[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 58 (Friday, April 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF JANE BAILEY

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2016

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jane Bailey for 
her twenty nine years of service and advocacy with the Michigan 
Association of Justice (MAJ) and her lifetime of commitment to civil 
rights, equality and fairness.
  A native of Adrian, Michigan, Jane attended Eastern Michigan 
University, where she majored in Mathematics and General Business. 
After her undergraduate studies, Jane went to law school at the John 
Marshall Law School in Chicago, where she graduated in 1977 and 
subsequently passed the bar. Later on in her academic career, Jane 
pursued Doctoral studies in Marketing at Michigan State University and 
continued on her path of learning.
  After spending two years as a practicing attorney in Chicago, Jane 
began a career as an educator. She worked as a teacher and instructor 
for nearly a decade, first at Augustana College in Illinois, and later 
at the Florida Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, and 
the General Motors Institute. In addition to her teaching career, Jane 
spent time in the private sector in marketing, and in 1987 began her 
distinguished career at the MAJ in Lansing. She immediately had a 
powerful impact developing coalitions throughout the state of Michigan 
and building the membership of the MAJ. In 1988, Jane was asked to 
serve as the Legislative Counsel, where she began to develop deeper and 
more meaningful relationships with legislators and worked to closely 
track legislation in Lansing. As a testament to her impact, in 1990, 
Jane was named as the Executive Director of the MAJ, a position she has 
served in for the past twenty seven years.
  As the Executive Director of the MAJ, Jane provided the leadership 
and vision necessary to grow the organization into one of the top 
advocacy organizations in Lansing. Her steady leadership has led the 
organization to be an effective voice for those who need a champion. 
Jane is responsible for implementing a wide variety of programs, 
building a large and successful voluntary board and broadening 
relationships with legislators on both sides of the aisle through 
active participation from its membership. Jane's leadership was 
acknowledged in 1996 when she was elected President of the Michigan 
Association of Bar Executives, and in 2001, when she was elected as the 
President of the National Association of Trial Lawyer Executives. As a 
testament to the organization that she worked so hard to build, in 
2011, Jane was honored with the MAJ's Champion of Justice award, the 
highest award that the organization confers.
  Jane's work has helped to ensure that all people--individuals, 
families, patients and consumers--can seek justice in our third branch 
of government, the courts. She has been a voice for those that are 
injured and have nowhere else to turn. She has helped to ensure that we 
fight for and preserve a balanced civil justice system and to advocate 
for tough laws to hold industries and corporations accountable when 
they withhold information that can harm or kill. Our environment is 
cleaner, our medicine is better and our cars are safer because of her 
leadership of fighting for every person in America to have a path to 
justice. Jane has also been a voice for consistent public education and 
research to promote informed public dialogue on, and understanding of 
and appreciation for, the civil justice system.
  In addition to her professional work, Jane has been a staunch 
supporter and advocate for civil rights, equality, and justice in all 
of her efforts. She has supported a wide variety of LGBT, 
environmental, and women's rights organizations. Jane has gone above 
and beyond in the community helping to establish the Mark Weiss 
Memorial Scholarship at Wayne State University, which is given to an 
aspiring law student each year who is committed to practicing law in 
the public interest. She also worked to start the Heads-Up for Safety 
event which has been dedicated to giving out bike helmets to children 
in Lansing, keeping more of our children safe. Jane's contributions 
both professionally and personally have been commendable, and while I 
know she is looking to enjoy her retirement, it is my sincere hope that 
she will continue to share of her time and talents into the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor Jane 
Bailey for her service to our community. I thank her for her leadership 
and wish her many years of happiness in her retirement.

                          ____________________