[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 166 (Friday, October 21, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING MICHELLE BALL FOR AIDING AFGHAN ALLIES

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                           HON. CHERI BUSTOS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 21, 2022

  Mrs. BUSTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Michelle Ball 
from Galena, Illinois, for her efforts in aiding our Afghan allies in a 
time of crisis.
  Michelle is currently a graduate student at the Fletcher School of 
International Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and has held a 
leadership role in the counter terrorism working group at Fletcher. 
Formerly, she was an intern for the Jamaican consulate, the Bureau of 
Oceans International, Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the U.S. 
Department of State. Michelle later volunteered with Syrian refugees 
for a nongovernmental organization in Jordan for a total of 350 hours. 
Prior to her education at Fletcher, she graduated from North Park 
University.
  Upon the collapse of the Afghan government in August of 2021, 
Michelle immediately sprang into action, assisting the Fletcher 
Afghanistan Evacuation & Resettlement Working Group's founder Lark 
Escobar in registering hundreds of Afghans for evacuation. During the 
course of these efforts, Michelle's brother, who was stationed in COP 
Charkh in Logar Province, mentioned that his interpreter had contacted 
him for help evacuating from Afghanistan. Michelle helped prepare his 
evacuation applications and compiled all the necessary components of 
his visa for the Department of State vetting. This interpreter had been 
wounded in combat by the Taliban while supporting Michelle's brother in 
their duties and has successfully been relocated out of Afghanistan, in 
addition to his wife and 9 children. These people will now have a safe 
future because of Michelle. She has saved 11 lives and aided countless 
others.
  It is because of the leadership displayed by Ms. Ball that I am 
especially proud to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Madam 
Speaker, I would like to again, formally recognize Michelle Ball for 
her selfless efforts to aid and find safety for our Afghan allies in 
danger.

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