IN CELEBRATION OF MARY N. LONG'S 76TH BIRTHDAY

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my
sincerest congratulations and Happy Birthday wishes to an extraordinary
nurse, activist, advocate, and pioneer, Ms. Mary N. Long, who is
celebrating her 76th birthday on Monday, June 26, 2017. On this day,
there will be a celebration at Paschal's Restaurant in Atlanta,
Georgia.

Mary N. Long was born in Guthrie, Kentucky in 1941. She moved to
Atlanta in 1960 to attend the Grady Memorial Hospital's School of
Nursing and went on to graduate in 1963. Soon after, Mary embarked on
what would become a distinguished career. Starting as an ambulatory
care nurse at Grady, she gained extensive experience while volunteering
at Atlanta's free clinics and assisting local health organizations. She
soon became an influential figure at Grady, developing the hospital's
satellite clinics while at the forefront of Grady's participation in
Economic Opportunity Atlanta's health affairs to reach the greater
Atlanta community.

In 1971, Mary developed and became the first Coordinator of the
Central Referral Department at Grady. This program provided both
information resources for those unfamiliar with the hospital system and
advocacy within the community regarding policies and procedures so that
proper treatment was readily available for patients. Her dedication and
devotion built the program from the ground up and her work reflected
such.

While working at Grady, she became involved with the Georgia Nurses
Association (GNA), and its philanthropic organization, Georgia Nurses
Foundation (GNF). As an active member and chairperson of GNA's
Government Affairs Commission, Mary became the first minority woman to
be their advocate at the Georgia legislature. In 1981, Mary was the
first African American to be elected as the President of GNA where she
served two terms. As a member of the City of Atlanta's Homeless Task
Force, she was instrumental in the partnership between GNF and the city that led to the
establishment of Atlanta's first clinic for homeless.

In 1985, Mary Long became the Vice President for Legislative Affairs
for the Arthritis Foundation and was later promoted to the Foundation's
Group Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy in 1996. In
addition, she was elected to the American Nurses Association (ANA)
Board of Directors and served as ANA's Second Vice President.

While Mary has made tremendous contributions to health care issues,
she also made great strides in other areas. For example, she was active
in the movement to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in Georgia. She has
an extensive record of service at the local, regional, and national
levels. Her work has transcended through organizations such as the
YMCA, Atlanta Food Bank, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, and the Atlanta
Women's Foundation. She has received numerous awards for her
groundbreaking innovation, actions, and creative thoughts. As an active
member of her church, Trinity United Methodist in Atlanta, she has held
onto her faith the entire journey.

As a friend of long standing, I have had the great privilege of
witnessing Mary's work and the impact she has had on our state and
nation. She has established a legacy of providing support for
underrepresented groups on health care issues and I am very grateful
for her tireless advocacy to improve the health care system in Georgia
as well as her steadfast support for patients and their families. A
woman of great integrity, her efforts, her dedication, and her
expertise in her field are unparalleled.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives
to join me and my wife, Vivian, in honoring an outstanding citizen,
advocate, and cherished friend, Ms. Mary N. Long, for the inspiring
life that she leads. We extend our best wishes to her as she, her
family, and friends celebrate her 75th birthday.