[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16893-16894]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  HONORING IRVING B. HARRIS FOR A LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT ON HIS 90TH 
                                BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2000

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to stand today 
to honor a remarkable individual who has left a lasting mark on our 
Nation and its children. I am honored to pay tribute to Irving B. 
Harris as he celebrates his 90th birthday on August 4, 2000.
  Irving's leadership and commitment is inspiring. His passion and 
advocacy have led the fight for policy development on behalf of very 
young children and families, attention to the physical and mental 
health of pregnant women and mothers of infants and toddlers, the 
prevention of violence, the training of a competent infant/family work 
force, and the building of effective community-based programs. He is as 
well-respected as a leading voice for children as he is as a corporate 
leader. After entering the business world following his graduation from 
Yale University, he served with both the Board of Economic Warfare and 
the Office of Price Administration during World War II. He has served 
in executive capacities for several well-known companies, including the 
Toni Home Permanent Co., and the Pittway Corp.
  However, Mr. Harris is best known for his commitment to improving the 
chances of disadvantaged children across this country. His many 
contributions and determined advocacy for the well-being and 
development of infants, toddlers, and their families are legendary. He 
was instrumental in creating and establishing such well-respected 
institutions as the Erikson Institute and the Ounce of Prevention Fund,

[[Page 16894]]

as well as the highly ambitious Beethoven Project, which has served as 
models for the development of training and service programs across the 
country. He helped to establish Zero to Three, a national nonprofit 
charitable organization whose mission is to strengthen and support 
families, practitioners and communities to promote the healthy 
development of babies and toddlers. He was the moving force in the 
establishment of the Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies at 
the University of Chicago. His vision and leadership have earned him 
appointments to the National Commission on Children and the Carnegie 
Corporation of New York's Task Force on Meeting the Needs of Young 
Children. For his efforts, Irving has been awarded 10 honorary degrees.
  He has been, and continues to be, a champion for children and 
families everywhere. It is with great pride that I rise today to 
congratulate Irving. I also would like to extend my sincere thanks and 
appreciation for his many contributions and best wishes for continued-
health and success. Our Nation's children thank you and wish you a 
happy birthday.

                          ____________________