[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 182 (Friday, November 3, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING PENELOPE GROSS ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT

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                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 3, 2023

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Penelope ``Penny'' 
Gross on her retirement after 27 years of serving as the Fairfax County 
Mason District Supervisor and 21 years of chairing the Potomac 
Watershed Roundtable.
  Elected in 1995 to represent the Mason District, Penny has been an 
advocate for affordable housing, expanded public transportation, and 
violence prevention. Penny represents Fairfax County on the Board of 
Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the 
Northern Virginia Regional Commission, the INOVA Health System Board of 
Trustees, and the Potomac Watershed Roundtable (PWR).
  Shortly after becoming the chair of PWR, she encouraged the VA 
Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to help in developing 
strategies that will bring the state of Virginia up to the standard 
that Maryland had already set, regarding efforts that support the 
Chesapeake Bay Preservation Program. With that, in July 2003, the 
Potomac River Tributary Strategy was developed by DCR.
  In January 2004, Penny led the PWR in discussions for a 2004 vision, 
whose focal points influenced many water-related issues, such as 
Stormwater Management, Wastewater Treatment Plants, and Total Maximum 
Daily Load. In April later that year, Penny was appointed by then 
Governor Mark Warner to the Chesapeake Bay Blue Ribbon Funding Panel. A 
panel tasked with finding alternative sources for funding the 
Chesapeake Bay Cleanup. By October 2004, Chairman Gross announced some 
recommendations on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay Blue Bay Ribbon Finance 
Panel.
  On the state and national level, Penny is a past president of the 
Virginia Association of Counties, vice-chair of the National 
Association of Counties' Energy, Environment, and Land Use Committee, 
and past president of the National Association of Regional Councils. 
She was first appointed by Governor Mark Warner to the Local Government 
Advisory Committee (LGAC) to the Chesapeake Executive Council, which 
she chaired from March 2006 until August 2008, and continues to serve.
  I had the great pleasure of serving with Penny during my 14 years on 
the Board, first representing the Providence District and then as 
Chairman. The work that she has done for Fairfax County is outstanding, 
and we will continue to honor her legacy as a public servant. Penny 
Gross's commitment to our community and the mission of local government 
is unparalleled. She leaves behind a legacy that will enrich our 
community for generations to come. Her career in public service is 
truly commendable and deserving of our heartfelt gratitude. All through 
her tenure as Chair of the PWR, she proved to be an exemplary leader, 
and continues to attract very influential and dedicated environmentally 
minded individuals to the roundtable.
  Mr. Speaker, Penny Gross's commitment to public service is seen 
through her tireless work on behalf of the people of Fairfax County. 
Though she may be retiring, I suspect that she will continue to remain 
active in the causes that are important to her. I commend her for her 
service and ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating her on her 
retirement.

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