[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5695-5696]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING JANICE GRUENDEL AS SHE IS RECOGNIZED BY THE ACES EDUCATION 
                               FOUNDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 5, 2005

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to join the ACES Education Foundation as they recognize the outstanding 
contributions of a dedicated member of our community and my good 
friend, Dr. Janice Gruendel. Janice has spent a lifetime working with 
children, focusing much of her time and effort on early childhood 
education.
  A psychologist by training, Janice has dedicated her professional 
career to improving the

[[Page 5696]]

environment in which our children learn and grow. After receiving her 
Ph.D. from Yale University, Janice served as Deputy Commissioner with 
the Connecticut Department of Children and Youth Services, the 
Department of Mental Retardation, and the Department of Public Health. 
She moved on to become the Vice President of Education and Technology 
at Rabbit Ears Productions, Inc. and was co-executive producer of the 
Emmy-nominated public broadcast documentary, ``Mommy, Who'll Take Care 
of Me?''
  In 1995, Janice, along with Shelly Geballe, Judy Soloman, and Nancy 
Lustman, embarked on a very special project founding Connecticut Voices 
for Children. CT Voices is a research-based public education and 
advocacy organization that works statewide to promote the well-being of 
Connecticut's children, youth and families. Janice and the co-founders 
of CT Voices have built this very special organization around a staff 
with education and experience in education, law, health, business, 
government and the non-profit sector. With such comprehensive vision 
and talented staff, CT Voices has been able to provide new and unique 
insights into the impact of policy and issues on today's youth and 
families. In fact, in just under a decade, CT Voices has become a 
leading voice in public policy with political leaders, the media, other 
advocacy groups and others regularly turning to them for public and 
budget analysis. The outstanding success of CT Voices allows this 
organization to have a real impact on public policy--a reflection of 
the remarkable efforts of Janice and her co-founders.
  Currently serving as the Senior Advisor on Early Childhood for 
Connecticut's Governor M. Jodi Rell, Janice's expertise in early 
childhood education is recognized throughout the state. In addition to 
this role, she also continues as a lecturer at the Yale University 
Child Study Center and acts as a part-time senior consulting fellow at 
Connecticut Voices for Children. The multitude of work that Janice has 
done on behalf of our youngest citizens has gone a long way in 
increasing public awareness of the importance of early childhood 
education and its positive impact on our children.
  I am proud to stand today to join her husband, Herb; her three sons 
and daughters-in-law, David and Liz, Darren and Yoya, and Stephen and 
Amy; her grandchildren, Alisia, Elena, Vivian, and Mateo, as well as 
all of the family, friends, and colleagues who have gathered in 
congratulating my dear friend, Dr. Janice Gruendel as she is honored by 
the ACES Education Foundation. Her many years of dedication and 
commitment has left an indelible mark on the State of Connecticut and a 
legacy that will continue to make a difference in the lives of our 
young people for generations to come.

                          ____________________