[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 4568] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ELIZABETH STINSON ______ HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY of california in the house of representatives Monday, March 31, 2008 Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise with great pleasure to honor a visionary, diplomat, activist, and advocate for peace on the occasion of her receipt of the 2008 Jack Green Civil Liberties Award by the American Civil Liberties Union of Sonoma County. Elizabeth Stinson's work with the Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County and her lifetime dedication to human rights have left an enduring legacy. In 2001, after several years work with the United Nations, where she still retains a position with the UN's International Indigenous Forum, Elizabeth became director of the Peace and Justice Center, helping those Sonoma County residents who are victims of our Nation's most challenging conflicts. In Santa Rosa, for example, Elizabeth has mediated inter-gang disputes while leading campaigns to end escalating local violence. In 2002, recognizing the need to provide youth with nonviolent choices, she founded the High School Outreach Peace Education, or HOPE, project to educate them about their rights as students, their rights regarding the military, and service learning and internship opportunities. In addition, through Elizabeth's coordination with courts in three counties, the Peace and Justice Center was established as an authorized diversion program provider for convicted and at-risk teens and young adults. Under her direction, the Peace and Justice Center has also gained national attention for supporting troops who need a military separation for reasons such as untreated combat-related trauma, repeated deployments, recruiter misrepresentations, and other compelling mental and physical issues. Since the beginning of the occupation of Iraq 5 years ago, Elizabeth and her team of volunteers at the center have successfully negotiated 850 administrative discharges. Elizabeth's work continues to have national effect as she provides counseling support to troops testifying at the Winter Soldier hearings in DC. At an upcoming GI national retreat, she will conduct training on post-traumatic stress for hotline counselors. Aside from her lifelong international work for human rights, Elizabeth is mother to three adult children and Sanctuary Mom to five, whose father was executed by death squads after helping to found El Salvador's Human Rights Commission. Madam Speaker, Elizabeth's commitment to the rights of the vulnerable has rightly earned her the 2008 Jack Green Civil Liberties Award. I am honored to have Elizabeth Stinson as my constituent. I commend her for her work and for the well-deserved award being bestowed on her by the ACLU of Sonoma County. ____________________