[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 62 (Monday, April 12, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1872-S1873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO BARBARA ROGERS
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize my
constituent and extraordinary Federal employee, Ms. Barbara Rogers of
Chevy Chase, MD, who is retiring from Federal service.
For nearly 20 years, Barbara has worked for the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention's, CDC, Washington office, advising
Agency leadership on critical policy issues, including environmental
health and public health preparedness. A graduate of the George
Washington University Law School, Barbara prosecuted environmental
enforcement cases at the U.S. Attorney's Office and served for 8 years
as counsel to committees of both the U.S. Senate and the House of
Representatives. She brought this invaluable experience to the Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, ATSDR, a Federal public
health Agency that protects communities from the harmful health effects
related to exposure to natural and manmade hazardous substances. When
ATSDR joined CDC's Washington office in 2002, Barbara took on CDC's
environmental portfolio in Washington, DC, and helped shape CDC's
rapidly growing preparedness work in the era following the attacks of
September 11.
Barbara has served as a CDC liaison to Congress, educating
policymakers and staff to better understand the Agency on a variety of
important matters, including in response to congressional oversight on
CDC's laboratories and, more recently, on COVID-19. Barbara's widely
sought sage advice and diplomatic skills, combined with a powerful
intellect and attention to detail, have been a critical asset to CDC in
the Agency's interactions with GAO and Congress.
With Barbara's retirement, her CDC colleagues will miss her warm
friendship and wonderful sense of humor. CDC will lose a public servant
with a moral and ethical grounding, who has been a fierce advocate for
CDC and public health.
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I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Barbara Rogers for her
outstanding service to our country and extend to her our very best
wishes for an enjoyable and fulfilling retirement.
____________________