[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 197 (Friday, November 12, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1223]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING BEN HERNANDEZ-STERN AND HIS SERVICE TO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY 
                               COMMITTEE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 12, 2021

  Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I rise, along with my colleague, 
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Chair of the Subcommittee on Crime, 
Terrorism, and Homeland Security, to thank Ben Hernandez-Stern for his 
service to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Ben came to the Committee as part of a career focused on serving his 
country, which has included service in the National Guard, Air Force, 
Federal courts, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department 
of Justice. Ben received his B.A. from Brown University, J.D. from 
Stanford Law School, and M.A. from the U.S. Naval War College.
  Ben joined our Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland 
Security as Counsel in 2019 and played a critical role in advancing the 
Subcommittee's priorities during the 116th Congress and the beginning 
of the 117th Congress. In the wake of an increase in hate crimes and 
gun violence, Ben played a leading role in the Subcommittee's work to 
address these crises. His portfolio included a wide range of issues, 
such as reforming our bail system, addressing fines and fees that 
disproportionately impact the poor and people of color, improving 
access to justice, and addressing domestic terrorism.
  Ben is a team player, who was always willing to help out however 
needed. During the impeachments of President Donald Trump, Ben aided 
our oversight team--in addition to continuing to work on his broad 
policy portfolio--in our solemn duty to hold President Trump 
accountable for his impeachable offenses.
  Ben's service to the country, however, wasn't limited just to his 
work on the Committee during the past few years; he also continued to 
serve as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, deploying 
numerous times to serve his country in this additional capacity.
  Ben's work on the Committee, to make our laws more just, has left a 
lasting impact on our country. In addition, Ben played a key role in 
developing the next generation of public servants. During his time on 
the committee, Ben mentored dozens of interns, both on and off his 
Subcommittee, providing them with assignments, valuable feedback, and 
guidance. Many of these interns went on to obtain full-time positions 
in the government thanks to Ben's mentorship.
  While Ben's career at the House Judiciary Committee has come to a 
close, his career as a public servant has not. Ben was nominated and is 
now serving as a Judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The 
California judiciary is fortunate to have such a strong advocate for 
justice on its bench.
  We thank Ben for his service to the Committee and wish him the best 
of luck with this new chapter.

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