[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 176 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE SERVICE OF COMMANDER MICHAEL F. BRINCK ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2016

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
honor the service, dedication, and accomplishments of Commander Michael 
F. Brinck (USN Ret.), Deputy Staff Director of the House Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, upon the occasion of his retirement from the U.S. 
House of Representatives.
   A native of West Point, Iowa, Commander Brinck received a Bachelor's 
degree in Political Science from St. Ambrose University in 1968. 
Following his graduation, Commander Brinck entered the Officer 
Candidate School for the United States Navy. In 1969, he received his 
Navy wings and reported to Helicopter Attack Light Squadron 3 in the 
Republic of Vietnam in support of Riverine operations in the Mekong 
Delta. Fleet assignments include carrier deployments to the Gulf of 
Tonkin and the Mediterranean, flight instructor, three deployments in 
support of Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica, the Naval War College, 
Washington D.C. and assignments at the Navy Command Center at the 
Pentagon, the Bureau of Naval Personnel, and the Arms Control and 
Disarmament Agency. After two decades and a distinguished career, he 
retired from the United States Navy in 1988 with the rank of commander.
   Commander Brinck began his career on Capitol Hill in 1995 as the 
Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Education, Training, Employment, 
and Housing and continued to serve as a Subcommittee Staff Director for 
the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the 104th, 105th, 109th, 
110th, 111th, 112th, and 113th Congresses.
   Due to his steadfast commitment to his work and his expertise 
navigating the plethora of issues facing America's veterans, Commander 
Brinck was named the Deputy Staff Director of the full Committee in 
2013.
   Throughout his tenure on the Committee staff, Commander Brinck 
faithfully served three different Committee Chairmen--Bob Stump, Steve 
Buyer, and myself--as well as countless other Members. I know I speak 
for us all when I say that his wise advice and sage counsel was 
instrumental in assisting us in honoring the service and sacrifice of 
America's servicemembers, veterans, and their families.
   Commander Brinck was a key contributor in the drafting and passage 
of landmark pieces of veterans' education and training legislation and 
personally contributed to the creation of policies that continue to 
improve the daily lives and ongoing well-being of veterans and their 
families.
   During my tenure as Chairman, Commander Brinck was instrumental in 
creating the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program or VRAP which 
provided job training for in-demand occupations for nearly 100,000 
unemployed veterans. He was also a tireless advocate in drafting and 
pushing legislation that would ensure that returning veterans received 
in-state tuition when attending public schools, which became a reality 
with the passage of the Choice Act in 2014.
   Over a long and multifaceted career of distinguished service in the 
halls of Congress, Commander Brinck has been a dogged advocate for the 
interests of America's veterans and taxpayers, embodying excellence and 
commitment in service to his fellow citizens.
   Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States House of Representatives 
and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, it gives me great pride 
to honor the selfless service of Commander Brinck.
   My wife, Vicki, joins me in honoring him for his many years of 
exemplary service to our Nation, thanking him for his unyielding 
dedication to America's veterans, and wishing him and his wife, Marla, 
all of the best in their future endeavors.

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