[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 145 (Wednesday, September 11, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVANT, MARGOT BESTER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 11, 2019

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
a distinguished public servant, Margot Bester, who, after nearly 25 
years of dedicated service to the American people, is retiring from her 
position as Principal Deputy Chief Counsel at the Transportation 
Security Administration (TSA).
  Ms. Bester has served as second in command of the Office of Chief 
Counsel since the months following the creation of TSA, a component of 
the Department of Homeland Security created by Congress to ensure 
transportation security for our nation in the wake of the 9/11 
terrorist attacks which occurred 18 years ago today.
  In coordination with the Chief Counsel, Ms. Bester has overseen the 
legal work of the attorneys at TSA and has been primarily responsible 
for the day-to-day operations of the Office of Chief Counsel.
  Ms. Bester joined the TSA Office of Chief Counsel in April 2002. In 
August of that year, she was selected by Admiral James Loy, then Under 
Secretary of Transportation for Security, to represent TSA in its 
transition to DHS. She also served as the transportation security 
advisor to DHS Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson. In recognition of her 
service to the newly formed Department, Ms. Bester received the 
Department of Homeland Security ``Day One'' Award.
  Early in her career, she was Director of Regulatory Relations with 
the United States Telephone Association and an attorney with the 
Federal Communications Commission.
  A first-generation American, Ms. Bester was born in Buffalo, NY, to 
parents that had been granted asylum in our country after surviving the 
atrocities of the Second World War. Love of country and the importance 
of being an active, engaged citizen were ingrained at a young age. Ms. 
Bester has often spoken of the great honor of serving, protecting, and 
giving back to our nation, which provided opportunity and security for 
her family during dire circumstances.
  Her passion for public service is second only to her dedication to 
her family. Of her many accomplishments, Ms. Bester is most proud as a 
mother to her sons, Brian and Eric, and as grandmother to Chase and 
Ava.
  After spending a career protecting our Nation's transportation 
security, Ms. Bester now heads to an extremely well-deserved retirement 
from Federal service. I ask my colleagues to join me in sending the 
very best wishes and congratulations of the House as well as our thanks 
for her remarkable career and her notable service to our country.

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