[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11269]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         IN HONOR OF MIKE ROOS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 9, 2015

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the long and 
distinguished public service career of our friend, Mr. Mike Roos. I had 
the great honor of working with Mike as colleagues in the California 
State Assembly along with several other current and former members of 
this House. I count myself fortunate to call him a good friend. After 
many years of public service, Mike is retiring from Mike Roos and 
Company, the public affairs firm that he founded in 1999, and turning 
to the next chapter of his life.
  The firm that Mike shaped specializes in government relations, 
corporate issues management, media relations, and ballot measure 
campaigns. Prior to establishing Mike Roos and Company, Mike served as 
President and CEO of the Los Angeles Alliance for Restructuring Now, a 
coalition of business and civic leaders from the Los Angeles Area 
dedicated to implementing systemic reform and restructuring within the 
Los Angeles Unified School District. His significant efforts in this 
capacity have undoubtedly changed countless lives of children in the 
Los Angeles area for the better.
  Mike's distinguished Assembly career began in 1977. He earned the 
love and respect of both his Democratic and Republican colleagues. His 
own caucus chose him Majority Floor Leader in his second term, a 
position he held until his 1987 election as Assembly Speaker Pro 
Tempore. He had the reputation as a genuine legislator--someone who 
used the power of lawmaking to make the lives of the People of 
California better. Perhaps his most well known achievement is the Mello 
Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 and the Roberti-Roos Weapons 
Control Act of 1989. Mike authored the finest and strictest laws to 
date protecting the confidentiality of HIV patients, as well as the law 
creating the Alternative Test Sites Program, which established centers 
where individuals could receive free, anonymous testing for the AIDS 
antibody. He consistently fought for a better education for all, 
authoring legislation prohibiting sex discrimination in California's 
educational institutions.
  Prior to his election to the State Assembly, Mike served as the 
Executive Director of the Coro Foundation, a leadership training 
program for future leaders in public service. Thanks to his substantial 
experience and insight, he continues to be a valuable consultant to 
civic and educational organizations, speaking on topics ranging from 
education reform to the legislative process in California politics.
  Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for the whole House in thanking Mike for 
his years of service on behalf of the people of California. I know he 
looks forward to spending more time with his family in this next 
chapter of his life, including his four daughters Shelby, Melissa, 
Catherine, and Caroline. I wish him nothing but success and happiness.

                          ____________________