[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 148 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN HONOR OF LYDIA DE LA VINA DE FOLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 28, 2016

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to 
extend my personal congratulations and best wishes to a great friend 
and outstanding citizen, Mrs. Lydia de La Vina de Foley. Lydia has 
served The Congressional Club for over four decades. She will be 
retiring on September 30, 2016.
  Born and raised in La Paz, Bolivia, Lydia came to the United States 
as a student at Georgetown University in 1964. In 1967, she married 
John R. Foley III, whose father, John R. Foley II, had served the Sixth 
District of Maryland in the 86th Congress. As daughter-in-law of a 
former Member of Congress, Lydia became a member of The Congressional 
Club, and more recently a Lifetime Member. In 1992, she became a U.S. 
citizen.
  The Congressional Club was founded in 1908 as a Federally-chartered 
club for spouses of sitting or former Members of Congress, Supreme 
Court Justices, and Members of the President's Cabinet. Associate 
membership is open to active members' adult children or spouses of 
adult children. Mrs. Foley has been an integral part of the bipartisan 
Club for over one-third of its existence.
  Mrs. Foley's first project at the Club was illustrating its 
Bicentennial Cookbook in 1975. She performed secretarial duties part-
time and by 1977 became the full-time Secretary to the Club President. 
After many years, as her responsibilities expanded, Mrs. Foley was 
promoted to Administrative Assistant to the Club President and in 2010, 
she became the Executive Director of the Congressional Club, a position 
that reflected her assumption of a dual role as Clubhouse Manager.
  Club Presidents serve for two years, alternating between Democratic 
and Republican Members. Mrs. Foley has served 20 of them. My wife, 
Vivian Creighton Bishop, served as President of the Congressional Club 
from 2007 to 2008 and was Chair of the First Lady's Luncheon in honor 
of First Lady Michelle Obama on May 12, 2016. In addition to the many 
demands of running the Club and the Clubhouse day in and day out, Mrs. 
Foley has played a vital role organizing the annual First Lady's 
Luncheon, as well as Diplomatic Luncheons, Chili Cook-offs, weekly Club 
luncheon programs, and other events too numerous to mention.
  A familiar face at the Club, Mrs. Foley has been lauded by Members of 
Congress and their spouses as well as Presidents and First Ladies for 
her institutional knowledge, attention to detail, and welcoming nature. 
We are all so grateful that Mrs. Foley has given her time and talents 
to making The Congressional Club a place where the spouses of Members 
of Congress from both sides of the aisle, and their families, can 
gather to offer support and enjoy each other's company.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in extending our 
sincerest appreciation and best wishes to Lydia de La Vina de Foley 
upon the occasion of her retirement from a career spanning forty-one 
years at the Congressional Club.

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