[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 14, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E39]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JUSTIN MATURO

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. DEREK TRAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 14, 2026

  Mr. TRAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Justin Maturo, 
a member of my congressional staff who will soon be departing Capitol 
Hill after a combined fifteen years of public service. From intern to 
Deputy Chief of Staff, Justin has held several important roles in three 
congressional offices where he has directly contributed to the 
betterment of communities in the states of Texas and California.
  Born in Westchester, New York, and raised in Tappan, New York, to an 
Italian father and Hawaiian mother, Justin first came to Washington, 
D.C. as a wide-eyed college student at American University with a 
mountain of motivation and aspirations to shape policy.
  As an intern for the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology, he showed promise by swiftly screening requests and manning 
the phones. He then served as a Staff Assistant to the late 
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson from Texas, where he quickly rose 
in the ranks to serve as her Senior Legislative Assistant and covered a 
robust portfolio of legislative issues such as defense, labor, housing, 
campaign finance reform, and more. After a brief stint in the private 
sector, Justin was called back to public service where he served as 
Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Congressman Mark 
Takano from California. After several years on the Hill, Justin earned 
a prestigious appointment at the Department of Defense where he served 
as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Legislative Affairs to coordinate legislative affairs across all 
military departments and components in service to our great Nation.
  I was fortunate Justin agreed to come back to Capitol Hill to join my 
office as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director. In the short 
time he has been with my team, he has worked with me to protect veteran 
jobs, secure additional resources for military assets in my district, 
call for the release of Vietnamese prisoners of conscience, and so much 
more. He has always taken every challenge in stride--appreciating and 
knowing fully well the great responsibility we have to our constituents 
as public servants. His colleagues--both current and former--describe 
him as a trusted mentor. What sets Justin apart is his superpower 
ability to stay above the fray and to keep his eye on the prize. 
Despite always operating with a full load of projects on any given day, 
Justin always makes time to give advice and mentor younger staff with 
sincerity and genuine compassion.
  I cannot thank Justin enough for having acted as a trusted advisor 
and guiding me through my first year in Congress. Together, we set a 
foundation that will have resounding impacts in my district for years 
to come.
  I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that Justin's jovial 
spirit and words of wisdom will be sorely missed by all those who were 
lucky to work with him. Alas, all good things must come to an end. I 
wish him, his wonderful partner Jackie, and their dog Truman all the 
best in this next chapter of their lives. I know Justin will continue 
to make a positive impact in his next quest and I honor his great 
contributions to the people of California's 45th Congressional 
District.

                          ____________________