[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10970]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF FORMER FIRST LADY BETTY 
                                  FORD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARY BONO MACK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 12, 2011

  Mrs. BONO MACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of 
the most influential and transformative First Ladies of our time, Betty 
Ford.
  Born Elizabeth Ann Bloomer on April 8, 1918, Betty grew up in 
Michigan and studied dance, which ultimately helped lead her to the 
city of New York where she found work as a model and taught children to 
support her studies. In 1948, Betty married Gerald R. Ford, the future 
President of the United States, shortly before he began serving the 
first of his 13 successful terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. 
Mrs. Ford made it clear early on that her first priority was her 
family, but, it soon became apparent that would not be her only role in 
public life.
  As First Lady during a particularly turbulent time for our Nation, 
Mrs. Ford spoke plainly and openly about the challenges confronting all 
Americans; and the people loved her for her candor and common sense. 
The Ford family reflected the core values of the American people, but, 
they were also not afraid to let the Nation see that their family was 
not perfect simply because it resided in the White House. Mrs. Ford 
spoke openly about the struggles their family faced and became one of 
the first women in public life to discuss her own battles with breast 
cancer and prescription drug addiction. Sharing her story raised the 
level of public consciousness and understanding of these important 
issues and made it ``OK'' for people to seek treatment and recovery.
  Although her actions as First Lady had an immediate and profound 
impact on American culture, her work after she left the White House may 
have had the biggest impact on ensuring her lasting legacy as a leader 
in the recovery movement.
  Following their time in the White House, President and Mrs. Ford 
relocated to Rancho Mirage, California and Vail, Colorado. As full-time 
residents of Rancho Mirage, they resided in the Congressional District 
which I would come to have the honor of representing, and I was 
incredibly proud to call the Fords constituents and dear friends. The 
Fords were fixtures in our desert community and many local residents 
counted them as friends. President and Mrs. Ford contributed greatly to 
countless worthwhile causes and generously shared that most precious of 
commodities, their time. In 2008, I proudly authored a bill designating 
their neighborhood post office as the ``Gerald R. Ford Post Office 
Building'' in honor of my mentor and friend, and Betty's beloved late 
husband.
  In 1982, The Betty Ford Clinic, now known the world over as the Betty 
Ford Center, opened its doors on the Eisenhower Medical Center campus 
to provide those seeking treatment of alcohol and substance abuse 
addiction with a state of the art program to help them on their journey 
to recovery. Betty Ford, whose name has become synonymous with recovery 
and treatment, greeted countless patients and visitors with a simple 
salutation, ``hello, my name is Betty Ford and I'm an alcoholic and 
drug addict.'' Nearly 30 years later, over 90,000 people have been 
treated at the center, including those of humble means to some of the 
wealthiest and most famous celebrities in the world.
  As Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse, I 
dedicate my work on the caucus to her memory and will continue to work 
tirelessly to advance the causes to which Mrs. Ford devoted much of her 
adult life. As a woman, I am especially grateful for the path she 
blazed, and consider her a great role model for any generation of women 
who want to make our Nation and the world a better place.
  And as someone whose family, like so many others, has been affected 
by addiction, I am personally forever indebted to Mrs. Ford and have 
the utmost respect for her leadership on this important issue. Mrs. 
Ford was a great First Lady, a remarkable woman and valued friend. Our 
Nation has lost a national treasure with her passing, and I extend my 
deepest condolences to her family and all those who loved her.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in commemorating the life and 
contributions of First Lady Betty Ford, who departed this earth on July 
8, 2011. Her memory will live on through her many good works and our 
country is enriched for her life and service. May God Bless her, and 
God Bless America.