[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5803]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING THE CENTER FOR MEDICARE ADVOCACY, INC. AS IT CELEBRATES 
                         IT'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 12, 2011

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today to pay 
tribute to an outstanding organization, the Center for Medicare 
Advocacy, Inc., as they celebrate their 25th Anniversary. Founded and 
still led by the remarkable Judith Stein, since its inception the 
Center has grown into an invaluable resource for Medicare recipients as 
well as legislators and I am proud to say that it all started in 
Connecticut.
  Judy Stein dedicated her professional career to advocacy for the 
elderly from the very beginning. For 11 years, Judy was the Co-Director 
of Legal Assistance to Medicare Patients, LAMP, where she managed the 
first Medicare advocacy program in the country. Throughout her career 
she has developed and administered Medicare advocacy projects, 
represented Medicare beneficiaries, produced educational materials, as 
well as taught and consulted on a variety of Medicare issues. She has 
also served as lead or co-counsel in federal class action and 
individual cases challenging improper Medicare policies and denials. To 
be frank, there are very few in this country who have such a technical 
or personal understanding of the Medicare program and how it impacts 
our seniors.
  Twenty-five years ago, Judy took all of her experience and passion 
for advocacy and founded the Center for Medicare Advocacy--an 
organization that would be dedicated to providing a voice for older 
Americans and those with disabilities as well as a resource to ensure 
that they have access to health care financing, necessary care and 
Medicare. What began as a one-person, one office operation has grown 
into one of the leading Medicare advocacy organizations in the country. 
Since it opened its doors, thousands of people have counted on the 
Center to make sure that they were receiving the benefits that they 
deserve. Still headquartered in Connecticut, the Center also has an 
office in Washington, D.C. where they specialize in Medicare and 
healthcare policy, a data unit in Maine, and attorneys in Arizona, 
Massachusetts, and New Jersey.
  Today, as they celebrate their first 25 years, the Center for 
Medicare Advocacy can be proud of how far the organization has come as 
well as the extraordinary impact they have had on our nation's health 
care policy and, more importantly, in the lives of the many who have 
sought them out for assistance. I have no doubt that the Center and its 
dedicated staff will continue in its innovative advocacy, working to 
both improve our Medicare system as well as the lives of those who turn 
to them for guidance and support. Happy 25th Anniversary and best 
wishes for many more years of success!

                          ____________________