[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 69 (Friday, April 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E566-E567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING COUNCILMEMBER MARGARET FINLAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 27, 2018

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the long career of 
public service provided by an outstanding leader in my district, 
Councilmember Margaret Finlay, who is ending her term as President of 
the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). 
Councilmember Finlay has ably led the nation's largest metropolitan 
planning organization, representing six counties, 191 cities and more 
than 18 million residents. Under her guidance, SCAG has undertaken 
important work in a variety of planning and policy initiatives that 
will improve Southern California now and in the future.
   Councilmember Finlay has been an invaluable resource to me and my 
staff as a councilmember and six-term Mayor of the city of Duarte 
having served our region for over 28 years. She has served in many 
capacities as she has been elected by her peers in other cities to 
serve on regional, state, and national boards such as the National 
League of Cities, League of California Cities, Liability Trust Fund 
Oversight Committee, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, 
Personnel Committee of the Sanitation Districts, LAFCO Representative 
for Los Angeles County, and the California Contract Cities Association.
   I have been privileged to work directly with Councilmember Finlay on 
many issues affecting our community such as increasing transportation 
options for our residents, creating more access to our beautiful San 
Gabriel Mountains, and improving emergency preparedness and response. 
She is a leader on

[[Page E567]]

advocating for additional transit, bicycle and pedestrian options to 
improve the daily commute of our residents. She has done exceptional 
work to preserve our natural resources for future generations by 
fighting to preserve 330 acres in the foothills. Councilmember Finlay 
and I recently held a first responder event together to improve 
wildfire and mudslide prevention and response activities in Duarte and 
our surrounding community.
   Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Duarte and the many people 
she has impacted in the Southern California Region, I ask my colleagues 
to join me in honoring Councilmember Margaret Finlay for her service as 
President of the Southern California Association of Governments. I look 
forward to continuing to work with Councilmember Finlay to improve the 
lives of residents in Duarte and the San Gabriel Valley.

                          ____________________