[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 153 (Monday, September 25, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1254-E1255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING LUCY NOLAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF END HUNGER CONNECTICUT, ON 
                     THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 25, 2017

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise today and join the 
many family, friends, and colleagues who have gathered to celebrate 
with Lucy Nolan as she celebrates her retirement as Executive Director 
of End Hunger Connecticut. Throughout her remarkable career, Lucy has 
ensured that the issue of hunger and its root causes in our communities 
has remained at the forefront of public policy discourse, not only in 
Connecticut but nationally as well.
  End Hunger Connecticut is a non-profit organization dedicated to 
ending hunger across the state and seeks to raise awareness about 
hunger in Connecticut, promote funding for and access to nutrition 
assistance programs, and advocate for policies that address the root 
causes of hunger. Their goal, to help low-income families move beyond 
the food pantry towards self-sufficiency. Through Lucy's expertise and 
vision, End Hunger Connecticut has successfully advocated for a number 
of critical legislative initiatives including increased funding for the 
school breakfast program that established a pilot program for in-
classroom breakfast, increasing food stamp accessibility, and led the 
effort to pass the country's toughest school nutrition legislation 
which banned the sale of sugary drinks on school grounds. Lucy's tenure 
also saw End Hunger Connecticut implement a very successful outreach 
program for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and create 
innovative partnerships with community leaders and community-based 
organizations that have strengthened community efforts to address 
hunger at its core.
  Lucy's expert knowledge and commitment has been recognized on the 
state and national

[[Page E1255]]

levels. She is a legislatively appointed member to the Connecticut Milk 
Regulation Board, Connecticut Food Policy Council, the Farmland 
Preservation Board, and served on the Speaker's Task Force on Children 
and the Recession, as co-chair of the SustiNet Adult and Child Obesity 
Task Force and the Task Force on Child Obesity. She has testified 
before the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources 
Committee on school nutrition programs and currently sits on the 
steering committee of the Connecticut Coalition Against Childhood 
Obesity. Under her tenure End Hunger Connecticut has been awarded the 
Congressional Hunger Center's ``Victory Against Hunger'' award three 
times and Lucy was most recently awarded the Raymond Wheeler/Paul 
Wellstone Award from the Food Research and Advocacy Center.
  On a more personal note, I cannot thank Lucy enough for many years of 
friendship and support. Since our first meeting, we have been sisters-
in-arms--kindred spirits--in the battle against hunger. From protecting 
SNAP benefits to growing the summer meals program to bringing the 
Witness to Hunger event to New Haven, she has been the staunchest of 
advocates and always just a phone call away. I will be forever grateful 
to her for all the help and guidance she has given to me and my staff 
over the years. I am honored beyond measure to be fortunate enough to 
call her my friend.
  Lucy's passion, expertise, and unwavering advocacy has made all the 
difference at End Hunger Connecticut but most importantly in the lives 
of the individuals, children and families she has served every day 
throughout her career. I am proud to stand today to extend my heartfelt 
thanks and sincere appreciation to Lucy Nolan for her invaluable 
contributions to the fight against hunger in Connecticut and across the 
nation. Though she will be missed, I wish her all the best for many 
more years of health and happiness as she begins this next chapter of 
her life.

                          ____________________