[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 28467-28468]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO CHRISTINA HALE VANBRAKLE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 25, 2007

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. 
Christina Hale VanBrakle, who everyone knows as ``Tina,'' a long-time 
employee of the Federal Election Commission, who will retire from the 
United States Government at the end of this year after more than 38 
years of distinguished federal service. Tina has spent 28 of those 
years working at the Federal Election Commission and the last 19 
assisting me and many of my colleagues as the FEC's Director of 
Congressional, Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs.
  A native of Washington, DC, Tina grew up in Maryland and has been a 
resident of Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland for the last 
24 years. After graduating from Suitland Senior High School in 
Maryland, she accepted a job at the Maritime Administration, Department 
of Commerce, where she spent 2 years working as a press assistant for 
the late John K. Tennant, who was the Press Officer. Mr. Tennant 
introduced Tina to then-Chairman Helen Delich Bentley of the Federal 
Maritime Commission, and former Congresswoman from Maryland. She 
accepted a secretarial position with Chairman Bentley where she was 
employed for several years. Tina has fond memories of traveling with 
Chairman Bentley on various speaking engagements. Most memorable was a 
visit to San Clemente--the Western White House--for a meeting with 
Japanese shipping interests during the Nixon Administration. Tina also 
met her husband, Bryant, while employed at the FMC. They were married 
in 1983 and have 3 children, Wendye, Ashley and Derek. They have 1 
grandchild, Dominic, with another expected in January 2008.
  Tina also worked with Vice Chairman Barbara Hackman Franklin at the 
Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC, enrolling at the University 
of Maryland at night, where she earned a Paralegal Certificate in the 
Legislative Liaison Program and a B.S. in management and technology and 
political science. Tina then joined the newly created Washington office 
of a Detroit law firm.
  Tina joined the Federal Election Commission in 1979, where she worked 
for the Deputy Staff Director, then served as Special Assistant to the 
Staff Director. In 1988 she was named Director of Congressional, 
Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. Tina is widely respected on 
the Hill for her dedication and quick and accurate responses to 
questions and perhaps will be best remembered by the campaign finance 
community for providing fair and impartial advice to anyone who 
contacted her.

[[Page 28468]]

  Whether she was answering a simple question regarding the campaign 
finance laws, preparing a fact sheet for a Member of Congress on a 
budget or campaign finance matter, or preparing Commissioners for a 
hearing, Tina served with commitment, integrity and competence. On the 
occasion of her retirement from the United States Government, I offer 
my congratulations, and wish Tina and her husband, Bryant, all the best 
in their future endeavors.

                          ____________________