[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 197 (Tuesday, December 10, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6945-S6946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REMEMBERING RACHELLE BERGERON HAMMERLING

  Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, today, I honor the life and work of 
Rachelle Bergeron Hammerling, a human rights lawyer who served as the 
acting Attorney General of Yap in Micronesia when she was murdered just 
a couple of months ago. Rachelle was killed in front of her home on 
October 14, 2019, as a direct result of her courageous fight against 
human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. She was just 33 
years old, but her legacy will live on through her family and the 
communities she made the ultimate sacrifice to serve.
  Rachelle was born in Waukesha, WI, to parents Thomas and Tammy 
Bergeron in 1986. After growing up in Wisconsin, Rachelle went on to 
obtain a juris doctorate from the University of Florida College of Law 
in 2010, an experience her family says she loved.
  When Rachelle graduated from law school, her passion to help others 
led her to volunteer with the International Justice Mission in India, 
where she represented women and children who had been trafficked. 
Rachelle spent her career prosecuting criminals involved with sex 
trafficking and worked tirelessly to protect the poor against violence. 
Rachelle's work took her around the United States, including New York 
and Washington, DC. She was a member of the New York State Bar and 
created the ``Not-So-Super'' campaign video as an effort to raise 
awareness regarding human trafficking during the 2014 Super Bowl. Her 
work took her to Beijing, South Africa, India, and finally the Pacific 
island of Yap.
  Rachelle fought to give a voice to the voiceless and dedicated her 
life to empowering and uplifting others. About 4 years ago, Rachelle 
moved to Yap after accepting a job as that community's assistant 
attorney general. Since January 2019, she had been serving as the 
island's only prosecutor and as the acting attorney general, where her 
duties included being a part of a human trafficking task force. 
Rachelle was very active in the community she served and spent a lot of 
time in local schools

[[Page S6946]]

and community centers to warn against the dangers of sex trafficking.
  Rachelle also met her husband, Simon Hammerling during her time in 
Yap. The two were married in 2018 and had planned to take in a young 
girl they had found sleeping on their doorstep. Rachelle passed just 
before the two were about to celebrate their 1-year wedding anniversary 
and shortly before she and her family were due to move back to the 
United States for a new job in Wyoming. Her passing is a tremendous 
loss to her family, to the community she fought to serve, and to all 
who knew her.
  We remember Rachelle with gratitude for her life, and we honor her 
for her sacrifice. Scripture tells us that the righteous will rest from 
their labor, for their deeds will follow them. As she now rests from 
her tireless and courageous work on behalf of the most vulnerable among 
us, we know Rachelle's deeds will follow her and continue to inspire 
others to pursue justice as fiercely as she did.

                          ____________________