[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 70 (Friday, May 9, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E734-E735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING MICHELLE MILLBEN

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 9, 2014

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to take this opportunity to thank 
one of the most dedicated members of my Judiciary Committee staff, 
Michelle Millben, for her service to both the Committee and the House 
of Representatives. This month she will be leaving to join the White 
House in the Office of Presidential Personnel as the Outreach and 
Recruitment Director (Congressional Affairs).
  To say that Michelle is a multi-talented attorney would be an 
understatement. A native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Michelle received 
her Bachelor's degree in Music Performance, with honors in the violin 
and piano, from Oklahoma City University. Her musical talent is 
evidenced by a strong performance resume, impressively amassed while 
pursuing her legal education. She has performed in gospel choirs 
backing up Bruce Springsteen's Super Bowl halftime show and also sang 
at concerts for President Obama on the National Mall and at his first 
inauguration. In addition, Michelle has appeared as a choral singer in 
TNT's ``Christmas In Washington'' and participated as a vocal performer 
in the annual Kennedy Center Honors, providing background vocals 
alongside music legends such as Sting, James Taylor, Mavis Staples, 
Steven Tyler, Carrie Underwood, Heart, and Garth Brooks.
  Michelle realized a longstanding dream of coming to Washington by 
studying at the Georgetown University Law Center as a visiting student 
during her third year of law school. She was ultimately awarded her 
Juris Doctor from The University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2009 and 
joined the Committee staff that fall. Michelle has served as a key 
resource to Members and staff on both sides of the aisle. While working 
as an Oversight Counsel, Michelle focused on such issues as the 
foreclosure crisis, the Fair Housing Act, and oversight of the 
Department of Justice. After our transition to the minority, Michelle's 
portfolio grew to encompass matters impacting women and women's health, 
civil rights, voting rights, human rights, election administration, and 
campaign finance. Michelle had significant staff responsibility for 
important pieces of legislation, most notably the National Defense 
Reauthorization Act of 2011 (H.R. 1540), the Voting Rights Act 
Amendments of 2014 (H.R. 3899), and a number of significant civil 
rights bills that have promising bipartisan support. Michelle has also 
worked to spearhead efforts around the filing of amicus briefs on 
behalf of Members of the House Judiciary Committee in the landmark 
Supreme Court cases of Shelby County v. Holder and McCutcheon v. FEC.
  While her work on the Judiciary Committee staff clearly evidences a 
strong commitment to Federal service, Michelle has also taken the time 
to focus on service to youth and families in her newly adopted home 
state of Virginia and the City of Alexandria. Michelle currently serves 
as a Commissioner for the City's Redevelopment and Housing Authority, 
which strives to provide affordable housing and economic opportunity 
for city residents, and also serves on the Board of Directors for the 
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington's DC region. As an Associate 
Minister at the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church, Michelle also 
directs children's programs during the summer for the congregation's 
Vacation Bible School which gathers almost 1,000 people nightly during 
one week in June, while also leading music ministry to hundreds of 
students during their weekly Tuesday bible study at the church.
  Michelle's energy and dedication to community service have not gone 
unnoticed. She was accepted into the Political Leaders Program Class of 
2014 at the bipartisan Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership in 
Virginia. Michelle has been awarded the Dawn Lawson Leadership 
Development Award from the Virginia Leadership Institute, and was also

[[Page E735]]

awarded the Oliver Hill Award for Social Activism by the National Black 
Law Students Association for her efforts in battling against social 
injustices.
  On behalf of the Judiciary Committee, its staff, and this 
distinguished body, I would like to thank Michelle for her exemplary 
work, generosity, sense of humor, and loyalty over the past five years. 
She will be sorely missed as a colleague, advisor, and friend. We wish 
her the best of luck and extend to her our deepest gratitude.

                          ____________________