S5078 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 27, 2021 unaffordable, unworkable Green New ming Legislature as both a State rep- leader of our bipartisan Senate prayer Deal on American families who do not resentative and a State senator. breakfast. As a member of that group, want it. This is just one corner of the When he came here to the Senate, I saw firsthand how Republican and absurd, reckless taxing-and-spending Mike became a leading voice—a leading Democrat Senators looked to Mike spree that our Democratic colleagues voice on budgets, on taxes, and on Enzi for moral and ethical guidance. He are cooking up. healthcare issues. In 2015, he became was a guiding light. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. the first accountant to ever chair the On my first day in the Senate, Mike PADILLA). The Senator from . Budget Committee. He brought to gave me this book. It is called ‘‘One REMEMBERING MIKE ENZI the valuable lessons that Quiet Moment,’’ and it is a daily pray- Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I he had learned in the Wyoming Legis- er devotion. This is how he inscribed it come to the floor today to pay tribute lature, and he put them to use right in 2007. He said: to our friend and former colleague, here. John, here’s a book that has helped me Senator Mike Enzi. He would say: Like American fami- through 11 years of the Senate. It’s amazing Senator LUMMIS and I are here, and lies, Wyoming has to balance its budg- how often the message of the day relates to we are very grateful for the kind com- et every year, live within our means, what’s going on in my life. ments of the minority leader, Senator and so should America. He said: MCCONNELL; majority leader, Senator Under Mike’s leadership, Congress These messages provide strength. SCHUMER; and the President pro tem- passed three consecutive balanced Mike Enzi—June 26, 2007. pore of the Senate, Senator LEAHY. budget regulations. During his time as So the message of the day provides Mike Enzi was my colleague. He was chairman, Congress also passed the strength. Let us turn to July 27, today. my mentor. He was my friend. Today, largest tax cuts and reforms in a gen- The message is from Philippians. The my wife Bobbi and I, along with all of eration. And those tax cuts gave us the message is three words: ‘‘I press on.’’ the people in the State of Wyoming and best economy of our lifetimes. The message of today: ‘‘I press on.’’ all of his friends and admirers here in Mike also chaired the Health, Edu- It goes down to the bottom, and it the U.S. Senate—we are joined on the cation, Labor, and Pensions Committee says: floor by many of his former staffers, in the Senate. As chairman, he spear- My steps forward today may be small, but many of whom still work here—all of headed the most significant pension re- at least they are steps off dead center. Keep us mourn his passing. form in 30 years. Mike’s legacy in the me moving, Lord! For nearly a quarter of a century, U.S. Senate also included improving It is Mike’s message through this Mike Enzi represented the people of mine safety, helping in the AIDS epi- book for us to press on. As I said, Mike Wyoming in this very body in the U.S. demic in Africa, passing mental health Enzi was a moral compass for many of Senate. In so many ways, as we served parity. us, and he always pointed True North. as a team when was in His highest priority, of course, was He was a friend and a mentor to me, the House and Mike and I were in the always helping the people of Wyoming. to so many Senators on both sides of Senate, he was our trusted trail boss Over his 24 years in office, Mike and his the aisle over 24 years. He knew how to for our entire congressional delegation. capable staff helped the people of Wyo- find common ground and bring people He served with intelligence, with dig- ming through more than 15,000 pieces together better than any. nity, and with grace. He never wavered. of casework. They helped veterans get It was rare for an Enzi bill to receive His commitment was to God, to his the benefits that they had earned. fewer than 80 votes. This was by design. family, to country, to Wyoming. They helped seniors get Social Secu- Mike called it his 80–20 rule. He learned It was an incredible honor and a rity. They helped people become natu- in the Wyoming State Legislature. At great privilege for my wife Bobbi and ralized citizens. the beginning of each year, each mem- for me to serve the people of Wyoming When he announced his retirement, ber of his committee made a list of alongside Mike Enzi and his wife he said: their priorities. Most years there was Diana. I am an advocate for Gillette and Campbell bipartisan agreement on 80 percent of Mike was born in the middle of World County and Wyoming. the priorities. Mike Enzi would then War II. He was in Washington State at He said: focus on that 80 percent on which they the time because that is where his fa- Everyone lives at the local level. No one agreed, and he would leave out the 20 ther was stationed. After the war, the lives at the Federal level, or even the State percent on which they disagreed. As a family moved back to Thermopolis, level. result of this approach, Mike Enzi WY—my wife’s hometown—and to He said: wrote more than 80 bills which were Sheridan, WY. Diana and I are your Chamber of Com- signed into law by four different Presi- As all of us know, Mike was an Eagle merce and your economic development peo- dents in the , two Repub- Scout, so were his son Brad and his ple for every town and county in Wyoming licans and two Democrats. I was proud grandson Trey. They followed in his all the time. to cosponsor many of those bills with footsteps. Later in life, he was awarded Mike started several annual events in him here in the Senate. the Distinguished Eagle Scout. Wyoming to boost Wyoming. One was Yet for all of Mike’s achievements in He went on and studied accounting. the Inventors Conference; another, the business and in government, we will He earned a business degree, and he fo- Procurement Conference; and then Wy- miss him most as a friend. Following cused on marketing. He was pretty oming Works tour. his retirement, Mike did an interview good at it. He served in the Wyoming In 2009, Mike and I started Wyoming with Wyoming Public Broadcasting. He Air National Guard, and he was 6 years Wednesdays. This is when people from said there wasn’t much he would miss a tech sergeant. around Wyoming come to Washington, about Washington, DC. He said it was In 1969, Mike and Diana were mar- and we get together—our delegation— the people whom he would miss the ried. One week later, they moved to for coffee, for donuts, and for fellow- most. Gillette and opened a small business ship. We are proud to continue the tra- Mike had a dedicated, hard-working, known as NZ Shoes—Enzi, like his dition today. and loyal staff. Some of them returned name, but the letter ‘‘N’’ and letter Above all, Mike was a moral leader in to Wyoming, others still serve in this ‘‘Z’’ Shoes. The little business wasn’t the Senate. He taught Sunday school body today, and a number have joined that little for long. He opened a second for decades and he learned from the us on the floor. Mike gave much of the store in Sheridan, then Miles City, MT. best. Mike’s first Sunday school teach- credit for his success to these folks. I Mike ran for mayor of Gillette, er was in Thermopolis, WY, and his know they are all feeling a huge loss served two 4-year terms. He often teacher was my wife Bobbi’s mother, today. called being mayor the toughest job in Jerry Brown. Mike Enzi was her star Mike used to say there aren’t many politics, and Mike performed flaw- pupil. She actually gave Mike his first things better than being a Senator lessly. With the help of his business Bible. from Wyoming, but he used to joke skills, Gillette went into an economic Well, that benefited all of us because, that two of them are fly fishing and boom. He served 10 years in the Wyo- decades later, Mike Enzi became a being a grandfather. Mike had a great

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This is a Wyoming Game and tirement left a hole in the Senate, and was a beloved, kind Member of the U.S. Fish Department program, which in- his death to this world leaves a hole in Senate. He was an accomplished, quiet creases appreciation for our native cut- our State and in our hearts. leader. He was Wyoming’s friend. He throat trout. Throughout Mike’s career in the Sen- was my friend. Yet Mike would tell you the achieve- ate, he came up with multiple plans to God bless you, Mike. We will see you ment that he was most proud of, of address our debt and deficit. As an ac- down the road. Happy trails. course, is family. He is survived by his countant by training and trade, he I yield the floor. wife Diana; his children Amy, Emily, knew how to balance a budget and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Re- and Brad; and his grandchildren make it through the lean times. He publican whip. Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, before I Megan, Allison, Trey, and Lilly. wanted to set our great Nation up for begin, I want to join with my col- When he retired earlier this year, success for his children and his grand- leagues from Wyoming and my other Mike said: ‘‘None of this would have children. colleagues here in the Senate and ex- happened without Diana. The best My prayers are with his wife Diana; press my sorrow at the news received thing that ever happened to me,’’ he his children Amy, Emily, and Brad; and this morning that our former colleague said, is when she said she would marry his four grandchildren at this very dif- ficult time. I know they are proud of Senator Mike Enzi had passed away. him. Mike was a cherished colleague and Diana is a wonderful person. She used the powerful legacy he leaves behind. We all are, and we have every right to one of the finest human beings you will to host an annual Christmas cookie ever meet. A former Budget Committee party here in the Senate. She did it to be. To me, personally, he was more than chairman, he was, in many ways, the say thank you to all of those whom she just our senior Senator. I have known conscience of the Senate on spending called the real workers: the janitors, Mike since the early 1980s, and over the issues, always reminding Members that the cleaning crew, the electricians, the last 40 years, he has been my personal Federal dollars are not unlimited and police officers, the food service work- friend and, as said, that every dollar we add to the debt is ers, and her staff. Every year, Diana mentor. We first worked together when a burden we are placing on our children and her friends baked hundreds of doz- we were both in the Wyoming State and grandchildren. ens of cookies. My wife Bobbi often Legislature. Then we served together One of my favorite memories of Mike joined in the cooking of literally thou- in the Wyoming State Senate. Finally, happened a few years ago when he was sands of cookies of all varieties and all when he came to the U.S. Senate, I fol- a neighbor next door in the State of made with loving care. It was so pop- lowed him a few years later to the Wyoming. He was someone, as I said, ular around here that people used to House of Representatives. I always for whom I had tremendous respect. He walk up to Diana and Mike in the hall- joked that I was just following him was always a gentleman. He had some- way and ask: When is the party? around like a puppy dog my whole life. thing that, I think, in politics is really It had been a tremendous privilege Mike taught me about legislating, rare, and that is, he would deal with for my wife Bobbi and me to serve for but he also taught me about life. He big policy issues here in Washington, 13 years with Mike and Diana, rep- had a rock-solid faith. His faith was his DC, but he always retained his common resenting Wyoming in the U.S. Senate. guiding light. It is something that my touch. He had a terrific way of con- The people of Wyoming will always be late husband had, too, and I take com- necting with people on a very personal extremely grateful—grateful for his fort in knowing that Mike is peacefully level. decades of faithful, tireless service. at home in Heaven with his Lord and I remember I was experiencing heel May God bless the memory of Mike Savior. I am Lutheran, and in Martin pain from overrunning, which, it turns Enzi. May God comfort his family dur- ‘‘Luther’s Small Catechism,’’ it says out, was plantar fasciitis, and I hap- ing this extremely trying time. And that Christians like Mike and me and pened to mention it to Mike, who at may God continue to bless the State of John are redeemed so that I may be His one time was a shoe salesman and a Wyoming. own and live under Him in His King- shoe store owner. Well, it isn’t more The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- dom and serve Him in everlasting than a day later or so when he comes ator from Wyoming. righteousness, innocence, and blessed- up to me and he has a solution. He had Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. President, today, ness. some heel inserts for my shoes, which Wyoming mourns the loss of a gentle I note that because Mike was such a turned out to be just exactly one of the giant, Mike Enzi. servant leader. He gave his earthly life solutions that I needed to deal with Mike spent his life working to make to public service, and as Heaven is an that. That was very typical of Senator Wyoming a better place while creating everlasting service of the Lord, I know Enzi. He was thoughtful. He was prac- opportunities for our people. As the that no one is more prepared for that tical, incredibly hard-working, and mayor of Gillette, a State legislator, or than Mike. He was a servant leader on very, very smart and very, very prin- as a U.S. Senator and senior states- Earth, and I know he will be a servant cipled. man, Wyoming had no greater cham- leader in Heaven. To his family—to his wife Diana, his pion than Mike Enzi. He always put I will say one last thing. Mike’s un- wife of more than 50 years, and to his Wyoming first and worked harder than expected death is a reminder that you children and grandchildren—I want to anyone to serve his constituents. can never say thank you to the ones say how much we will deeply miss him Growing up, Mike’s dad would say: I you care about and appreciate too soon and how much we are sending our don’t care if he is a doctor or a lawyer or too often. I, along with John, was thoughts and prayers to them during or a ditchdigger; I just want him to be blessed to be able to pay tribute to this very, very difficult time. proud of what he does. If he is a ditch- Mike’s lasting accomplishments and BIDEN ADMINISTRATION digger, I want any darned fool to be impact on Wyoming just last week Mr. President, on a different topic, able to look at that ditch and say: when JOHN BARRASSO and I recorded a last week, the Department of Edu- That is a Mike Enzi ditch. tribute to him and his service to Wyo- cation officially backed away from That creed became commonplace in ming’s mining community. At this prioritizing radical and divisive propa- Mike’s Senate office. event honoring Mike Enzi, at which he ganda in applications for a Federal pro- I will echo Mike’s former chief of was in attendance in his hometown of gram for civics and American history staff, Coy Knobel, by saying: I think it Gillette, he joked, he had fun, and he education. Score one for sanity and for is a pretty good ditch. got to enjoy the camaraderie of the American history. Mike was a soft-spoken leader, but people in the State he loved so very The Department’s original proposed the many legislative wins he delivered much. priorities for program applications had

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