[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 189 (Tuesday, December 6, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6987-S6988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Nomination of Frances Kay Behm

  Mr. President, I rise today in strong support of Judge F. Kay Behm, 
who President Biden nominated to serve on the United States District 
Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Judge Behm represents the 
very best of Michigan.
  She and her four siblings grew up on a dairy farm in Alma, milking 
cows and bailing hay and driving tractors and doing all of the other 
tasks that life on a farm demands. During the 1980's farm crisis, her 
parents nearly lost their farm.
  That experience changed Judge Behm forever. It led her to pursue 
degrees in business and law so that she could help other Michigan 
families.
  She graduated from Alma College and the University of Michigan Law 
School. She worked in private practice for 15 years. In 2009, she was 
appointed as a trial judge in Genesee County by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.
  During her time as a judge, she has never forgotten her humble roots, 
and she has worked hard to ensure that everyone who appears before her 
is truly seen and heard. As a judge on the Genesee County circuit and 
probate courts,

[[Page S6988]]

Judge Behm has presided over cases related to criminal, civil, 
juvenile, and probate matters.
  In 2011, she led a 2-year pilot program in Genesee County to hire and 
use social workers to improve outcomes in Child Protective Services 
proceedings. After the pilot program produced a positive result, Judge 
Behm worked with her staff to develop the intensive family support 
program to support parents and families involved in the child welfare 
system.
  As a family court judge, Judge Behm has presided over approximately 
1,600 bench trials and 3 jury trials. And since 2019, Judge Behm has 
presided over 16 bench trials and 18 jury trials.
  The American Bar Association gave Judge Behm a unanimous rating of 
``well qualified'' to serve on the Federal bench.
  She also finds time to serve on the Board of Directors of the Food 
Bank of Eastern Michigan and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint. 
I have no doubt that Judge Behm will continue to serve the people of 
Michigan well on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of 
Michigan, and I would urge my colleagues to support her nomination.
  I yield the floor.