[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12775]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         A TRIBUTE TO JoANN LUM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 15, 2005

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor JoAnn Lum. Ms. Lum, the 
daughter of Chinese immigrants, recently won the Nation's highest 
community health leadership honor for mobilizing sweatshop workers and 
Lower Manhattan victims of 9/11 to seek improved access to benefits and 
quality health services as part of a larger effort to gain control of 
their lives.
  Ms. Lum is one of 10 outstanding individuals from across the country 
chosen to receive this year's Robert Wood Johnson Community Health 
Leadership Program award.
  While growing up in California, Lum observed the hardships suffered 
by her father and other relatives as they put in long hours as 
`houseboys,' busboys and garment workers. During a stint in the 
Manhattan Borough President's office in the early 1990s, she 
volunteered as an English teacher for Chinese immigrants and was 
inspired by the impact of workers organizing to improve conditions.
  Ms. Lum founded the National Mobilization Against SweatShops (NMASS) 
to harness the power of worker campaigns to create healthier workplaces 
and communities. She works primarily with Latina, Afro-Caribbean, 
Polish and African American women and men. In one project, she is 
targeting injured workers' access to benefits and medical treatment, 
campaigning to overhaul the Workers' Compensation system. In addition, 
she is calling for an end to `forced overtime' and other unfair 
practices, to prevent injuries among more workers.
  A testament to Ms. Lum's work is a statement from a Polish immigrant 
who suffered chemical injuries as an asbestos worker and received 
assistance from Ms. Lum's organization: ``I joined NMASS after being 
denied my Workers' Compensation benefits numerous times. I was alone 
and felt powerless, with no money or health care. JoAnn not only 
assisted me to get needed medical treatment, but has opened my eyes to 
how disabled workers like myself can join together to advocate for fair 
health benefits.''
  Another NMASS initiative launched by Lum, called ``Beyond Ground 
Zero,'' is a coalition of pubic health advocates, doctors, clergy and 
community groups that came together in response to the health crisis 
among Lower Manhattan's poor population following 9/11.
  The coalition compelled private entities to create disaster health 
insurance for individuals working in Lower Manhattan whose health and 
income were damaged by 9/11. And in Partnership with Bellevue Hospital, 
the coalition started a treatment and documentation program for 
respiratory problems and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms 
experienced by victims who were largely ignored by other relief 
efforts.
  More than 3,000 people attended two Lower Manhattan town hall 
meetings organized by Ms. Lum. Ultimately, her coalition assisted 
10,000 poor families in accessing medical coverage and treatment or 
disaster relief. Ms. Lum's coalition continues to advodate for public 
and private support for programs that address the longterm health needs 
of the working poor in Lower Manhattan.
  ``JoAnn is gifted with the ability to create a movement where the 
people who must speak for themselves are the center of the work,'' said 
one of Lum's nominators.
  The Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program 
distributes $1.2 million each year to innovators who have creatively 
surmounted obstacles to meet the challenges of providing health care 
and social services to the underserved members of their communities. 
Ms. Lum and this year's other winners will be honored at a June event 
in Washington, D.C. She will receive $105,000 to apply to her program 
and a $15,000 personal award.
  Ms. Lum was chosen from nearly 700 people nominated this year. Since 
1992, the program has given 133 awards in 45 states, Puerto Rico and 
Washington, D.C. Award winners are nominated by civic leaders, health 
professionals, government representatives and others inspired by their 
efforts to provide essential health services to their communities.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Lum is motivated by the disparity and 
inconsistencies that she observes in her community. She believes that a 
commitment to help those who are regarded as less fortunate is a small 
price to pay. Her commitment in turn inspires others to continue to 
strive for a better future. Ms. Lum is more than worthy of our 
recognition today.

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