[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 20, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  BLANCA KLING, HISPANIC LIAISON, MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION MONTGOMERY 
 COUNTY, MD DEPARTMENT OF POLICE--SUZANNE McDANIEL MEMORIAL AWARD FOR 
                            PUBLIC AWARENESS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 20, 2016

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the bi-partisan Congressional Victims' 
Rights Caucus (VRC) is a proven and effective leader in advocating for 
crime victims. Jim Costa and I founded the VRC 10 years ago when we 
were first elected to Congress. During its 10 year existence, the VRC 
has taken the lead in protecting programs that provide critical support 
for victim services throughout the nation, including the Victims of 
Crime Act (VOCA), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and the 
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). Each year 
the members of the caucus join together to honor outstanding 
individuals who have given their time and service to helping victims. 
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Caucus.
  On behalf of Congressman Costa (D-CA) and myself, we are pleased to 
honor Ms. Blanca Kling as this year's Suzanne McDaniel Memorial Award 
recipient and recognize all of her hard work for the community. 
Nominated by Congressman Chris Van Hollen of the 8th Congressional 
District of Maryland, Ms. Kling is deserving of this recognition for 
all of her hard work in her community. This award honors Suzanne 
McDaniel, one of the first prosecutor-based victim advocates in Texas 
and in the nation. McDaniel created Harris County's first community 
interagency council on sexual assault and family violence and the first 
rape exam protocol for Houston Hospital and Medical Associations. She 
also formed the Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse, the first statewide 
resource in the nation, and helped draft and pass the Texas Crime 
Victim Bill of Rights, the Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Act, and 
the Texas Constitutional Amendment on Crime Victim Rights. McDaniel 
passed away in May 2012 after an eight-year battle with pancreatic 
cancer. This honoree is an individual or organization that has used her 
voice, throughout the media, to promote and to bring about change at 
the National level for crime victims.
  Ms. Kling's role as the Hispanic Liaison for the Media Services 
Division of the Montgomery County Maryland Police Department qualifies 
her for this distinguished recognition. Since 2005, Ms. Kling has 
worked tirelessly to develop open and productive lines of communication 
between the police department and various communities, particularly to 
the Hispanic community. Previously, MCPD recognized that there was 
significant distrust between their department and the Hispanic 
community. This caused a detrimental impact on the effectiveness in 
responding to crime and community issues.
  Ms. Kling conducts outreach to more than 170,000 Hispanics who live 
and work in Montgomery County, Maryland. She is instrumental in 
supporting the Hispanic community, particularly newly arrived 
immigrants who face challenges in assimilating to a new culture, 
language, and legal system. Thanks to her outstanding work, people are 
less fearful about reporting crimes that have been committed against 
them or that they have witnessed. These efforts have had a significant 
impact on individual and public safety in Montgomery County.
  Ms. Kling has been extremely effective in disseminating information 
to Spanish-language media in order to provide support to victims and 
prevent crimes in the Hispanic community. She has also worked with 
local, national, and international leaders to ensure that they have the 
tools to ensure safety for their constituencies. Her work as a media 
spokesperson, community leader, and a victim rights advocate has helped 
thousands of victims and survivors of crime, and their families.
  On behalf of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus, I would like 
to congratulate Ms. Blanca Kling and the Montgomery County Maryland 
Police Department for all that they do to keep our communities safe, 
each and every day.
  And that is just the way it is.

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