[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 18671] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]IN RECOGNITION OF GINA PAPAN _____ HON. JACKIE SPEIER of california in the house of representatives Wednesday, December 11, 2013 Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Gina Papan for her eight years of service on the Millbrae City Council, two of them as mayor, one as vice mayor. In her role as mayor this past year and throughout her tenure on the council, Gina has focused on sustainable finances and revenue enhancement in Millbrae. She has played an instrumental role in the adoption of the Economic Development Plan and the ongoing negotiations for a fire department merger with Central County Fire and San Bruno Fire. She is an avid advocate for public-private partnerships that benefit the local community. Gina serves on the City and County Association of Governments Board of Directors and Legislative Committee, the Congestion Management Program and Environmental Quality Committee, the High Speed Rail Policymakers Working Group, the San Mateo County Council of Cities, the Mayor's Civic Coordination Council, the Budget/Finance Subcommittee, the Field Agreement Subcommittee, the Fire Shared Services Subcommittee and the Commission/Committee Subcommittee. In the past, she represented Millbrae on the San Mateo County Housing Endowment and Regional Trust, the Grand Boulevard Task Force, the Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance, the San Mateo County Emergency Services Council and the Airport Land Use Committee. Gina continues a family tradition of public service and philanthropy following in the footsteps of her late father, Lou Papan, known as the ``Dean of the Assembly'' for his 20 years of service in the California State Assembly and her late mother Irene Papan, a dedicated community leader and tireless supporter of her husband. Gina began her professional career as a corporate attorney, but quickly moved to the public sector and served as Deputy Attorney General for the state for 19 years. She litigated to protect civil rights and prevent fraudulent use of taxpayer money. She was appointed deputy director of Governor Gray Davis' Office of Criminal Justice Planning. In that capacity, she served on the School Violence Prevention and Response Task Force, the Child Abduction Task Force and as a legislative advisor to the High Technology Crime Advisory Committee. School safety became an immediate focus on her second day on the job when the nation was shocked by the school shooting in Columbine. Gina grew up in Millbrae and graduated from Capuchino High School. She received her Bachelor's degree in Finance and Economics from UC Santa Barbara and her law degree from the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law. She completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Her commitment and dedication to others is unwavering. She and her sister Diane run John's Closet which provides free new clothing to underserved children and offers them confidence to achieve. John Papan was Gina's brother who suffered from a congenital condition that tragically and prematurely ended his life at age 21. In response and to continue its advocacy for disabled children, the Papan family set up John's Closet. Gina also is the co-director of the John Papan Memorial Scholarship Fund which was founded by the family to help special education students and late bloomers, kids who overcome early learning difficulties in high school. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring Gina Papan who is retiring today as mayor of Millbrae and who has committed her life and career to serving her community and fighting for justice. ____________________