Floor SpeechBipartisan2026-01-22

HONORING MARY ANN NIHART

HealthcareTaxesEnvironmentCrime & JusticeVeteransInfrastructure

Context

On 2026-01-22, Representative Sam T. Liccardo (D-CA-16) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING MARY ANN NIHART" in the House. The speech addressed healthcare and also covered taxes, the environment.

Full Text

HONORING MARY ANN NIHART

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 15 (Thursday, January 22, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 15 (Thursday, January 22, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E66-E67] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING MARY ANN NIHART ______ HON. SAM T. LICCARDO of pennsylvania in the house of representatives Thursday, January 22, 2026 Mr. LICCARDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Congressman Kevin Mullin, to recognize the life and contributions of Mary Ann Nihart, a dedicated public servant, mental health leader, and nurse, whose lifelong commitment to healing and community uplifted countless lives across Pacifica, California and beyond. Her work left an indelible mark on those she served. Mary Ann's career in nursing and mental health spanned decades of compassionate care and innovative leadership. She began her service with the San Mateo County Health Department, providing community mental health support, and later joined the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where she rose to become the Clinical Director and Chief Nurse of Mental Health Services. In this role, she helped countless veterans receive outstanding psychiatric care. A recognized expert in her field, Mary Ann co-authored the national VA Integrated Mental Health guidelines to improve coordinated care for service members [[Page E67]] and veterans. She also played a key role in national suicide prevention initiatives, contributing to programs like the National Action Alliance's Crisis Now standards for crisis care. She also held leadership positions in professional organizations, serving as President of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and even being honored as APNA's Psychiatric Nurse of the Year in 2012. Through these roles, Mary Ann Nihart helped shape mental health policy and practice on a national level, always driven by a passion to save lives and support those in need. In addition to her clinical career, Mary Ann served the people of Pacifica as an elected official. She was first elected to the Pacifica City Council in 2008 and went on to serve eight years, including two terms as Mayor in 2011 and 2014. She was a hands-on, visionary leader who championed public engagement and collaborative governance. Mary Ann re-instituted the ``Mayor's Walks'' to personally connect local business owners with City Hall, and she reinstated Pacifica's Economic Development Committee to spur growth and revitalization. She spearheaded beautification initiatives that transformed neglected areas of the city, and under her leadership Pacifica even earned distinction as a finalist among the most scenic cities in America. Her tireless commitment to her hometown improved the quality of life in this wonderful coastal community for residents and delighted visitors. As a city leader with deep expertise in mental health. Mary Ann also broke new ground in bridging public safety and healthcare. She worked closely with local law enforcement to provide additional education and to reform police training for encounters with people in mental health crisis. She taught trauma-informed response techniques and expanded mental health content in officer training throughout San Mateo County. Mary Ann continually strove to bring community members together and heal divides, leveraging her professional knowledge to build understanding between police and the mental health community. This collaborative approach not only made Pacifica safer and more empathetic, but also exemplified the kind of inclusive, solution- focused governance she believed in. Her colleagues and constituents knew her as a leader with a big heart and a ready smile, always willing to listen, educate, and find common ground for the public good. In every facet of her life, Mary Ann Nihart embodied courage, kindness, and an unwavering dedication to others. She was a healer, a mentor, and a bridge-builder. She guided veterans toward hope and healing, strengthened the nursing profession through her mentorship and example, and made her community of Pacifica a better and more compassionate place for all. Though we mourn the loss of this extraordinary woman, we also celebrate a legacy that will continue to inspire. I offer my deepest condolences to her family, her friends, and all who were blessed to know her. ____________________

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HONORING MARY ANN NIHART Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 15 (Thursday, January 22, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 15 (Thursday, January 22, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E66-E67] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING MARY ANN NIHART ______ HON. SAM T. LICCARDO of pennsylvania in the house of representatives Thursday, January 22, 2026 Mr. LICCARDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Congressman Kevin Mullin, to recognize the life and contributions of Mary Ann Nihart, a dedicated public servant, mental health leader, and nurse, whose lifelong commitment to healing and community uplifted countless lives across Pacifica, California and beyond. Her work left an indelible mark on those she served. Mary Ann's career in nursing and mental health spanned decades of compassionate care and innovative leadership. She began her service with the San Mateo County Health Department, providing community mental health support, and later joined the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where she rose to become the Clinical Director and Chief Nurse of Mental Health Services. In this role, she helped countless veterans receive outstanding psychiatric care. A recognized expert in her field, Mary Ann co-authored the national VA Integrated Mental Health guidelines to improve coordinated care for service members [[Page E67]] and veterans. She also played a key role in national suicide prevention initiatives, contributing to programs like the National Action Alliance's Crisis Now standards for crisis care. She also held leadership positions in professional organizations, serving as President of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and even being honored as APNA's Psychiatric Nurse of the Year in 2012. Through these roles, Mary Ann Nihart helped shape mental health policy and practice on a national level, always driven by a passion to save lives and support those in need. In addition to her clinical career, Mary Ann served the people of Pacifica as an elected official. She was first elected to the Pacifica City Council in 2008 and went on to serve eight years, including two terms as Mayor in 2011 and 2014. She was a hands-on, visionary leader who championed public engagement and collaborative governance. Mary Ann re-instituted the ``Mayor's Walks'' to personally connect local business owners with City Hall, and she reinstated Pacifica's Economic Development Committee to spur growth and revitalization. She spearheaded beautification initiatives that transformed neglected areas of the city, and under her leadership Pacifica even earned distinction as a finalist among the most scenic cities in America. Her tireless commitment to her hometown improved the quality of life in this wonderful coastal community for residents and delighted visitors. As a city leader with deep expertise in mental health. Mary Ann also broke new ground in bridging public safety and healthcare. She worked closely with local law enforcement to provide additional education and to reform police training for encounters with people in mental health crisis. She taught trauma-informed response techniques and expanded mental health content in officer training throughout San Mateo County. Mary Ann continually strove to bring community members together and heal divides, leveraging her professional knowledge to build understanding between police and the mental health community. This collaborative approach not only made Pacifica safer and more empathetic, but also exemplified the kind of inclusive, solution- focused governance she believed in. Her colleagues and constituents knew her as a leader with a big heart and a ready smile, always willing to listen, educate, and find common ground for the public good. In every facet of her life, Mary Ann Nihart embodied courage, kindness, and an unwavering dedication to others. She was a healer, a mentor, and a bridge-builder. She guided veterans toward hope and healing, strengthened the nursing profession through her mentorship and example, and made her community of Pacifica a better and more compassionate place for all. Though we mourn the loss of this extraordinary woman, we also celebrate a legacy that will continue to inspire. I offer my deepest condolences to her family, her friends, and all who were blessed to know her. ____________________