By Paul R. Pace, News staff
Retired congressman and social worker Edolphus “Ed” Towns said he will continue to champion social work policy and aid U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., as she leads the next chapter of the Social Work Caucus in the 113th Congress.
Eldophus “Ed” Towns, who recently retired from the U.S. House of Representatives after 30 years, stands with Washington, D.C., Congressional Delegate Elanor Holmes Norton at his Dec. 6 retirement reception on Capitol Hill.
NASW and the Council on Social Work Education hosted a retirement reception for Towns on Capitol Hill on Dec. 6. The New York Democrat retired at the close of the 112th Congress, marking 30 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives. Towns founded the Congressional Social Work Caucus in 2011 and served as its first chairman.
Towns told attendees at his retirement reception that Lee’s social work training and experience will enhance her role as the new leader of the caucus.
“I plan to work closely with her,” Towns said. “She is so committed to making certain to get the message out to the people of the nation. And she has fantastic ideas that you will be proud of.”
At the reception, NASW President Jeane Anastas announced that the NASW Foundation selected Towns as an NASW Social Work Pioneer®.
“The Pioneer program was created to honor the top, most influential social workers across the country,” Anastas said. “This group includes historic luminaries including Jane Addams and Frances Perkins, as well as practitioners who have made significant contributions to our profession.”
Anastas said Towns’ work in Congress will serve as a model for future generations of social workers interested in the policy field, as well as those eager to serve in public office.
“As the congressman has often said, we know that Capitol Hill would benefit greatly from the efforts and expertise of professional social workers,” Anastas said.
From the February 2013 NASW News. NASW members click here for the full story.
