>> I'VE BEEN ASKED TO ASK EVERYBODY TO STAND FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS, AND THEN AFTER THAT, REMAIN STANDING FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM SUNG BY GAIL ALLEN OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION. AND THEN REMAIN STANDING FOR THE RETIREMENT OF THE COLORS. * [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, GAYLE LANG. THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY -- THANK YOU GAIL ALLEN, THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. THANK YOU EVERYONE. YOU CAN SIT. THIS IS THE, I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS THE FIRST AWARDS CEREMONY THAT THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL'S HAD IN 12 YEARS. AND I HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS AN ANNUAL EVENT FROM NOW ON. OF US WORK IN THIS BUILDING OR WORK IN COHEN OR CAME FROM BALTIMORE BUT WE ALSO HAD TEN RAGES AND ALL OF OUR REGIONAL CHIEFS HAVE COME FOR THE CONFERENCE AS WELL AS SOME OF THE DEPUTIES. INCLUDING SCOTT RIGS WHO WAS HERE FROM OUR DENVER REGION AND WHO I HAD THE PLEASURE OF APPOINTING EARLIER THIS YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE THREE COLLEAGUES WHO DON'T WORK WITH OGC WHO WILL BE RECEIVING AWARDS THINKANT TO WELTO -- THANK AS WELL, WHO DID EXTRA WORK ON THE BRIEFS ALL THROUGH THE COURTS IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. I ALSO WANT TO INTRODUCE THOSE AT THE PODIUM. THE FIVE DEPUTY GENERAL COUNCILS. GENERAL JOE, PEGGY DOTZEL -- THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING WORK OF THE LAWYERS AND THE OTHER STAFF AT OGC CERTAINLY RANKS NEAR THE TOP. AND THE DEDICATION HERE TO PUBLIC SERVICE REALLY IS QUITE EXTRAORDINARY. WE HAVE 600 EMPLOYEES. 376 HAVE BEEN IN THE GOVERNMENT FOR TEN YEARS OR MORE. THERE ARE 108 WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE GOVERNMENT FOR 20 YEARS. 14 WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE GOVERNMENT TWICE AS LONG, FOR 40 YEARS. AND 43 WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE GOVERNMENT FOR 30 YEARS. I THINK THAT SAYS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT ABOUT THE DEDICATION OF THOSE EMPLOYED AT OGC. AND I THINK IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE WORK WE DO, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF IT AND THE INTEREST OF IT. THAT WILL KEEP ALL OF YOU HERE, REALLY, FOR CAREERS, FOR YOUR CAREERS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK BACK AT THE PAST YEAR OR TWO. WE DIDN'T THINK WE COULD LOOK BACK 12 YEARS, AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE. YOU ALL HAVE THE PROGRAM, AND BY EACH NAME OF THE AWARDEES, THERE'S A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THEY, WHAT THEY GOT THE AWARD FOR. THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE TIME TO ACTUALLY READ THE DESCRIPTION BUT YOU CAN FOLLOW IT IF YOU WANT, IN THE PROGRAM. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE AWARDS, THE AWARD COMMITTEE WHICH IS LISTED ON PAGE 2 OF THE PROGRAM. THIS WAS AN EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT JOB BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY DESERVING CANDIDATES BUT THE COMMITTEE SHOWS -- SO THANKS TO THE. I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY A MUCH HARDER TASK THAN ANY OF YOU REALIZE. I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE OUR DEPUTY OUR DEPUTY SECRETARY, BILL COUR CORE WHO DOESN'T NEED INTRODUCTION BUT HE HAS DEVOTED HIMSELF ENTIRELY TO PUBLIC SERVICE. AFTER LAW SCHOOL, HE DIRECTED COMMUNITY-RUN PRIMARY HEALTHCARE CENTERS IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, HE CAME TO WASHINGTON. HE WORKED ON CAPITOL HILL FOR CONGRESSMAN WAXMAN, SENATORS METZENBAUM AND DASH EL. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HE CAME TO THE DEPARTMENT FIRST AS A DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HEALTH TO LEE AND CHIEF OF STAFF TO SECRETARY. HE THEN SPENT NINE OR TEN YEARS AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR AS A CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO FREE KIDS AND HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE BACK HERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS ADMINISTRATION AND ACTUALLY BEFORE PLANNING FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION. AFTER HE WAS APPOINTED, PHIL LEE WAS THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH TWICE, ONCE DURING THE JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION, PROBABLY NOT MANY OF YOU REMEMBER THAT. AND THEN AGAIN DURING THE, DURING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. AND PHIL REMARKED TO ME THAT HE DIDN'T THINK THAT THERE HAD EVER BEEN A DEPUTY SECRETARY OF HHS WHO WAS BETTER PREPARED FOR THE JOB THAN BILL. AND I THINK THAT'S TRUE. AND AFTER THREE YEARS, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER DEPUTY SECRETARY ARE PERSON BETTER AT THE JOB. THE SECOND BUILT A FABULOUS CORE AND AS USUAL HE'S RIGHT. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE BILL CORE. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, BILL, YOU EMBARRAS ME. GAIL ALLEN, I HAD A MESSAGE FOR YOU, IT'S IN MY POCKET. BUT YOU GOT OFF THE STAGE BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO GIVEN IT TO YOU. THERE'S THIS TV SHOW CALLED THE VOICE. [LAUGHTER] AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR YOU. THANK YOU. THAT WAS SPECTACULAR. AND THANK YOU, BILL. IT'S VERY KIND INTRODUCTION. I ALSO PLEASED TO BE WITH YOU TODAY BECAUSE WHEN BILL ASKED ME TO COME DOWN, I THOUGHT THERE'S NO GROUP IN THE DEPARTMENT AND DON'T TELL THE DEPARTMENT I SAID THIS, ARE PLEASE. BUT THERE'S NO GROUP IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT I'M MORE INTERESTED IN AND APPRECIATIVE OF AS A LAWYER THAN YOU GUYS. WHAT YOU DO FOR THE DEPARTMENT IS DAY IN AND DAY OUT JUST SPECTACULAR. AS BILL MENTIONED, I SPENT QUITE A FEW YEARS ON THE HILL AS COUNSEL FOR CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES AND FOR LEADERSHIP. EVEN THOUGH I'VE NEVER BEEN AND RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING RANGE OF CLIENTS LIKE YOU D I KNOW FIRST HAPPENED HOW IMPORTANT YOUR ROLE IS TO THE SUCCESS OF THE DEPARTMENT. I ALSO WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE SENIOR LEADERS IN THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL. PEARLIVES ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO CAPTURE THE RESPECT AND THE APPRECIATION THAT SECRETARY INTEAL JUSSEBELIUS AND THE GENERAL COUNSELS AND BILL, AND FOR EACH OF YOU AND FOR OGC. I COULD SPEND ALL DAY TALKING ABOUT THE TIME THAT WE HAVE RELIED UPON YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR ADVICE. SO MANY HOURS OF THE DAY I RELY UPON THESE FOLKS GUIDANCE AND ADVICE. I KNOW THEY'RE BRINGING YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR OPINIONS AND YOUR HARD WORK TO US IT'S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP THERE, JUST THE BEST. I YOU I ALSO WANT TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION TO THE HONOR'S COMMITTEE. THERE ISN'T A MORE DIFFICULT JOB I DON'T THINK THAN AFTER TEN YEARS TRYING TO SORT THROUGH ALL THE OUTSTANDING WORK THAT HAS OCCURRED FROM THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND THAT ARE WATCHING. TO THE HONOR'S COMMITTEE, MY THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR A TERRIFIC JOB WELL DONE. AS HAS BEEN SAID, IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THIS OFFICE HAS COME TOGETHER TO HONOR THE EMPLOYEES AND TO HONOR YOUR COLLEAGUES. EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN OVER TEN YEARS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE YOU'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED. SECRETARY AS I SAID, SALLY HOWARD AND I RECOGNIZE DAY IN AND DAY OUT THE WORK THAT YOU DO. SO WE ARE EXTREMELY PLEASED THAT YOU ALL ARE HAVING THIS CEREMONY AND HAVE A CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER'S GOOD WORK. BUT YOUR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IS NOT NEW TO ME. DURING MY FIRST TOUR WITH THE DEPARTMENT, I ENCOUNTERED THE SAME HIGH LEVEL OF QUALITY AND COMMITMENT, THE SAME PERFORMANCE I'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION. YOU'VE CONSISTENTLY PERFORMED ABOVE AND BEYOND ALL EXPECTATIONS, AND SO IT IS REALLY AN HONOR FOR ME TO JOIN YOU TODAY TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SAY THIS TO YOU. WHEN I FIRST RETURNED TO THE DEPARTMENT AND HAD TO ENCOUNTER THE FLU PANDEMIC, GC WAS THERE HELPING THE SECRETARY WITH AN INCREDIBLY HARD DECISION. WHEN WE WERE IMPLEMENTING THE RECOVERY ACT, 150 PLUS BILLION DOLLARS WITH ALL KINDS OF RISKS AND PROBLEMS, GC WAS WITH US EVERY MOMENT OF THE WAY HELPING US DEVELOP WHAT REALLY BECAME A MODEL ACROSS THE ADMINISTRATION FOR HOW WE WERE DOING, THE IMPLEMENTATION AND HOW WE WERE EVALUATING AND IDENTIFYING RISKS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE PERFORMED AT THE TOP LEVEL. YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US IN FIGHTING WASTE, YOU'VE BEEN WITH US IN PROTECTING VULNERABLE CITIZENS, YOU'VE PROVIDED INVALUABLE LEGAL SUPPORT. WHEN HAITI NEEDED DISASTER RELIEVE SUPPORT. THOSE OF YOU IN WASHINGTON MANAGED ALL OF THIS THROUGH A CRISES, IF YOU REMEMBER WE HAD A MAJOR SNOWSTORM NOT TOO LONG AGO RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HAITI CRISES. YOU HAVE BEEN HERE WITH YOU FOR IMPLEMENTING THROUGH SAFETY INITIATIVES, TOBACCO PREVENTION PROGRAMS, A WIDE RANGE OF VERY HIGH PRIORITIES FOR THE SECOND, FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE ADMINISTRATION. AND RECENTLY, YOU HAVE INVOLVED DAY IN AND DAY OUT WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION AND DEFENSE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, WHICH IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THIS COUNTRY'S MOST SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMS EVER. YOU HAVE ENGAGED IN THESE MANY CRITICAL WAYS AND YOUR IMPACT HAS ALWAYS BEEN CONSTRUCTIVE FOR SEVERAL REASONS THAT I WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT. FIRST, YOUR LEGAL ABILITIES. I HAVE BEEN IN WASHINGTON FOR MANY YEARS, MAYBE MORE THAN I CARE TO ADMIT, AND I'VE WORKED IN CONGRESS AS BILL POINTED OUT, I'VE WORKED IN THE DEPARTMENT, I'VE WORKED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR HERE. AND IN ALL OF THESE CAPACITIES I HAVE SEEN LAWYERS IN MANY DIFFERENT FORUMS, I'VE SEEN THEM IN MANY DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES. THERE IS NO GROUP THAT IS BETTER THAN YOU. THERE IS NO SET OF LAWYERS WHO ARE MORE CAPABLE, WHO ARE MORE DEDICATED AND MORE DETERMINED THAN YOU ARE. SECONDLY, YOU HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERTISE WHICH MATCHES THE INCREDIBLY WIDE RANGE OF RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THIS DEPARTMENT HAS. TRULY, IT'S STAGGERING SOMETIMES WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE PROGRAMMATIC REACH WE HAVE AND THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE RUN. SO MUCH OF MAKING SURE WE HAVE INTEGRITY IN OUR PROGRAM, IS YOU. THAT YOU KEEP US ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR SUCCESS. THIRD, YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR DEPARTMENT'S MISSION, YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR SUCCESS AND MAYBE MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC SELF AND DELIVER NEEDED HUMAN SERVICES. YOUR UNDERSTANDING IS CRUCIAL TO OUR ABILITY BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES WE NEED TO TAKE NOVEL PATHS TO ADDRESS UNPRECEDENTED OR NOVEL PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES. AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE, NOT WITH THE ANSWER NO, BUT WITH A SOLUTION FOR HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. AND LAST, YOUR RESPONSIVENESS AND WORK ETHIC IN A VERY DEMANDING TIME. YOU KNOW, DURING THE CLINTON YEARS, I THOUGHT WE HAD A LOT OF WORK TO DO. HOW MANY OF YOU WERE HERE DURING THE CLINTON YEARS? THERE'S A ROOM FULL. I BET EVERY ONE OF US WOULD SAY WE HAVE FULL TIME JOBS. WE HAD A LOT TO DO DURING THOSE YEARS, BUT WE COULD HAVE QUIT AT LUNCH AND GONE HOME COMPARED TO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW. THE AMOUNT OF WORK, THE AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE ALL HAVE HAD, JUST TO REPEAT SOME OF THE THINGS. THE H1N1 EPIDEMIC, THE RECOVERY ACT, HAITI EVERYTHING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, ALL OF THESE THINGS, ALL OF THESE EFFORTS DEMANDED UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF TIME FROM ALL OF US, UNPRECEDENTED COOPERATION ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT. IT DEMANDED A WORK ETHIC WHICH CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. I USED TO THINK AFTER SIX MONTHS OR NINE MONTHS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT THINGS WOULD CALM DOWN. BUT YOU ALL KNOW BETTER. WE HAVE NOT SLOWED DOWN FOR A MOMENT. BUT THROUGH ALL OF THIS INCREDIBLY HARD WORK AND DEMANDING YOU HAVE MAINTAINED THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF WORK AND I HOPE YOU'VE ALSO MAINTAINED YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR. I CAN TELL YOU IT CERTAINLY FEELS THAT WAY AS I GO AROUND THE DEPARTMENT AND TALK WITH FOLKS. WE TALK A LOT ABOUT WORK LIKE BALANCE AND AT A TIME LIKE THIS WHEN EVERYONE IS BEING ASKED TO WORK SO HARD, IT IS SO IMPORTANT. BUT I WANT TO SAY, WITH THE DEEPEST SINCERITY, THAT THE SECRETARY RECOGNIZES THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY THAT WE'RE ASKING OF EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THIS DEPARTMENT AND JUST IS SO APPRECIATIVE FOR YOUR WORK AS ALL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE. PRESIDENT JOHN KENNEDY HAS SAID A NUMBER OF MEMORABLE THINGS ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE, AND I WANT TO END REMINDING YOU OF ONE OF THEM. HE SAID LET THE PUBLIC SERVICE BE A PROUD AND LIVELY CAREER. AND LET EVERY MAN AND WOMAN WHO WORKS IN ANY AREA OF OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IN ANY BRANCH AT ANY LEVEL BE ABLE TO SAY WITH PRIDE AND WITH HONOR IN FUTURE YEARS, I SERVED THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IN THAT HOUR OF OUR NATION'S NEED. EACH OF YOU AND OUR OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNCIL, HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE PROUD. YOU HAVE BUILT OVER MANY YEARS INSIDE THIS DEPARTMENT AND OUTSIDE ACROSS THIS CITY AND ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, A REPUTATION AND YOU'VE EARNED THAT REPUTATION THE OLD FASHION WAY. ONE DAY AT A TIME, ONE ISSUE AT A TIME, ONE OPINION AT A TIME, ONE MEETING AT A TIME. AND YOU'VE DONE IT WITH INTEGRITY, YOU'VE DONE IT WITH FIDELITY TO THE LAW. BUT YOU'VE DONE IT WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE A MISSION, AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WE ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION. SIMPLY PUT, OUR NATION AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE BETTER OFF EVERY DAY THAT YOU GUYS ARE AT WORK. I'M PROUD OF THE OFFICE OF GENERAL CAL COUNT AND I'M HONORED TO BE HERE AND HAVE A CHANCE TO SALUTE THE HONOREES TODAY BUT MORE IMPORTANT TO SALUTE THE OFFICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH AN EXCEPTIONAL ORGANIZATION. GOOD DAY. [APPLAUSE] >> I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING TO STAY FOR THE ENTIRE SERVICE, BUT YOU'LL FORGIVE ME FOR RUNNING OUT. BUT THANK YOU AND I HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENT. >> IS EVERYBODY READY? READY? OKAY. THE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AWARDS IS THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL'S HIGHEST AWARD RECOGNIZING SERVICE AND ACHIEVEMENTS DESERVING OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF RECOGNITION FOR MAJOR LONG TERM CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL. WILLIAM BIGLOW. GENERAL LAW DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] CHRISTINE BRADFIELD, REGION FOUR. [APPLAUSE] AL JAFFE, REGION 5. ACCEPTING FOR AL, IS AL DORN, CHIEF COUNSEL REGION FIVE. DONALD KOSIN, CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] JANUARY, LUNDELIUS REGION THREE. AX CEPTING FOR JAN IS JIM NEWMAN, CHIEF COUNSEL REGION THREE. [APPLAUSE] CLIFF PIERCE, REGION ONE. ACCEPTING FOR CLIFF IS NANCY NEMON. SHE'S COUNSEL REGION ONE. [APPLAUSE] >> SUSAN SHERMAN, PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] VICKI SCHULKIN, CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] DEDEBORAH TRESS. ACCEPT FOR DEB TRA TRESS IS -- PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION. THE LEADERSHIP AWARD. THE LEADERSHIP AWARD RECOGNIZES SIGNIFICANT MANAGEMENT SUCCESS THROUGH PERSONAL SERVICE AND EXAMPLE. DAN BARRY, GENERAL LAW DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] BUDDY FRYE, IMMEDIATE OFFICE, OFFICE OF LEGAL RESOURCES. [APPLAUSE] LARRY HARDER, CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] ROBERT MCGOLERICK, PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] WILLIAM RIVERA, CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND AGING DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] MICHAEL SHACHAT, REGION 9. ANN HALOGEN COUNSEL REGIO HALL IS ACCEPTIN G ON BEHALF OF MICHAEL. [APPLAUSE] MERVYMARIAMERVIN TURNER, REGION 6. [APPLAUSE] FAIFARRAH WHITE, REGION SIX. [APPLAUSE] EXCELLENCE IN LEGAL SERVICES AWARDS. THE EXCELLENCE AND LEGAL SERVICES AWARD RECOGNIZES THOSE DEMONSTRATING EXEMPLARY ABILITY, INITIATIVE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS ATTORNEYS. THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TITLE ONE IMPLEMENTATION TEAM. CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICARE SERVICES DIVISION. SHERRY LYNN BURKE, LYNN EGAN, BARBARA FISHER, MICHAEL KOLBER, DONALD KOSIN, VICKI SCHULKIN, TIFFANY SMITH AND LESLIE STAFFORD. [APPLAUSE] DANTE ANDERSON, REGION SIX. [APPLAUSE] MARILYN BLANFORD, GENERAL LAW DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] KATHY BRADLEY-NADER. ACCEPTING FOR KATHY IS PALM PARKER -- PAM PARKER, COUNSEL REGION TASK. [APPLAUSE] DUAL USE RESEARCH WORKING GROUP. MADEHA DASTGIR, JOSEPH FOSTER, CHRISTOPHER HAM UPPED, JAMES HOTEL, DAVID LANKFORD, PATRICIA MANTOAN, SUSAN SHERMAN AND GRETCHEN WEAVER, ETHICS DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] ETHICS PROGRAM COMPLOIN COMPLIANCE TEAM. JOHN CONDRAY, WAYNE JOHNSON, NAOMI MISKE. [APPLAUSE] INDIAN HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT, REAUTHORIZATION AND EXTENSION ACT IMPLEMENTATION TEAM. PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION. HILLARY COOPER. TAKE YOUR TIME, TAKE YOUR TIME. SEAN DOOLEY. JULIANNA FRISCH, STEPHANIE GRANLUND, MELISSA JAMISON, MICHELLE JOHNSON-WEB, HILLARY KEELIE, CHRISTINA MORROW, JULIA PIERCE, LOO LUKE VANDERWAGEN AND MICHAEL WOLF. [APPLAUSE] DAVID LANKFORD, PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION. MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY AND REFORM TEAM, CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES DIVISION. DANIEL AIBEL. BARBARA COLLINS AND JUDITH HARON. [APPLAUSE] JEROME MEITES REGION FIVE -- ACCEPTING ON BEHALF OF JEROME. [APPLAUSE] LISETTE MESTRE, CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND AGING DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] RACHEL PARK, REGION TWO, JOE LEARNER CHIEF COUNSEL REGION TWO ACCEPTING FOR RACHEL. [APPLAUSE] JAMES WOUL WALSH, REGION FIVE. [APPLAUSE] DANIEL WOLFE, REGION SIX. [APPLAUSE] CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION RECOGNIZE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MISSION OF THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL BY NON-INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS. -- ADAIR, GENERAL COUNSEL. [APPLAUSE] JENNIFER CAUS KENESTRA, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY. [APPLAUSE] SHERRY GLIED FOR PLANNING AND EVALUATION WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND. SECRETARY FOR PLANNING AND EVALUATION. SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECOGNIZES MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE MISSION OF THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL. ELIZABETH BENETTON, REGION FOUR. ACCEPTING FOR ELIZABETH IS DANA PETTI, CHIEF COUNSEL REGION FOUR. [APPLAUSE] DALE BERKLEY, PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] ANDREW CAPLAN, ETHICS DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] ALAN HOROWITZ. REGION THREE. ACCEPTING FOR ALAN IS JEAN NEWMAN, SHE'S COUNSEL REGION THREE. [APPLAUSE] DAVID HOSKINS, CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICARE SERVICES. [APPLAUSE] INTERNAL CONTROL REVIEW TEAM. IMMEDIATE OFFICE, OFFICE OF LEGAL RESOURCES. BRIAN BANAL, ARLENE LYLES AND GAIL WINN. [APPLAUSE] MARILOU KING, CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] MARYALICE KOZAK, REGION TWO. JOE LEARNER CHIEF COUNSEL REGION ACCEPTING FOR MARYALICE. [APPLAUSE] PATRICIA MANTOAN, GENERAL LAW DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] MEDICAL PRODUCT USER FEE AUTHORIZATION GROUP. WADE ACKERMAN, DON BEERS, FOOD AND DRUG DIVISION. JOSH BROWN, LEGISLATION DIVISION, NATHAN BROWN, FOOD AND DRUG DIVISION AND AMANDA HE HAD EDMONDS, FOOD AN FOOD AND DRUG DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] MEDICARE DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE ADJUSTMENT TEAM, CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES DIVISION. ROBERT BALDERSTON, DAVID HOSKINS, GERARD KEATING, TONY LIM AND MARK POLSTON. [APPLAUSE] NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE TEAM, PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION. CONSTANCE FOSTER. [APPLAUSE] RINA HAKIMIAN AND DAVID NAIMON. [APPLAUSE] WORLD TRADE CENTER HEALTH PROGRAM TEAM, PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION. BRANDY ANDERSON. [APPLAUSE] EMILY HOWELL, ALICE KELLEY, PAULA KOCHER, ROBERT MCGOLERICK, MICHAEL RAFKY AND KATHRY CAT KATHARINE WINGERT. [APPLAUSE] CERTIFICATES OF COMMENDATION. SCUTSZ OF COMMENDATION RECOGNIZE UNUSUAL AND EXEMPLARY DEDICATION TO LOYALTY AND EFFECTIVENESS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE MISSION OF THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL. AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IMPLEMENTATION TEAM CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICARE SERVICES. JULIE BURNS, HOWARD COHEN, ROBERT KAUFMANN, HOWARD LEWIS AND DAWN POPP. [APPLAUSE] LOUIS ALTARESMENSCU, CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] CONTRACT SUPPORT COST LITIGATION TEAM. BARBARA ALLMAN, KATHY BRADLEY NADER, REGION 10. LAWALANLANA CHOI, JAMES CRIBARI, MARGARET CROW ROSENFELD, CLAIRE CHAZAL, SEAN DULY, GARY FAHLSTEDT, DOUG FERGUSON, JULIANNA FRISCH, JAY FURTICK, FRED GARZINO, CRAIG HERKAL, THERESE HICKEY, MELISSA JAMISON, MIRANDA JONES, PAULA LEE, SHARA MICHIGAMICHALKA, MARIAN NEALON, HOLLY PARKS, MICHAEL SHACHAT, LUKE VANDERWAGEN, MARION WANLESS AND FARRAH WHITE. [APPLAUSE] FEDERAL MEDICAL CARE RECOVERY ACT FMCRA TEAM. GARY FAHLSTEDT AND LARRY LIEU SIMANOVI -- AND MARY LOU SINAMOVICR. [APPLAUSE] FOOD AND DRUG DIVISION. DONALD BEERS. ABIGAIL BRANDER. TOM COSGROVE, KIM DETTELBACH, SHOSHANA HUTCHINSON, MARCI NORTON, MARK SCHWARTZ, MICHAEL STERN, PAIGE TAYLOR, SCROOL YEAH TYRANNY, MARYLL TOUFANIAN, MUSTAFA UNLU, SONAL VAID AND WEND OR VICENTE. [APPLAUSE] JINO MATHEWS. MEDICARE SECONDARY PERITONEUM, REGION FOUR. GARY KURZ. AUDREY WILLIAMS. ACCEPTING ON BEHALF IS DANA PETTI, CHIEF COUNSEL, REGION FOUR. [APPLAUSE] MODE CARE SHARED SAVINGS PROGRAM TEAM CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES DIVISION. VICTORIA CORKE, JOAN DAILEY, LYNN EAGAN AND SCOTT STRICKLAND. [APPLAUSE] FERNANDO MORALES, READGES TWO. JOE LEARNER CHIEF COUNSEL REGION TWO ACCEPTING ON BEHALF OF FERNANDO. [APPLAUSE] REGION ADMINISTRATIVE POINTS OF CONTACT, OGC REGIONAL OFFICES. AMY BRENNER, FRANKIE GREEN, JOYCE IRVIN, TARA JORDAN, MARY MCGILL, DEBRA OSBORNE, IVETTE OATH ROW, TRACEY PON, JANICE ROSIAK AND LESLIE WREDEN. [APPLAUSE] DANA PETTI FOR REGION FOUR. D THOMAS FOR REGION SIX, PAM PARKER FOR REGION EIGHT, NANCY NEMON FOR REGION ONE, JOE LEARNER, REGION TWO AND PAUL REGION NINE, ALAN DONOR REGION FIVE AND PAM PARKER REGION 10. [APPLAUSE] SNROWSH TRACY THOMAS, OFFICE OF LEGAL RESOURCES OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL. [APPLAUSE] TITLE 42 REVIEW TEAM. GENERAL LAW DIVISION. JENNIFER BLAKE, TRENTON BOWEN. [APPLAUSE] JULIAN TREADWELL, REGION SIX, THOMPSON REGION SIX ACCEPTING ON HIS BEHALF. WHITE OAK MOVE COORDINATION GROUP FOOD AND DRUG DIVISION. KELLEY BISER, SHARON BLANCHE AND LAUREN SAYER. [APPLAUSE] EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. TANYA EPPS. ACCEPTING ON HER BEHALF -- PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION. [APPLAUSE] I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THESE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS ARE HERE BUT I SHOULD ANNOUNCE AT LEAST THOSE LAKE THE SERVICE AWARDS. AND SO WE'LL INVITE FOLKS UP, IF YOU'RE HERE. YOU'LL SEE IN YOUR PROGRAM WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MILESTONES TO HIGHLIGHT. 40 YEARS, DAVE PANOR. [APPLAUSE] DAVE BENOR. [APPLAUSE] ALICE KELLEY. [APPLAUSE] NANCY NEMON. [APPLAUSE] THE 30 YEAR MILESTONE, BARBARA ALTMAN. [APPLAUSE] CHRISTINE BRADFIELD. [APPLAUSE] BOB KEATS. [APPLAUSE] PAMELA MARTIN. [APPLAUSE] BARBARA MCGAREY. [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] DANA PETTI. [APPLAUSE] AND JOE STEIN. [APPLAUSE] THE 20 YEAR MILESTONE. JONATHAN BAKER. ANGELA BELGROVE. [APPLAUSE] EDITH BLACKWELL. [APPLAUSE] JAN BROWN. [APPLAUSE] CHRISTOPHER BUTLER. MARGARET CORDOVA, DEBRA DECENTIS. CONSTANCE FOSTER. [APPLAUSE] FORTY THRE JORDAN, ANNETTELY LEVEY, DIANA MARK, JUST LYNN MENDELSOHN, SHARON MICHALKA AND PAMELA PARKER. [APPLAUSE] HANANNA RIVERS, MARILYN -- AMY AND DANA WYCHE-ADAMS. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU DAVID. THAT WAS TERRIFIC. [APPLAUSE] SO MY LAST DUTY, WHICH I DO WITH PLEASURE -- FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO THANK FOUR PHOTOGRAPHER, CHRIS SMITH. HE'S THE BEST. [APPLAUSE] AND THEN I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK THE VOLUNTEERS WHO DID ALL THE WORK FOR THIS CEREMONY, FOR THE RECEPTION THAT'S GOING TO FOLLOW. SHARYL ZIEGLER RAGLAND, ANITA MORRIS, TRACY MARLAND, TRACY THOMAS, COR CORA -- AND MICHAEL BANTON. THANK YOU ALL. [APPLAUSE] AND NOW THERE'S THE ONE TIME WE'RE ALLOWED TO BUY FOOD IS FOR AN AWARD CEREMONY. SO WE HAVE FOOD. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.