[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 152 (Tuesday, September 1, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING KEN THOMAS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 1, 2020

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the outstanding 
achievements of Ken Thomas, a career Legislative Attorney with the 
American Law Division of the Congressional Research Service (CRS), who 
retired from CRS on August 28, 2020, after 36 years of distinguished 
government service. In his 33 years with CRS, Ken became the leading 
expert on constitutional law, and he made invaluable contributions to 
the work of Congress with his substantive knowledge in various legal 
areas. He advised Congress on statehood and other political status 
changes for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, federalism, 
individual and civil rights, criminal law and procedure, the federal 
judiciary and education law.
  Over the years, House and Senate committees called on Ken to testify 
at hearings and share with them his expertise and non-partisan analysis 
of important issues. Last year, for example, the House Committee on 
Oversight and Reform invited Ken to testify at a hearing on the 
Washington, D.C. Admission Act (H.R. 51). During the course of this 
high-profile and contentious hearing, Ken answered numerous questions 
from Members about the constitutionality of granting statehood to the 
District of Columbia, key to passage of H.R. 51 by the House in June.
  My staff and I, in particular, relied on Ken for his analysis of 
legal issues involving the uniquely complicated relationship between 
the federal government and the District of Columbia, ranging from 
constitutional law to the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to 
appropriations law. Ken always provided prompt, well-reasoned and well-
researched legal analysis.
  The following is a recommendation for one of the 28 CRS awards that 
Ken received:

       During his tenure in the American Law Division, Ken Thomas 
     demonstrated a level of energy and dedication to the mission 
     of serving Congress that has been extraordinary. He has 
     willingly and without hesitation undertaken challenging and 
     difficult assignments from the Congress. He has been a 
     prolific writer and has provided comprehensive and in-depth 
     legal research and analysis in a number of legal areas . . . 
     . He is always available for and capable of tackling new 
     issues, especially those that pose complex constitutional 
     questions. He regularly demonstrates a high degree of 
     intellectual curiosity, a trait that inspires him to ``go the 
     extra mile'' for his congressional clients.

  During his career with CRS, Ken prepared over 200 written products 
for Congress, many of which have been cited in the Congressional 
Record, committee reports and congressional hearings. Academic law 
reviews and national publications, such as The Washington Post, The 
Wall Street Journal and The National Journal, have also cited his work. 
Ken has also delivered many keynote Continuing Legal Education lectures 
sponsored by CRS to positive reviews.
  From 1996 through 2013, Ken was one of the key contributors to the 
Senate document ``The Constitution of the United States of America: 
Analysis and Interpretation'' (Constitution Annotated), serving as the 
Editor-in-Chief of the 2012 Centennial version of that volume, and he 
was the prime architect of the Constitution Annotated website. A public 
version of that website, constitution.congress.gov, was launched on 
Constitution Day 2019, and in the last 10 months, has had over 500,000 
visits and one million page views.
  Ken received a B.A. in philosophy from Colby College in 1980 and a 
J.D. from The George Washington University in 1983. He worked at the 
U.S. Department of Education and as a clerk to Judge Bruce Mencher of 
the D.C. Superior Court before joining CRS. Ken has provided exemplary 
service to Congress throughout his distinguished career at CRS. I 
believe that all in Congress who have benefitted from his expertise and 
counsel join me in wishing him the very best in the years to come.

                          ____________________