[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 88 (Monday, July 10, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING JEFFREY D. THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 10, 2006

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jeffrey D. Thomas of 
Oakland, California for his extraordinary service to California's 9th 
U.S. Congressional District. Following his work in the areas of 
politics, finance, and community development, Jeffrey served as the 
District Director in my Oakland District Office from January 2004 until 
June 2006. During that time, Jeffrey played an integral role as a 
leading member of my staff, and his enthusiasm for public service has 
brought a heightened sense of purpose to my office.
  Jeffrey was born in Mississippi in 1963, in the midst of the social 
and political upheaval that marked life in the American South during 
the Civil Rights Movement. The son of a minister and a teacher, at an 
early age Jeffrey developed a keen awareness of the social conditions 
affecting his family and his community, and of the struggles faced by 
African Americans in the fight for civil rights. He recounts as a 
formative moment in his childhood the occasion when he saw one of my 
personal and professional mentors, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, on 
television for the first time, a moment that was so significant for him 
not only because of how inspired he was by her speech, but because of 
his amazement at the sight of another African American on television, 
which was a rare occurrence at the time.
  Another part of his background that would shape his life in the years 
ahead was his involvement in the Head Start Program, a comprehensive 
childcare and development initiative for children in low-income 
families, funded by federal grants and matching money from local 
entities in communities across the country. Not only was Jeffrey a Head 
Start child himself, but his parents both worked with the program for a 
number of years while he was growing up. Furthermore, this program has 
remained a part of his life until the present, as he has gone on to 
represent my office on the local Head Start advisory board in Oakland.
  After growing up in Mississippi, Nebraska, and Alabama, Jeffrey moved 
to Massachusetts, where he attended Brandeis University. Following his 
graduation, he began working in real estate, but was soon drawn to 
government and public service, accepting a job in the office of Senator 
Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, a position in which he worked on 
international finance, economic development and constituent services. 
Following his time there, he continued his work in the financial 
sector, serving as part of the Mortgage Bankers' Association, William 
Morris, and as a bank Vice President. After relocating to California to 
work with a startup software company, Jeffrey became increasingly 
involved in community development initiatives in the San Francisco Bay 
Area, serving on entities such as the Alameda Point Collaborative and 
the boards of local non-profit organizations.
  Jeffrey became the District Director in my Oakland District Office in 
January 2004, and did an excellent job of bringing his experience in 
Senator Kennedy's office as well as in the areas of finance, media, 
project management and staff management to bear on his service to the 
9th Congressional District. Under his leadership an exceptional staff 
has been developed, and numerous initiatives in the areas of crime 
prevention, economic development, affordable housing, environmental 
protection, and poverty eradication have been introduced and 
successfully executed by my office. Of particular note has been his 
leadership on the Criminal Records Remedies program in my district, 
through which more than 2,000 non-violent criminal records have been 
dismissed in only 12 months, allowing thousands of formerly 
incarcerated individuals the opportunity to obtain employment, housing, 
and the chance to successfully complete their reentry into society.
  Jeffrey's service has been distinguished not only by his exceptional 
work ethic, but also his commitment to the people of California's 9th 
U.S. Congressional District. Today, Jeffrey's colleagues, friends, and 
wife Rachel will come together to celebrate his innumerable 
contributions to our community. On this very special day, I join all of 
them in thanking and saluting Jeffrey Thomas for his invaluable service 
to California's 9th U.S. Congressional District, and to wish him the 
very best as he begins the next chapter of his ``spirit filled'' life.




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