[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO BARBARA WEBER--28TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE YEAR

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                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 11, 2020

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History 
Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and 
sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to 
outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional 
District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Barbara Weber 
of La Canada Flintridge, California.
  Born on a military base in Southern California, Barbara Gillis grew 
up in several states, including Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan and 
Texas. Graduating as the Valedictorian from Ladycliff College in 
Highland Falls, New York, Barbara majored in math and minored in 
chemistry, and earned a job at Bell Labs in New Jersey where she met 
her husband, Bill. Barbara and Bill moved to Pasadena, California in 
1967 where Bill was employed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). 
After teaching kindergarten at a local school, Ms. Weber soon joined 
the staff at JPL.
   Barbara was one of the few women working at JPL in 1969, and she 
single-handedly changed their maternity policy regarding pregnant 
employees by working until her due date. She stayed at JPL until 1974, 
when she and Bill bought their house in La Canada Flintridge. Ms. Weber 
then took classes in computing and accounting at Pasadena City College 
and began consulting for local businesses.
   Barbara's volunteer work in the community is extensive. She has 
served on the boards of several La Canada Flintridge Parent-Teacher 
Associations, assisted with various La Canada Unified School District 
bond measures and was a classroom volunteer at Paradise Canyon 
Elementary School. Other organizations that have benefited from her 
volunteer service include Huntington Hospital, La Canada Newcomers 
Club, the Assistance League of Flintridge and Caltech Women's Club, and 
she is a founding member of the Caltech Women's Investment Club. In 
addition, Ms. Weber is a Eucharistic Minister at St. Bede the Venerable 
Church, where she was a leader in the Peace and Justice Ministry, and 
since 1984, has been an active member of St. Bede's Skidettes which 
prepare and deliver daily lunches to the homeless at various shelters 
in the Los Angeles area.
   Barbara and her husband, Bill enjoy spending time with their three 
children, Billy, Christa and David and seven grandchildren.
   I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well-
respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Barbara 
Weber.

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