[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 214 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        HONORING BENJAMIN MILLER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 17, 2020

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and our 
former House colleague, the great George Miller. Together, we wish to 
honor Benjamin
  (Ben) Miller who served each of us, and our country, with distinction 
for the past eighteen years. Ben departs the Hill on January 1, 2021 
after eight years as my Chief of Staff, and before that a decade in 
Congressman Miller's office where he worked his way up from intern, to 
Legislative Assistant, to Legislative Director, to Deputy Chief of 
Staff. Throughout the Capitol and on both sides of the aisle, Ben has 
earned the respect, admiration, and affection of his peers. His tenure 
in the House is the very model of public service.
  When I was first elected to Congress in 2012, I sought out Ben 
knowing that his talents, experience and disposition would make him a 
great Chief of Staff. He exceeded my highest expectations. He helped me 
assemble a quality staff team and establish an office culture that 
reflects a strong work ethic, a fun and collegial environment, and a 
constant focus on carrying out our progressive policy agenda and 
getting things done. Ben never sought attention or personal 
recognition; he just did excellent work, usually behind the scenes.
  Like Congressman Miller and myself, Ben shares a passion for the 
sustainable management of our natural resources. Throughout his career 
on the Hill, Ben has been a friend to flora and fauna, a champion of 
bedrock environmental laws like NEPA and the Endangered Species Act, 
and a happy warrior in defense of our great American outdoors and the 
people and organizations that passionately work for its protection.
  Longtime staffers and outside experts can attest that Ben is a 
subject matter guru on what is arguably the most intricate, 
combustible, and Byzantine issue of all: California water. Ben 
understands that California water conflicts sometimes require you to 
fight, which is easy enough to do; but he also knows that achieving 
meaningful, durable results requires you to do the much harder work of 
engaging constructively and solving complex water problems.
  Beyond his policy expertise and legislative acumen, Ben will be 
remembered fondly by Team Huffman for the human qualities that were 
hallmarks of his leadership: honesty, professionalism, kindness of 
spirit, and the good humor he brought to work every day.
  Ben is a dedicated husband to Caitlin, and a proud father to Sam and 
Campbell. For reasons I will never understand, he is also a passionate 
fan of the San Antonio Spurs, through good times and bad. We forgive 
him for that.
  Madam Speaker, the functioning of our legislative branch which is so 
vital to our democratic republic has always depended on skilled, 
dedicated, unheralded congressional staffers. For eighteen years, in 
the most exemplary manner, Ben has provided that essential public 
service. He has earned the deep respect of his peers, and my enduring 
gratitude for being such a wonderful Chief of Staff.
  On behalf of myself, Congressman Miller, and dozens of current and 
former staffers who were privileged to work with Ben, we thank him for 
his public service; we thank his family for sharing him with us; and we 
wish him much success and happiness in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________