[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17007]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING MRS. SANDRA L. MERIN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN S. TANNER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2007

  Mr. TANNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the work and 
achievements of Mrs. Sandra L. Merin, president of the Board of 
Directors of the District of Columbia Children's Advocacy Center, also 
known as Safe Shores. This week Mrs. Merin is being honored by the 
National Children's Alliance as its 2007 Volunteer of the Year for her 
extraordinary service and leadership on behalf of abused children in 
the Nation's Capital.
  Established pursuant to the Children's Advocacy Center model created 
over two decades ago by our distinguished colleague Representative 
Robert ``Bud'' Cramer of Alabama, Safe Shores is a nonprofit 
organization that each year helps over 800 children whose lives have 
been marred by physical abuse, sexual abuse or other violence. Safe 
Shores' mission is to ensure the safety, health and well-being of 
abused children in the District of Columbia by uniting the strengths of 
public, private and community partners.
  Mrs. Merin has been a volunteer with Safe Shores for 6 years, during 
which time she has shown tremendous energy, persistence, and 
determination in being a voice for children who face abuse, neglect, 
and painful realities that no individual should ever know.
  Mrs. Merin leads the volunteer board of directors, helping to guide 
the governance of the organization and the board's development and 
expansion; she has helped forge a relationship between a respected 
local university and Safe Shores; she has served on the organization's 
10th Anniversary Event Committee.
  In the true spirit of community service and philanthropy, Mrs. Merin 
does all her fine work for Safe Shores humbly and without seeking 
praise or reward. A devoted wife and mother, Sandra Merin exemplifies 
the spirit that made this country great and continues to sustain us.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mrs. Sandra Merin for 
her dedicated and invaluable support of Safe Shores and its crucial 
efforts to reduce trauma and promote healing for the youngest and most 
vulnerable of Washington, DC's residents.

                          ____________________