[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17554]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



            MS. BOBBIE DAVIDSON 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 and self-improvement. I rise today to recognize Ms. Bobbie 
Davidson, the recipient of the award for the month of August, 2000.
  Ms. Davidson is the single mother of two children, ages 8 and 11. She 
is dyslexic, and because of this feared she was unable to work. Having 
received ADC/FIP and Medicaid since 1993, in 1999 she applied for SSI. 
Though she was ultimately denied, while her application was pending Ms. 
Davidson was referred to Michigan Rehabilitation Services. That agency 
helped her to enroll in West Shore Community College in order to 
improve her math and reading skills.
  With assistance from the Work First and the Project Zero 
coordinators, Ms. Davidson obtained a job at Burger King in Ludington, 
Michigan, in March of this year. She continues to be employed there, 
which has resulted in the closure of her FIP case.
  As a result of her determination to improve her life, not only for 
herself but also for her children, Ms. Davidson has become independent 
of the welfare system. Eventually, she would like to attend culinary 
school and become a chef.
  Mr. President, I applaud Ms. Bobbie Davidson on being named Achiever 
of the Month for August of 2000. It is an honor for which she has 
worked very hard and that she truly deserves. On behalf of the entire 
United States Senate, I congratulate Ms. Davidson, and wish her 
continued success in the future.

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