[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 149 (Thursday, September 15, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CONGRATULATING BARBARA CRIDER ON HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHELLIE PINGREE

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 15, 2022

  Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my congratulations 
to a tireless advocate in my state who is retiring after over four 
decades of working to improve the lives of her fellow Mainers.
  Barbara Crider first came to Maine in 1981 with a career in public 
service in mind. She spent ten years working for local Community Action 
Agencies in Bangor and Sanford as an Intake Specialist and Director of 
Community Services before pursuing a law degree at American University.
  In 1994, Barbara returned to Maine permanently to found the Penquis 
Law Project. Barbara focused her practice on public interest family 
law, primarily providing invaluable representation to victims of 
domestic violence and sexual assault.
  After founding a second law practice in Bangor, Barbara returned to 
the York County Community Action Corporation, serving first as its 
Deputy Director and later as its Executive Director, helping the 
organization to grow and diversify its program offerings. Most recently 
under her leadership, thousands of Mainers were able to get the 
assistance they needed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  In Maine, we pride ourselves on having a `can do' attitude and 
encouraging others to do the same. Perhaps that's why the term dirigo 
or `I lead' was selected for our State seal in 1820. Barbara has spent 
her life embodying the dirigo spirit and I am proud to extend my 
sincere congratulations to her as she begins her next chapter.

                          ____________________