[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22481]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                NANCY CHEN: A FIGHTER FOR WORKING WOMEN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 16, 2010

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I want to recognize Nancy Chen, who is 
retiring after 26 years of service. Nancy is a remarkable woman who has 
devoted much of her life to promoting and creating policies to help 
working women and to empowering women and immigrants.
  Nancy led the Midwest regional office of Women's Bureau for 13 years. 
This is the only federal agency designated by Congress to address 
issues and concerns of working women. Part of the U.S. Department of 
Labor, its mission is to develop policies and standards to safeguard 
the interests of working women by advocating for their economic 
security and that of their families; and promoting quality work 
environments. Nancy directed and developed the regional program through 
collaboration and partnership with women's organizations, employers, 
unions, and other government agencies in the states of Illinois, 
Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
  Under Nancy's leadership, the regional office has effectively 
promoted non-traditional occupations for women, including green jobs 
and careers in science, technology and engineering. She has helped 
achieve concrete advances in workplace flexibility and pay equity.
  Nancy's career highlights include public and community service in 
Illinois and Washington, DC. Prior to joining the Women's Bureau, Nancy 
served as Director of Asian Pacific American Outreach at the Office of 
Presidential Personnel in the Clinton White House. Before that, she was 
Director of U.S. Senator Paul Simon's Chicago office, overseeing the 
Senator's legislative and constituent program relating to Chicago and 
northern Illinois for 6 years. As a key advisor, she played an 
important role in Senator Simon's achievements relating to family 
immigration legislation and economic development in Chicago's immigrant 
communities.
  Nancy serves on the Board of Counselors at the Paul Simon Public 
Policy Institute. She is also a member on the Gender Equity Advisory 
Committee for the Illinois State Board of Education. Nancy's community 
service includes being the founder and past president of the National 
Women's Political Caucus of Greater Chicago from 1992 to 1994; member 
of the Illinois Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on 
Civil Rights for over 10 years; and co-chair of the Obama's Asian 
American and Pacific Islander, AAPI, National Leadership Council in 
2007 and 2008.
  Nancy received the 2009 Milestone Award from the Asian American 
Institute and the first Sandra Otaka Legacy Award from the Asian 
American Action Fund, Chicago Chapter. She was the recipient of the 
2004 Risk Taker and Enabler Award from the Organization of Chinese 
Americans and the 2009 Distinguished Career Service Award from the U.S. 
Department of Labor.
  Nancy is a skilled organizer, an expert networker, true public 
servant, and a good friend. Her advocacy and the policies that she 
helped create will continue to empower and strengthen working women 
even after her retirement. Her accomplishments are many, and I want to 
congratulate her on her decades of service to women and families.

                          ____________________