[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 173 (Monday, November 7, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1114-E1115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE SERVICE OF THERESE McMILLAN

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                          HON. MARK DeSAULNIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 7, 2022

  Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service 
of Therese McMillan as she retires from her role as Executive Director 
of the San Francisco Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission 
(MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).
  Throughout her career, Therese has dedicated herself to ensuring 
healthy and equitable transportation systems and corridors in 
communities across the San Francisco Bay. She began her work with MTC 
in 1984 and has served in nearly every position within the agency up 
until 2009. She then had the opportunity to work under the Obama 
Administration, serving as the Deputy Administrator of the Federal 
Transit Administration (FTA), then went on to become the Acting 
Administrator from 2014 to 2016. After her federal work, Therese worked 
for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority as 
their Chief Planning Officer until 2019, then returned to MTC as its 
new Executive Director.
  Therese has played a pivotal role in uplifting the voices of women in 
the transportation sector across the country, including through her 
participation in WTS International and as their Woman of the Year in 
2016. She has also provided a real-world perspective to the landscape 
of transportation, teaching transportation finance at the San Jose 
State University Norman Y. Mineta Transportation Institute during her 
MTC tenure.
  Also during her time at the MTC, Therese has spearheaded several 
initiatives that have helped strengthen the San Francisco Bay Area's 
transportation systems to be more equitable and inclusive for all Bay 
Area residents. Under her leadership, MTC established an Equity 
Platform where the Commission strives to advance policies and make 
investments that will ensure all Bay Area residents, including 
historically underserved and marginalized groups, are considered when 
discussing our region's transit needs. Therese also demonstrated strong 
leadership guiding MTC through the COVID-19, overseeing the formation 
of the Blue Ribbon Transit Recovery Task Force which aims to improve 
the transit rider experience. She was also highly involved with the 
Resolution 3434 Regional Transportation Expansion Program, helping to 
establish minimum housing density targets near transit stations and 
prioritizing transit capital investments throughout the Bay Area.
  I am grateful for Therese's dedication and compassion in striving to 
provide exceptional transportation services to Bay Area residents. 
Please join me in congratulating Therese on her retirement and her 
nearly three decades of service to our community.

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