[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E134-E135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE CAREER AND SERVICE OF LINDA VAIL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELISSA SLOTKIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 17, 2023

  Ms. SLOTKIN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the career of a 
consummate public

[[Page E135]]

servant tirelessly devoted to improving the health and safety of the 
community. For the past decade, Linda Vail has served as Health Officer 
for Ingham County, overseeing more than 400 employees, an annual budget 
of more than $50 million, and a network of health centers. And she's 
done so by always keeping science and justice at the forefront, with a 
no-nonsense, analytical approach. This, even as she faced extreme 
challenges brought on by a global pandemic, social upheaval, and the 
politicization of the field she so loves.
  But it all began with a girl and a chemistry kit. Growing up in 
suburban Atlanta, a young Linda Vail was fortunate to have parents who 
nurtured her love of science. After excelling in all scientific 
endeavors in high school, Vail went on to earn a bachelor's degree in 
microbiology from the University of Georgia. Four years later, she 
arrived in Kalamazoo, Michigan as a researcher for pharmaceutical giant 
Upjohn. In 1996, she earned a Master's degree in public health 
administration at Western Michigan University, which led to her first 
public service position in emergency preparedness at Kalamazoo County's 
Health Department. She was soon promoted to deputy health officer, and 
then in 2006 to the role of health officer.
  Her disaster preparation skills and studies were quickly put to the 
test when, in 2010, a pipeline rupture on the Kalamazoo River resulted 
in one of the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history. It was the 
efforts and advocacy of Linda and her team that kept that toxic sludge 
from reaching Lake Michigan, mixing with superfund sites, and 
multiplying the disaster into an all-out ecological and health 
catastrophe.
  She joined the Ingham County Health Department shortly after, and 
became Health Officer in 2014. Under her tenure, Vail has brought a 
holistic, equity-based approach to the role and to the community. From 
greenlighting clean syringe exchange programs, to securing federal 
funds for gun violence prevention groups, and advocating for a 
declaration of racism as a public health crisis, Linda has constantly 
sought to amplify and expand the definition of what it means for a 
community to be healthy.
  I came to know Linda as she skillfully led the county's response to 
the COVID-19 pandemic. She was the clear, concise, voice that calmly 
cut through the chaos, and I am so grateful for the way she always made 
herself available to me and my team. In early 2021, I joined her 
alongside volunteers to support a drive through vaccination clinic at 
Michigan State University, an experience I will never forget, and one 
made possible by her professionalism and advocacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that Linda Vail's exemplary leadership during 
the COVID-19 pandemic saved countless lives in mid-Michigan, but it was 
not without a toll on her own. As she now steps back from the pressures 
of public health in an effort to focus on her own well-being, I salute 
her extraordinary devotion to reducing disparities, eliminating 
inequities, and creating a healthier, more just community for all. I 
wish her all the best in retirement and offer my gratitude for her long 
and fruitful career, and for her service above self.

                          ____________________