[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 187 (Thursday, November 21, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1489-E1490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN HONOR OF LINDA LAURIA FOR HER THIRTY-FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE 
                            AMERICAN PEOPLE

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 21, 2019

  Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a 
longtime public servant and NY-14 constituent, Linda Lauria.
  On November 30, 2019, Linda Lauria, Public Affairs Specialist, will 
retire from the Social Security Administration. Linda's retirement will 
mark the close of a career that spans over 34 years of service.
  Linda began her career with SSA in August 1973 as a Claims 
Development Clerk (GS-2, as she often proudly notes) in the East Bronx 
Social Security office. She was subsequently promoted to positions in 
the field including Service Representative, and Claims Representative 
before leaving the agency during February 1984 as a new mother.
  Linda rejoined SSA during July 1996, as a Service Representative in 
the Jamaica Teleservice Center, and was promoted to Benefit Authorizer 
at the Northeastern Program Service Center during January 1998. She 
returned to the East Bronx Social Security office as a Claims 
Representative during September

[[Page E1490]]

1998, and joined the Regional Public Affairs Office during November 
2005, serving as primary liaison between SSA and the offices of 
federal, state, and local elected officials. Since that time, Linda has 
been instrumental in the timely resolution of several thousand 
constituent inquiries, eliminating barriers between our most vulnerable 
beneficiaries and their essential cash benefits. She was promoted to 
Public Affairs Specialist during 2015, the position from which she will 
retire.
  Linda's outstanding contributions to the Agency have been recognized 
with several awards including Deputy Commissioner's Citations, and the 
New York Regional Management Society's Regional Office Employee of the 
Year.
  Throughout Linda's career, she has brought intelligence, technical 
savvy, practical knowledge, and a strong commitment to excellence to 
every assignment.
  Madam Speaker, I ask our colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. 
Linda Lauria and her dedication to public service and her community.

                          ____________________