Thank you to our 2012 Honorees:
Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (PA)
Prior to entering the Senate, Robert P. Casey, Jr. served Pennsylvanians for eight years as the Pennsylvania Auditor General and for two years as State Treasurer. Since entering the Senate in 2007, Senator Casey has emerged as a nationally recognized advocate for children, and has been a strong voice on five Senate committees: Foreign Relations; Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Health, education, Labor and Pensions; the Special Committee on Aging; and the Joint Economic Committee.
Senator Casey is a longtime member of the Congressional MS Caucus and beginning in the 112th Congress, rose to serve as Co-Chair. He has served as the primary sponsor of the MS Awareness Week Resolution, is an ardent supporter of the Lifespan Respite Care Program, and has co-sponsored the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act (formerly the Registry Act, S. 425). Senator Casey understands the value of research and has supported funding for MS research in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) and has led efforts for increased funding for the National Institutes of Health.
Senator Casey and his staff have formed effective working relationships with the Pennsylvania chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, have championed progressive ideas, and have led formal efforts that will advance the rights and well-being of people living with MS.
Senator Casey and his wife, Terese, were married in 1985 and live in Scranton, Pennsylvania with their four daughters: Elyse, Caroline, Julia, and Marena. Senator Casey is the eldest son of the late Governor Robert P. Casey and his wife, Ellen. Throughout his public career, Bob Casey has been guided by the legacy of his father, and the principle that: “All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor.”
Representative Lee Terry (NE-2)
After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and receiving his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law, Terry did legal work in civil matters and served as a member of Omaha’s City Council. During this time, he held the position of Omaha City Council Vice President for two years and later led the Council for two years as its President. He was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 1998 and proudly serves Nebraska’s Second District.
Congressman Terry is a member of the Congressional MS Caucus. Additionally, he supported enactment of the Lifespan Respite Care Program (LRCP) in 2006. The program is currently up for reauthorization, and Congressman Terry has co-sponsored the reauthorization bill, H.R. 3266. He is also a co-sponsor of the National Neurological Diseases Surveillance System Act (H.R. 2595).
Congressman Terry is a key member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee which has jurisdiction over many critical programs and areas supporting people with MS including Medicaid, biomedical research, the Lifespan Respite Care Program, and many long-term care issues. He currently serves as the Vice-Chair of both the Communications and Technology and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittees.
Congressman Terry is the co-chairman of the Impact Aid Coalition, a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, and serves as the Chair of the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine.
While Congressman Terry’s demanding schedule keeps him working long days and nights in Washington, D.C., once each week’s votes are over, he looks forward to being back in Omaha with his wife Robyn and their three sons: Nolan, Ryan, and Jack.