Floor SpeechNeutral2025-03-14

HONORING ELEANOR "ELDIE" ACHESON

TaxesEnvironmentForeign PolicyLGBTQ+Civil Rights

Context

On 2025-03-14, Representative William R. Keating (D-MA-9) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING ELEANOR "ELDIE" ACHESON" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, foreign policy.

Full Text

HONORING ELEANOR "ELDIE" ACHESON

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 49 (Friday, March 14, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 49 (Friday, March 14, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E214-E215] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING ELEANOR ``ELDIE'' ACHESON ______ HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING of massachusetts in the house of representatives Friday, March 14, 2025 Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Eleanor ``Eldie'' Acheson, who retired from Amtrak on February 1, 2025, after 18 years of service to our country's passenger rail system. Coming from a long line of public servants, Eldie's family instilled in her the value of public service and an appreciation for her country from a young age. Eldie's father, David Campion Acheson, worked as an attorney for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and later as a U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Her grandfather, Dean Acheson, served as Secretary of State under President Truman. Her great- grandfather, Louis Stanley, was a railroad attorney. Eldie's family history also includes painters, such as her grandmother, Alice Acheson, and great-great-grandfather, John Mix Stanley, the renowned painter of Native American life in the West. The principles of service and advocacy are values that Eldie has carried with her over the years. Throughout her career, Eldie strove to create greater opportunities for women and other underrepresented groups, dating back to her time as an undergraduate student at Wellesley College. Prior to 1969, Wellesley College never had a student commencement speaker. Although Wellesley's commencements included remarks by college administrators and special guests, students were not granted the opportunity to address their peers during graduation. Eldie spearheaded efforts to have a student commencement speaker. Despite facing opposition from administrators, Eldie's efforts ultimately proved successful, and her class was the first in Wellesley College's history to have a student commencement speaker. That speaker was then student- [[Page E215]] body president and future Secretary of State, U.S. Senator, and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. Eldie's remarkable career was one of many firsts as she continuously broke down barriers. After graduating from George Washington University Law School, Eldie became the first female Associate, and later Partner, at the Boston-based law firm Ropes & Gray and served as the founding Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the nation's first LGBTQ civil rights advocacy organization. In 1993, President Clinton appointed Eldie as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Justice, where she helped expand the number of female federal judges by over 80 percent. For her work, Eldie was awarded the American Bar Association's Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award. In 2007, Eldie began her tenure as General Counsel at Amtrak, where she sought to improve passenger experience, rail accessibility, and workplace inclusiveness. She played a key role in the creation of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) of 2008, which directed Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration to develop minimum standards for passenger train on-time performance. Eldie also championed a company-wide effort to ensure Amtrak stations complied with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her work led to new training for front-line employees and clear guidelines for Amtrak's ADA Stations Program. Additionally, Eldie sat on Amtrak's Executive Diversity Council, setting the strategic direction for diversity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives, and served as an executive sponsor of Express Pride, Amtrak's Employee Resource Group for LGBTQ+ employees and allies. On February 1, 2025, Eldie retired from Amtrak, leaving behind a legacy and career highlighted by her commitment to expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups, improving passenger rail, and continuing her family's legacy of public service. I wish Eldie many years of well-deserved happiness in retirement to spend hiking, playing tennis, and sailing on Cape Cod with her family and her wife, Emily. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Eldie Acheson, and I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing Eldie's career and thanking her for her years of service. ____________________

View original source →

HONORING ELEANOR "ELDIE" ACHESON Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 49 (Friday, March 14, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 49 (Friday, March 14, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E214-E215] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING ELEANOR ``ELDIE'' ACHESON ______ HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING of massachusetts in the house of representatives Friday, March 14, 2025 Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Eleanor ``Eldie'' Acheson, who retired from Amtrak on February 1, 2025, after 18 years of service to our country's passenger rail system. Coming from a long line of public servants, Eldie's family instilled in her the value of public service and an appreciation for her country from a young age. Eldie's father, David Campion Acheson, worked as an attorney for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and later as a U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Her grandfather, Dean Acheson, served as Secretary of State under President Truman. Her great- grandfather, Louis Stanley, was a railroad attorney. Eldie's family history also includes painters, such as her grandmother, Alice Acheson, and great-great-grandfather, John Mix Stanley, the renowned painter of Native American life in the West. The principles of service and advocacy are values that Eldie has carried with her over the years. Throughout her career, Eldie strove to create greater opportunities for women and other underrepresented groups, dating back to her time as an undergraduate student at Wellesley College. Prior to 1969, Wellesley College never had a student commencement speaker. Although Wellesley's commencements included remarks by college administrators and special guests, students were not granted the opportunity to address their peers during graduation. Eldie spearheaded efforts to have a student commencement speaker. Despite facing opposition from administrators, Eldie's efforts ultimately proved successful, and her class was the first in Wellesley College's history to have a student commencement speaker. That speaker was then student- [[Page E215]] body president and future Secretary of State, U.S. Senator, and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. Eldie's remarkable career was one of many firsts as she continuously broke down barriers. After graduating from George Washington University Law School, Eldie became the first female Associate, and later Partner, at the Boston-based law firm Ropes & Gray and served as the founding Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the nation's first LGBTQ civil rights advocacy organization. In 1993, President Clinton appointed Eldie as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Justice, where she helped expand the number of female federal judges by over 80 percent. For her work, Eldie was awarded the American Bar Association's Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award. In 2007, Eldie began her tenure as General Counsel at Amtrak, where she sought to improve passenger experience, rail accessibility, and workplace inclusiveness. She played a key role in the creation of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) of 2008, which directed Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration to develop minimum standards for passenger train on-time performance. Eldie also championed a company-wide effort to ensure Amtrak stations complied with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her work led to new training for front-line employees and clear guidelines for Amtrak's ADA Stations Program. Additionally, Eldie sat on Amtrak's Executive Diversity Council, setting the strategic direction for diversity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives, and served as an executive sponsor of Express Pride, Amtrak's Employee Resource Group for LGBTQ+ employees and allies. On February 1, 2025, Eldie retired from Amtrak, leaving behind a legacy and career highlighted by her commitment to expanding opportunities for underrepresented groups, improving passenger rail, and continuing her family's legacy of public service. I wish Eldie many years of well-deserved happiness in retirement to spend hiking, playing tennis, and sailing on Cape Cod with her family and her wife, Emily. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Eldie Acheson, and I ask that my colleagues join me in recognizing Eldie's career and thanking her for her years of service. ____________________