[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15995]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 15995]]

              MS. LORIE FOOCE NAMED ACHIEVER OF THE MONTH

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, in October of 1993, the State of 
Michigan Family Independence Agency commemorated the first anniversary 
of its landmark welfare reform initiative, ``To Strengthen Michigan 
Families,'' by naming its first Achiever of the Month. In each month 
since, the award has been given to an individual who


participates in the initiative and has shown outstanding progress 
toward self-sufficiency. I rise today to recognize Ms. Lorie Fooce, the 
recipient of the award for the month of July, 2000.
  Ms. Fooce, a single mother, applied for assistance in August, 1994, 
in order to provide for her family. She was approved for ACD/FIP, food 
stamps, and Medicaid. At the time, Ms. Fooce lacked the necessary job 
skills and experience to maintain a steady, sufficient income. However, 
within that same month, she took the initiative to enroll in Certified 
Nurses Aid (C.N.A.) training through Work First.
  Ms. Fooce was able to complete the training and was subsequently 
hired by Gogebic Medical Care. With the help of Work First, which paid 
for the C.N.A. training, testing fees, transportation, and uniforms, 
she has become a valued employee at Gogebic.
  Ms. Fooce's FIP case closed in May, 1999. In order to best care for 
her family, she currently receives food stamps, Medicaid, and day care 
assistance to supplement her earnings.
  I applaud Ms. Lorie Fooce for being named Achiever of the Month for 
July of 2000. She has shown a sincere dedication to her job and to the 
goals of self-improvement and self-sufficiency, and the progress she 
has made shows both great effort and great determination. On behalf of 
the entire United States Senate, I congratulate Ms. Fooce, and wish her 
continued success in the future.

                          ____________________