[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2956]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING BRIDGET BROWN ON RECEIVING THE 2012 SELF-ADVOCATE OF THE 
                     YEAR CHAMPION OF CHANGE AWARD

  (Mrs. BIGGERT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Madam Speaker, hundreds of advocates from across the 
country traveled to Capitol Hill last week to raise awareness on behalf 
of the National Down Syndrome Society. Today I rise to congratulate one 
of those individuals, Bridget Brown, who is being honored with the 2012 
Self-Advocate of the Year Champion of Change Award.
  A resident of Darien, Illinois, Bridget has helped to empower and 
inspire thousands of others with Down Syndrome to lead full and 
successful lives. A role model, mentor, and national speaker, she 
graduated from high school in 2005 after becoming the first person with 
Down Syndrome to be included in her school district. She helped to 
promote among Illinois educators the concept of inclusion, and launched 
her own advocacy organization called Butterflies for Change.
  I applaud Bridget for her amazing work at the local and national 
level to help others achieve their full potential. She has made her 
State and her community proud, and I wish Bridget continued success in 
her efforts on behalf of the more than 400,000 Americans with Down 
Syndrome.

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