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• disability rights, especially "most integrated setting" enforcement;
• civil rights enforcement in the welfare reform
• context; and
• ensuring nondiscrimination in adoption and foster care.

I have an ambitious agenda for OCR because I believe that OCR can and should be a strong voice for the civil rights of millions of vulnerable people. Strengthening our ability to investigate, resolve and prevent civil rights violations will require input from advocacy groups, from citizens, and from the public and private entities that receive HHS funds. To that end, please feel free to call me if there are issues you wish to pursue with this office, or if your organization is planning a conference, workshop or meeting where you believe OCR's participation would be useful. I look forward to working with all of you.

Spotlight on: Thomas E. Perez

• Civil Rights Division, U. S. Department of Justice (DOJ), 1989-1999
• Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, 1998-1999
• Special Counsel to Senator Edward Kennedy (detailed from DOJ), 1995-1998
• Deputy Chief, Criminal Section, Civil Rights Division, DOJ, 1994-1995
• Trial Attorney, Criminal Section, Civil Rights Division, DOJ, 1989-1994
• 996 Attorney General's Award for Distinguished Service
• Law Clerk for Judge Zita L. Weinshienk, U.S. District Court, Denver, Colorado
• J.D., cum laude, Harvard Law School; Masters in Public Policy, Harvard; B.A.,
• Brown University

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