[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4884]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            CASA OF MERCED COUNTY--ALLIED PROFESSIONAL AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 20, 2016

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the bi-partisan Congressional Victims' 
Rights Caucus (VRC) advocates for the silent voices of crime victims. 
Jim Costa (D-CA) and I founded the VRC 10 years ago when we were first 
elected to Congress. During its 10 year existence, the VRC has taken 
the lead in protecting programs that provide critical support for 
victim services throughout the nation, including the Victims of Crime 
Act (VOCA), Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and the Trafficking 
Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). Each year the members 
of the caucus join together to honor outstanding individuals who have 
given their time and service to helping victims. This year marks the 
10th anniversary of the Caucus.
  On behalf of Congressman Costa (D-CA) and myself, we are proud to 
recognize an organization that makes a big difference in the San 
Joaquin Valley: Court Appointed Special Advocates also known as CASA of 
Merced Country. Nominated by Congressman Costa, the CASA of Merced 
County is the recipient of the VRC Allied Professional Award.
  With a mission to place every child in a safe, loving, and permanent 
home, CASA relies on the work of volunteer advocates for the interests 
of children overlooked by society. In order to ensure that every child 
is properly taken care in the eyes of both the law and the community, 
these volunteers provide judges with detailed information of a child's 
home life and legal situation to help judges better understand each and 
every child's unique story.
  The Executive Director, Shar Herrera and her staff work diligently to 
support children who are victims of abuse and neglect. Sadly, children 
who are victims of neglect and are in the foster care system are too 
often in a situation where they do not have a single person in their 
life that they can trust and rely on. But Merced CASA has changed that 
horrible reality for hundreds of children throughout Merced County.
  CASA volunteers are often there for the children beyond just the 
courtroom; they are friends, mentors, and confidants for the children 
they support. The volunteers who are trained by CASA for Merced County 
change children's lives for the better every single day. CASA and their 
advocates have done right by their community, and, most importantly, 
right by children in need. I am proud to recognize them as the 
recipient of the Allied Professional Award.
  And that is just the way it is.

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