[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4820-S4821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REMEMBERING MARGARET SCHLICKMAN

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. President, today I honor the life of Margaret 
Schlickman, who passed away on July 1, 2016, at the age of 86. Margaret 
was a 50-year resident of Arlington Heights, IL, and was a mother, 
grandmother, dedicated congressional staffer, community leader, and a 
passionate advocate for the homeless.

[[Page S4821]]

  Margaret was born in Rockford, IL, but later moved to Arlington 
Heights, and during her time there, she was an active member of St. 
James Catholic Church. Through the church's outreach, she witnessed the 
area's migrant farmworkers' housing plight and became a member of the 
inaugural Village Housing Commission in 1979. She continued in that 
post through 2006. Locally, she was known as the ``housing leader of 
Arlington Heights,'' and she spent much of her time volunteering with 
Public Action to Deliver Shelter, PADS, in Illinois, a provider of 
shelter and support services for the homeless.
  In 1978, Margaret joined the staff of U.S. Senator Charles Percy, and 
in 1980, she began working for newly elected Congressman John Porter. 
She retired from Congressman Porter's office in 1996 as the supervisor 
of constituent services. I first met Margaret while we were both 
working for Congressman Porter. She taught all who worked with her the 
important commitment to constituent services and lived by the premise 
that the constituent was always right unless proven wrong. Congressman 
Porter was known during his time in office for his excellent 
constituent service; much of this is due to the hard work and 
dedication of Margaret, as well as the training she provided to the 
staffers who worked with her. She was a dedicated public servant, and 
no one epitomized being a congressional staffer in the way Margaret 
Schlickman did.
  Margaret continued to be active in the community after she retired 
from Congressman Porter's office, including in politics. When I decided 
to run for Congress, Margaret helped my campaign from the start, being 
an early supporter of my first congressional race. I remember fondly 
meeting in her kitchen in Arlington Heights at the start of my 2000 
campaign, and she remained a true ally and friend throughout my time in 
office.
  Margaret Schlickman will be missed by her family, her community, and 
by me. Her legacy of service to others is one which we all should 
strive to meet.

                          ____________________