[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 28, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO MRS. RINIA SHELBY-CROOMS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 28, 2015

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, if there are three core qualities that make 
an exemplary public servant, they might be the following: integrity, 
energy, and compassion. Mrs. Rinia Shelby-Crooms, who is leaving my 
office after 13 years of extraordinary service, uniquely embodies each 
of these qualities.
  Rinia is a woman of undeniable integrity. Her commitment to her 
family, her faith, and her focus on building a better world animate her 
to excellence in the workplace and beyond. Whether it's conducting 
legislative research to protect America's endangered honeybees or 
juggling a dozen or more urgent scheduling requests over the course of 
an afternoon, Rinia has always emphasized quality, honesty, and care in 
each and every one of her undertakings.
  Rinia also possesses incredible energy. While caring for two precious 
young boys, she has written legislation, organized Congressional 
briefings, counseled and cared for her fellow staffers, managed my 
often hectic schedule, and ensured my timeliness in arriving at 
speaking engagements and on airplanes. She maintains an upbeat attitude 
and focused attention--even when called upon for complicated logistical 
requests in the wee hours of the morning.
  Rinia is driven by deep compassion. Through her legislative 
portfolio, she has worked toward achieving progress in the areas most 
aligned with her life's mission: ensuring that foster children have 
access to safe and loving homes, guaranteeing Americans high-quality 
food, and defending the rights of Mother Nature. Rinia embodies 
compassion both big and small. She's not only committed to large-scale 
change in order to support and protect people and the planet, but also 
committed to showing the utmost care and kindness to the people she 
encounters each and every day.
  I am indebted to Rinia for her selfless service. But I am also 
indebted to her husband, Jeremiah, and her two young sons, Jayden and 
Jayee, who have also made important sacrifices as Rinia spent long 
hours, late nights, and weekends in service of our mission of advancing 
the causes of jobs, justice, and peace.
  There is one consolation for me as I bid farewell to Rinia: This is 
only the beginning of her contributions to Southeast Michigan and to 
our nation. She and her family are returning to the Detroit 
Metropolitan Area, so that she can pursue work as a consultant focused 
on bringing new economic opportunity to our region.
  Mr. Speaker, I salute Mrs. Rinia Shelby-Crooms for her 13 years of 
selfless service. I am deeply moved by her example of integrity, 
energy, and compassion.

                          ____________________