made, I am thrilled 
at the Lugar Series continued growth and success and look forward to 
seeing more women leaders emerge.
  On behalf of all women, I would like to extend a huge thank you to 
Judy, Teresa, Melissa, Barbara, Sue Ann, and particularly Senator Lugar 
for recognizing the importance of educating and empowering women to 
enter public service and starting this exemplary organization. The 
Lugar Series has experienced

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an exceedingly successful 25 years and I look forward to many more 
dreams being realized for years to come.

                          ____________________