[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 31 (Friday, February 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMENDING MICHAEL THOMAS AND OTHER CITIZEN-ACTIVISTS DEVOTED TO PUBLIC 
                                SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 16, 2018

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, with pride I rise to pay tribute to 
Michael Thomas, a multi-talented young man and professional football 
player, who is volunteering as an NFLPA extern in my office.
  Before he joined the Miami Dolphins in 2013 to bolster its secondary 
as a free safety, Michael Thomas, who starred and attended Chester W. 
Nimitz High School in Houston, Texas, was rated the 75th best high 
school player in the nation by ESPN.
  Michael went on to collegiate stardom at Stanford University earning 
All-Pac-12 Honorable-Mention after his senior year campaign with the 
Cardinal.
  Michael Thomas is one of those rare individuals who has a knack for 
making good things happen.
  In the very first game he played with the Miami Dolphins, Michael 
made the game-saving play against the New England Patriots with an end-
zone interception of the great Tom Brady.
  But what I find most exciting and inspiring about this winner is that 
Michael Thomas also earned his degree from Stanford University and 
continued his education by earning his MBA from the University of Miami 
Business School.
  Michael Thomas comes to my Washington office as an extern during the 
Second Session of the 115th Congress to get hands on experience on how 
the legislative branch of the federal government works.
  During his time in my office, Michael has made a difference by:
  Attending committee hearings, meetings, and briefings;
  Researching legislative proposals, advocacy documents, and policy 
analyses;
  Contributing to my Budget Committee work; and
  Drafting memoranda regarding important legislative priorities.
  Michael Thomas has observed and contributed to the important 
legislative work that is performed every day in my office to advance a 
positive legislative agenda that puts children, families and the 
elderly first at the forefront of public policy initiatives and 
funding.
  Michael's work in public service did not begin with his decision to 
become an extern, nor did it begin when he decided to take a knee in 
silent protest against a criminal justice system that too often appears 
to value some lives less than others.
  Michael Thomas is determined to make a difference in the world of 
professional sports and in society at large, which inspired him and 
other athletes to engage in next-step initiatives beyond ``Taking A 
Knee.''
  Michael's commitment to making the world just a little bit better is 
exemplified by his work on education reform in the city of Houston, as 
well as with the Miami Dolphins.
  Michael Thomas is a leader and public entrepreneur in his own right.
  He proposed that the Miami Dolphins create a ``Project Change 
Scholarship'' through the Dolphins Foundation, which made its first 
award this year.
  Michael is now expanding this effort into a campaign to persuade 
every sports organization to adopt a similar scholarship program.
  Michael is challenging all athletes to take an internship or 
externship in the office of one of their local, state, or federal 
government elected officials or agencies to gain a better appreciation 
for and understanding of the central importance of democratic norms, 
traditions, and institutions to democratic governance that is 
responsive, effective, innovative, and efficient.
  There are present and future citizen-activists in every community in 
America and as Members of Congress we should actively encourage them to 
become and remain engaged in the important work of citizenship.
  I am reminded of this pearl of wisdom from Margaret Mead: ``Never 
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change 
the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.''
  I thank Michael Thomas for everything he is doing and has done to 
promote greater civic tolerance, understanding, inclusion and 
diversity, and commend him as an example and inspiration to young 
people everywhere who are asking not what their country can do for 
them, but what they can do for their country.

                          ____________________