[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 14] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 19742] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]IN HONOR OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE LIDA E. HARKINS FOR HER 22 YEARS OF DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE 13TH NORFOLK DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES THE TOWNS OF NEEDHAM, DOVER, AND MEDFIELD, AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS ______ HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH of massachusetts in the house of representatives Monday, December 13, 2010 Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of State Representative Lida E. Harkins of Needham, Massachusetts, in recognition of her decades of dedicated Public Service to the families of the 13th Norfolk District, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Representative Harkins resides in Needham, Massachusetts where she raised 3 children--Joe, Mike and Julie and is the proud grandmother to 10 grandchildren. Representative Harkins graduated from Regis College earning a B.A. degree and then pursued her education earning a graduate degree at Boston College. After attending Boston College, Representative Harkins began her career as an Elementary School Teacher and served 6 terms on the Needham School Committee. She also directed a collaborative vocational training program for 13 towns in the Metrowest area of Massachusetts. Representative Harkins was first elected to the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1988 serving the towns of Needham, Dover and Medfield. She served as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Ethics, Assistant Majority Whip, Majority Whip, and House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, Arts and Humanities. Further, Representative Harkins serves as Chair of the Needham Democratic Town Committee. When reflecting on a lifetime of good works, Representative Harkins counts as her greatest achievements raising her 3 children, Joe, Mike and Julie and being blessed as a grandmother of her 10 grandchildren as well as her 22 years as a public servant to the families of the 13th Norfolk District. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to take to the floor of the House today to join with her family, friends and contemporaries to thank Representative Harkins for her dedicated public service to the families of the 13th District and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Representative Lida E. Harkins' career of dedicated public service. ____________________