[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 7, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DREWRY N. FENNELL

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 7, 2018

  Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Mr. Speaker, today, during Women's History 
Month, I rise to recognize and call attention to a woman of distinction 
in my state of Delaware, Drewry Nash Fennell. While she currently 
serves as the Chief Officer of Strategic Communication and Development 
for Christiana Care Health System, many in my state know Drew not for 
any title she has held, but for her role as a trailblazer on any number 
of important public policy fronts.
   Drew is an attorney by trade and applied her skills as the executive 
director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware. During her 
time at the ACLU, Drew fought for improvements to the child welfare 
system, the criminal justice system, and LGBT rights. She, along with 
her equally distinguished wife Lisa, helped spearhead the Equality 
Delaware campaign, which saw Delaware go from a state which legally 
permitted discrimination against LGBT citizens, to a state with full 
marriage equality in a span of less than a decade.
   Drew applied her years of experience and extensive knowledge of the 
criminal justice system as the executive director of the Delaware 
Criminal Justice Council. Drew then took her work from the CJC to the 
Governor's Office, where she served as Deputy Chief of Staff and 
eventually Chief of Staff to former Delaware Governor Jack Markell.
   Throughout her time in Delaware government, her colleagues came to 
know her as one of the most effective advocates around. She did it all 
with a warm smile and a reassuring hand on the shoulder. She endured 
bigotry and ignorance while maintaining class and composure, all the 
while, making remarkable progress for the people of Delaware.
   Mr. Speaker, it gives me great joy to rise today to recognize Drew 
not only as a constituent, but as a friend and confidant. Her work in 
Delaware has been truly transformational and I'm confident it is 
nowhere near complete. Drew will soon be the 2018 Girl Scouts of the 
Chesapeake Bay Woman of Distinction. I can't think of a more deserving 
recipient of that honor.

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