[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 90 (Thursday, May 30, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING PAUL SHUTE AND KRISTEN P. FINNE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 30, 2019

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing two District of Columbia residents, Paul Shute and 
Kristen P. Finne, 2019 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals 
finalists.
  The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (Sammies) are awarded 
each year to honor outstanding federal employees who have made 
significant contributions to our nation. In this, its 18th year, the 
Sammies reward efficient, effective problem solving in today's complex 
government. This year, two D.C. residents are among 26 other finalists 
for the 2019 Safety and Law Enforcement and Management Excellence 
categories. They were nominated by their peers, federal employees, and 
chosen from a pool of over 300 nominees as finalists by the Partnership 
for Public Service, a non-profit aimed at making the government more 
effective. The winners of the awards will be chosen in October 2019.
  Paul Shute, a 2019 Safety and Law Enforcement finalist, cut the 
amount of time it takes to verify mental health claims for veterans 
from 60 days to 6 minutes. At a time when the U.S. Department of 
Veteran Affairs estimates that an average of 20 veterans commit suicide 
every day, this innovative approach is lifesaving and critical to 
providing veterans with much-needed mental health benefits.
  Kristen Finne, a 2019 Management Excellence finalist, developed a 
system for first responders to quickly locate and assist 4.3 million 
Medicare beneficiaries who rely on electricity-dependent medical 
equipment and are at risk during prolonged power outages. Finne, who 
works for the Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, developed and 
led the emPOWER Program, which consists of a database of Medicare 
beneficiaries and weather and geographic information to identify, 
locate and assist vulnerable members of the community during natural 
disasters.
  Please join me in recognizing Paul Shute and Kristen P. Finne, 
finalists for the 2019 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.

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