Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Claudette A. Moody, a Glendale, California resident who will be leaving as Director of Government Relations at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority at the end of June 2002 after an exemplary 17-year career.
Moody joined the former Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (LACTC) in 1985 as the first full-time employee devoted to outreach with the Federal government, and she later assumed responsibility for State issues as well. She provided key support for the former Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) in securing the initial funding for the Metro Rail subway, including working on the joint appropriations document with the LACTC, RTD, Southern California Association of Governments, and the Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
Claudette has furthered the transportation interests of Los Angeles County by writing and advocating positions on countless pieces of reform legislation aimed at improving transportation throughout Los Angeles County, and was the key staff member to work on Assembly Bill 152, creating the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), including conceiving and writing provisions that won the support of smaller cities. In addition to recommending MTA Board positions on thousands of bills, Claudette served as the key staff person in efforts leading to the successful passage of Proposition C, Propositions 111 and 108, and Proposition 42 relating to transportation. Indeed, Claudette has served as a crucial member of a team that has brought billions of dollars to Los Angeles County for transportation purposes.
Claudette was the co-founder and first Chairperson of the African-American Employees Association, and initiated the agency's activities for Juneteenth Day and Black History Month. She also was co-founder and first Chairperson of the MTA Employee Association, was instrumental in developing the child-care center for the MTA and sat on the initial contract review task force. Claudette was a key staff member to liaison with Governor Gray Davis' office in developing projects to be funded through the Governor's Transportation Congestion Relief Program.
Claudette has served with distinction at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and I ask all Members of Congress to join me in recognizing her for her years of service to the LACTC, MTA, and to the citizens, residents, and users of transportation services in Los Angeles County, and further wish her success and the best of luck in all her future endeavors.