[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26149]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  IN RECOGNITION OF STATE SENATOR GRACE DRAKE FOR HER SERVICE TO OHIO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PAUL E. GILLMOR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 14, 2000

  Mr. GILLMOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary 
member of the Ohio Senate for her outstanding contribution and 
dedication to the State of Ohio. Senator Grace Drake currently serves 
as a Senator from Ohio's 22nd Senatorial district, which includes a 
portion of Cuyahoga County and all of Medina and Wayne counties.
  As Chairperson of the Senate Health Committee since 1989, she has 
received countless awards for her work to ensure access to high 
quality, affordable health care for all Ohioans. She was also 
instrumental in the overhaul of Ohio's domestic relations laws, working 
to ensure that a child's needs are considered the top priority when 
determining custody.
  Senator Drake has received awards and commendations from a wide 
variety of groups. She has received the Ohio Bar Association 
Distinguished Service Award, was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of 
Fame, received the President's Award for Distinguished Service from the 
Ohio Speech and Hearing Association, and she is a four time winner of 
the Watchdog of the Treasury award from the Unite Conservatives of 
Ohio. Additionally, she has received numerous awards for her work in 
the area of health care. The Ohio Hospital Association, the Ohio 
Academy of Nursing Homes, and the County Boards of Mental Retardation 
and Developmental Disabilities each have recognized her for 
distinguished service. She received an Honorary Doctorate in Public 
Administration from Cleveland State University and an Honorary Masters 
Degree in Anesthesiology from Case Western Reserve University.
  Mr. Speaker, Senator Drake is a caring and effective legislator for 
the State of Ohio, and more specifically, for her constituents. I ask 
my colleagues of the 106th Congress to join me in commending her for 
her seventeen years of service and to wish her all the best in her 
future endeavors.

                          ____________________