[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15029-15030]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL J. WOOTTEN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 12, 2009

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
an exceptional man. On Wednesday, June 10th, the federal government 
and, in particular, the General Services Administration lost an 
exemplary public servant, a genuine and trusted friend, and a devoted 
husband and father. On that day Michael J. Wootten, lost his courageous 
battle with cancer. Mike was the epitome of a fine public servant. He 
was accurate, detailed, inquisitive, and thorough in his work. He left 
our federal government and federal workforce the richer for his 
service.
  He began his legal career as a law clerk, serving the office of the 
5th district solicitor, Richland County, South Carolina. When he 
arrived in Washington D.C., Mike served as Majority Staff Counsel to 
the Committee on the Judiciary of the United States Senate. As full 
Committee staff counsel, Mike was responsible for issues of 
Administrative Law and Procedures, Courts, and Juvenile Justice.
  Mike then moved on to the Department of Justice, where he spent three 
years in the Civil Division as Assistant Director of the Office of 
Policy and Legislation and Special Assistant to the Assistant Attorney 
General. One of Mike's accomplishments as Special Counsel was assisting 
in the confirmation of Justice Anthony Kennedy to the U.S. Supreme 
Court. Before departing Justice to join GSA, Mike served briefly as the 
Acting General Counsel for the President's Commission on Privatization.
  Upon his arrival at the General Services Administration, Mike quickly 
became the ``go to'' lawyer for advice and counsel on real property law 
and legislative matters involving the Federal Property and 
Administrative Services Act of 1949. For almost 20 years Mike served in 
the Office of the General Counsel. In addition, he served as counsel to 
the Office of Congressional Affairs, the Public Buildings Service, the 
Office of Government-wide Policy, and the Office of the Chief Financial 
Officer. In 2009, Mike was appointed to the Senior Executive Service. 
His list of opinions was endless, and his advice was sought after and 
followed.
  Mike was justifiably proud of his legal contributions to GSA. 
However, his pride in his legal career was always exceeded by his pride 
in his family, his loving wife Shereen and his two outstanding sons, 
Mitchell and Corey. As a parent and husband, he was immensely proud of 
their accomplishments, their community involvement, and their love for 
each other. Mike made and maintained legions of friendships. His 
friends, who will cherish his memory and joyful spirit, will join me 
today with honor and great sadness to pay tribute to Michael J. 
Wootten.

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