[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 135 (Friday, August 12, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E850-E851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING MEGAN PALMER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELISSA SLOTKIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 12, 2022

  Ms. SLOTKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Megan 
Palmer, a young woman whose life, though cut tragically short, was 
rich, full, and committed to building stronger, healthier communities.
  Megan was the substance abuse prevention coordinator with the 
Livingston County Community Alliance, a county-wide anti-drug coalition 
dedicated to establishing and promoting healthy community norms 
concerning the use of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. She passed away at 
age 40 on January 8, 2022, one month after being diagnosed with an 
aggressive form of cancer. While the grief is still raw, it's her life 
and the work that continues, fueled by her memory and her spirit, that 
we celebrate today.
  Social work is defined as providing services to individuals, groups, 
and communities by helping people address the problems they face in 
their everyday lives. This was Megan's chosen profession, but it was 
also clearly her vocation. From her college years at Western Michigan 
University, where she volunteered to build homes for low-income 
families, worked to further her church's mission, and to support social 
justice causes, to her graduate studies at the University of Michigan, 
where she took an internship working to end food insecurity, Megan was 
a social worker before she was a social worker.
  While she held different positions in her career, the goal was always 
the same, as Megan recognized the inherent value of every individual 
and sought to provide supportive services to help them be their best 
self. She helped get locally sourced produce on the menu for a juvenile 
rehabilitation center, counseled teenagers facing homelessness, and 
devoted the final decade of her life to youth substance abuse 
prevention.
  Rooted in advocacy, constantly committed to staring injustice in the 
face, Megan was

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both optimistic and realistic, believing she could make the world 
around her better, while also meeting people exactly where they were. 
She brought enthusiasm, humor, and more than a touch of sarcasm to 
every task, every meeting, and every project she touched. She was 
beloved by her coworkers, her friends, and her family, and she will 
never be forgotten.
  I offer my condolences to all those who mourn her loss, and on behalf 
of a grateful community, it is my honor to recognize her story in the 
People's House. Let it be known to all that Megan Palmer was a social 
worker who made a difference.

                          ____________________