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 1994.
10.18 :  Congressional Affairs Director

Contact:  Phil Gambino or Tom Margenau      410-965-8904                        October 18, 1994             

               CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR 
               APPOINTED AT SOCIAL SECURITY

     Judy L. Chesser, an attorney and member of the District of
Columbia Bar, has been selected to direct the Social Security
Administration's legislative and congressional activities.  Her
appointment as associate commissioner for legislation and
congressional affairs was recently announced by HHS Secretary 
Donna E. Shalala and Commissioner of Social Security Shirley Chater.

     Prior to this post, Ms. Chesser served as director of New York
City's Washington office for the past 10 years.  Before becoming
director, she was the legislative representative for health and
human services issues in that office.  Ms. Chesser had previously
served in the federal government as a special assistant to the
assistant secretary for legislation in HHS and held a similar
position with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  She
began her government career as an attorney in the General Counsel's
Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  

     "Ms. Chesser's background and experience make her ideally
suited for this important position," said Secretary Shalala.  "Her
first big task will be to help direct SSA's transition to an
independent agency."  Shalala referred to a law recently signed by
President Clinton that removes SSA and its 65,000 employees from HHS
and makes it an autonomous agency effective March 31, 1995.

     Commissioner Chater also sees other important roles for her new
associate.  "Ms. Chesser will be working closely with Congress on
various bills that will help us improve our disability and other
programs with a goal of making all Social Security programs as fair,
equitable and cost effective as possible," Chater said.

     Ms. Chesser is a graduate of Syracuse University and received
her law degree from Boston College where she graduated with honors
and was a member of the Law Review. 

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