[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5989]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF SENATOR LOURDES LEON GUERRERO

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 25, 2006

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
contributions of a dedicated public servant and a true daughter of 
Guam, Senator Lou Leon Guerrero. The daughter of the late Jesus Sablan 
and Eugenia Aflague Leon Guerrero, Lou was born and raised on Guam 
along with her brothers Jesse and Tony Leon Guerrero. She graduated 
from the Academy of Our Lady of Guam High School and earned her 
Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from the California State University at 
Los Angeles in 1973. Lou began her career as a healthcare professional, 
working as a staff nurse at the Santa Monica Hospital. She was also 
attending graduate courses at UCLA, at this time. She earned her Master 
of Arts degree in Public Health in 1979.
  Lou returned home to work at the Guam Memorial Hospital in 1980. She 
quickly rose through the ranks of Guam Memorial Hospital, serving as 
the hospital's Assistant Director of Nursing 1982 to 1983. Lou then 
worked for next 10 years at the Family Health Plan (FHP), a private 
health clinic on Guam. Lou became the FHP's Director of Operations in 
1990. She served in that capacity until she entered politics in 1994.
  Lou is a four-term senator in the Guam Legislature. She has served in 
a number of leadership roles during her 8 years in the Legislature. Lou 
became the Chairwoman of the Committee on Rules and Health in 2003. She 
was also a candidate for Lieutenant Governor during the 1998 election 
cycle.
  Lou's career as a nurse laid the foundation for her commitment to 
serving Guam and the public. Lou's caring nature, her humanity, and her 
commitment to improving not only the quality of the healthcare 
available on this island, but the island as a whole was clear to see to 
those who worked closely with her over the years. It is my hope that 
her legacy of professionalism, service to the island, and community 
leadership will serve as a lasting inspiration for her family, friends, 
and associates as she leaves the Legislature for a new chapter in her 
professional life.
  Lou forges an exciting a new path for herself and her family as she 
transitions to the position of President, Chief Executive Officer, and 
Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Guam. Her brother 
Tony also served in this capacity. Her father Jesus founded the bank. 
Her service at the Bank of Guam is continuing the family tradition.
  I have had the honor and privilege to work very closely with Lou over 
the years. She is both a colleague and a friend. I admire her tenacity, 
her love for the island of Guam and its people, and her commitment to 
do what she believes is best for them. Her determination to improve the 
lives of residents of Guam, her commitment to forming good public 
policy, and her persistence in seeing the needed carried out is 
commendable. Her presence in the Legislature will be greatly missed.
  On behalf of a grateful island, I join her husband, Attorney Jeff 
Cook, her children Joaquin and Mariana, and all the people of Guam, in 
extending Senator Lou Leon Guerrero my most heartfelt appreciation for 
all the good work she has done for Guam. Additionally, I wish her 
success and prosperity in her new leadership roles at the Bank of Guam.

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