[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 18333-18334]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO LYNN BREEDLOVE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 29, 2011

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of Lynn Breedlove, a 
disability advocate, community activist, leader on disability rights 
and change agent. After 31 years of service, Mr. Breedlove, Executive 
Director of Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW), formerly Wisconsin 
Coalition for Advocacy, has announced his retirement effective at the 
end of December 2011.
  Disability Rights Wisconsin is a state-wide resource for individuals, 
families, service professionals, elected officials, government agencies 
and others concerned with disability issues and systems change. This 
private non-profit group is part of the federally mandated national 
system of disability protection and advocacy agencies across the United 
States established to ensure the rights of individuals with 
disabilities.
  Lynn Breedlove has been an extraordinary leader of DRW, growing the 
agency from a staff of five in a small Madison office with a budget of 
$160,000 to an agency with a staff of 65 in three offices--Madison, 
Milwaukee, and Rice Lake--and a budget of over $5.5 million.
  The list of DRW accomplishments during Lynn's tenure is impressive 
and includes involvement during the inception and implementation of the 
life changing Community Options Program, COP, Community Integration 
Program, CIP, and making strong lasting partnerships with agencies 
serving the disabled, aging and those needing long term services. DRW 
helps people across Wisconsin gain access to services and opportunity 
through advocacy and legal expertise. Mr. Breedlove and DRW regularly 
challenged systems and society to create positive change and improve 
the lives of people with disabilities.
  Lynn Breedlove has served on a variety of boards at the local, state 
and national levels including: President of the National Disability 
Rights Network, Co-Chair of Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability 
Organizations, and Member of Wisconsin's Long Term Care Council. He has 
also been the recipient of numerous awards as a result of his deep 
passion for disability and other civil rights, and his

[[Page 18334]]

commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities as full 
partners in society.
  People with disabilities and their families, along with all citizens 
throughout Wisconsin are deeply indebted to Lynn Breedlove for his 
years of dedicated service. I am proud to call Lynn my friend and for 
the privilege of having the opportunity to work with him and the DRW 
staff on legislation to better the lives of Wisconsin citizens. I wish 
Lynn well in retirement and the next stage of his career. We will all 
miss this ``treasure of Wisconsin'' and Lynn's strong commitment ``to 
do what is right for the people.''

                          ____________________