[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22880]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING JUDY PARK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Judy Park on 
the occasion of her retirement after 40 years of dedicated service to 
the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, NARFE, 
and the 4.6 million Federal workers and annuitants it represents.
  Judy began her career at NARFE, then known as the National 
Association of Retired Civil Employees, in 1968 when newly elected 
president Thomas G. Walters asked her to join him in starting a 
legislative presence. Only 4 years out of college, Judy wasted no time. 
Early victories included granting survivor benefits to second spouses 
of retirees, extending survivor benefits to spouses in postretirement 
marriages, making retirees eligible to participate in the Federal 
Employee Health Benefits Program open season, restoring full annuities 
to retirees at the death of a survivor, and increasing the Government 
share of health premiums.
  In 1976, Judy became the first legislative director for NARFE and 
began hiring a staff. In the 1980s, Judy coordinated a major NARFE 
effort that resulted in the crafting of the Federal Employees 
Retirement System, FERS, after Federal employees were required to be 
universally covered by Social Security.
  Perhaps the biggest legislative accomplishment of her career was the 
repeal of the Medicare Catastrophic Protection Act of 1988, because 
everybody said the repeal would never happen. Judy saw that the new law 
placed an unjust surtax on all retirees, especially Federal retirees. 
NARFE worked with the Military Officers Association of America and 
ultimately put together a 38-organization Coalition for Affordable 
Health Care that continues to work together today.
  Judy has dedicated her life to ensuring that Federal employees and 
retirees are treated fairly and with respect--an incredible recognition 
of the important work civil servants perform given that she is not a 
Federal retiree herself. During her 40-year career, Judy has met with 
six U.S. Presidents and scores of congressional Members; she has worked 
with a dozen NARFE presidents; and she has seen the NARFE membership 
double in size.
  Perhaps a former employee describes Judy best when she says that Judy 
``embodies the words `trust, leadership and grace.' '' It has been my 
pleasure to work with Judy on issues of importance to Federal employees 
and retires and I ask that you join me in applauding Judy Park for her 
excellent service to protecting the rights of Federal employees and 
retirees. I congratulate Judy in her retirement and wish her the best 
in her future endeavors.

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