[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 177 (Friday, October 16, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E961-E962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE HONORABLE PATRICIA DE STACY HARRISON ON BEING KNIGHTED 
   WITH HONOR OF ``CAVALIERE'' OF THE ORDER OF MERIT OF THE ITALIAN 
                                REPUBLIC

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 16, 2020

  Mr. PASCRELL. I rise to recognize The Honorable Patricia de Stacy 
Harrison, the

[[Page E962]]

Chair of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and Chief 
Executive Officer of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), on 
receiving the Italian honor of ``Cavaliere'' of the Order of Merit of 
the Italian Republic, the highest-ranking honor of the Italian 
Republic. On October 7, Ambassador Armando Varricchio of Italy 
presented this high honor to Ms. Harrison, a testament to her lifetime 
of extraordinary accomplishment in service of the humanities, culture, 
philanthropy, and diplomacy.
  The granddaughter of an Italian immigrant, Ms. Harrison is a native 
of Brooklyn, New York and a graduate of the American University School 
of International Service in Washington, D.C. Thereafter, she began an 
enormously successful career, starting a public relations firm focused 
on serving the public interest in the fields of environmental, labor, 
and agricultural policy. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush appointed 
Ms. Harrison to the President's Export Council in the United States 
Department of Commerce.
  In recognition of her prowess and expertise in the humanities and the 
arts, in 2001 she was appointed Assistant Secretary of State for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs by then-Secretary of State Colin 
Powell. While serving in this critical role, Ms. Harrison also assumed 
the position of Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public 
Affairs. Ms. Harrison then continued her public service, being 
appointed the Chief Executive Officer of CBP in 2005, where she 
continues to serve today.
  Under Ms. Harrison's leadership, the CPB launched ``American 
Graduate: Let's Make It Happen'', a nationwide public media initiative 
to help combat the nationwide high school dropout crisis. To date, over 
100 stations in 48 states are working with over 1,700 local partners 
and schools to help students graduate. For her work and commitment to 
helping young people stay on the path to a high school diploma, Ms. 
Harrison was honored in 2016 with a Promise of America Award from the 
America's Promise Alliance. Ms. Harrison's deep commitment to public 
media producing nonpartisan, commercial-free, educational content for 
the public good has ensured CPB's continued success and critical place 
in our society.
  Ms. Harrison has drawn from her life of experience to help foster a 
new generation of woman leaders, authoring two books, ``A Seat At The 
Table: An Insider's Guide for America's New Women Leaders and America's 
New Women Entrepreneurs.'' In 2019, Ms. Harrison was appointed to the 
voting council for the inaugural, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg Woman of 
Leadership Award, which recognizes the achievements of exceptional 
American women. Ms. Harrison is the recipient of many additional awards 
and honors, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award and the 
U.S. Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Award.
  Ms, Harrison is a role model for Italian Americans, for women, and 
for anyone aspiring to make a positive difference in the world. I am 
proud to rise today in recognition of her receiving the more than well-
deserved honor of ``Cavaliere'' of the Order of Merit of the Italian 
Republic.

                          ____________________