TRIBUTES TO HON. MIKE JOHANNS VerDate Aug 31 2005 16:23 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 091900 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6019 Sfmt 6019 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE14\91905.TXT KAYNE VerDate Aug 31 2005 16:23 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 091900 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6019 Sfmt 6019 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE14\91905.TXT KAYNE Mike Johanns U.S. SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA TRIBUTES IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES E PL UR UM IB N U U S VerDate Aug 31 2005 16:23 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 091900 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6687 Sfmt 6687 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE14\91905.TXT KAYNE congress.#15 Courtesy U.S. Senate Historical Office Mike Johanns VerDate Aug 31 2005 16:23 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 091900 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6687 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE14\91905.TXT KAYNE 91905.001 S. DOC. 113–31 Tributes Delivered in Congress Mike Johanns United States Senator 2009–2015 ÷ U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 2015 VerDate Aug 31 2005 16:23 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 091900 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6687 Sfmt 6687 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE14\91905.TXT KAYNE Compiled under the direction of the Joint Committee on Printing VerDate Aug 31 2005 16:23 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 091900 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6687 Sfmt 6687 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE14\91905.TXT KAYNE CONTENTS Page Biography .................................................................................................. v Farewell Address ...................................................................................... vii Proceedings in the Senate: Tributes by Senators: Ayotte, Kelly, of New Hampshire ............................................. 23 Bennet, Michael F., of Colorado ................................................ 26 Boxer, Barbara, of California .................................................... 30 Carper, Thomas R., of Delaware ............................................... 19 Chambliss, Saxby, of Georgia ................................................... 10 Collins, Susan M., of Maine ...................................................... 17 Coons, Christopher A., of Delaware ......................................... 22 Cornyn, John, of Texas .............................................................. 6 Durbin, Richard J., of Illinois ................................................... 22 Enzi, Michael B., of Wyoming ................................................... 24 Fischer, Deb, of Nebraska ......................................................... 11 Graham, Lindsey, of South Carolina ........................................ 27 Hatch, Orrin G., of Utah ........................................................... 27, 29 Heitkamp, Heidi, of North Dakota ........................................... 25 Hoeven, John, of North Dakota ................................................ 18, 23 Isakson, Johnny, of Georgia ...................................................... 10 Johanns, Mike, of Nebraska ...................................................... 6 Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont ................................................... 28 McCain, John, of Arizona .......................................................... 8 McConnell, Mitch, of Kentucky ................................................. 3, 11 Portman, Rob, of Ohio ............................................................... 13 Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island ...................................................... 20, 21 Reid, Harry, of Nevada .............................................................. 6 Roberts, Pat, of Kansas ............................................................. 15 Shaheen, Jeanne, of New Hampshire ...................................... 29 Wyden, Ron, of Oregon .............................................................. 20 [ iii ] VerDate Aug 31 2005 16:23 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 091900 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6687 Sfmt 6687 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE14\91905.TXT KAYNE VerDate Aug 31 2005 16:23 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 091900 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6687 Sfmt 6687 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE14\91905.TXT KAYNE BIOGRAPHY On January 6, 2009, MIKE JOHANNS was sworn in as U.S. Senator for Nebraska. He won the support of an over- whelming majority of Nebraskans by demonstrating prin- cipled leadership throughout more than 30 years of public service. Senator JOHANNS served on four committees in the 113th Congress: Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Appropria- tions; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; and Veterans Affairs. In previous Congresses he served on the Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Committee on Com- merce, Science and Transportation, and the Committee on Indian Affairs. Senator JOHANNS established himself as a legislative lead- er on issues that are not only important to Nebraska but also the Nation. He introduced and championed common- sense legislation dealing with issues ranging from agri- culture to veterans to small businesses. After hearing from businesses in Nebraska about a provi- sion in President Obama’s health law that would have cre- ated a paperwork nightmare for job creators, Senator JOHANNS began an effort that gained bipartisan momentum and the 1099 reporting mandate was repealed. On agri- culture, he led the fight against harmful government regula- tions and continued his work on a long-term, reform-minded farm bill that focused on risk management tools. One of the first pieces of legislation to be signed into law for 2013 was the National Defense Authorization Act, which contained Senator JOHANNS’ legislation to help returning veterans find civilian employment and supplied funding to continue work on the new command facility for the Strategic Command (STRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base. Before being elected to the Senate, MIKE JOHANNS was ap- pointed the 28th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agri- culture in January 2005. For nearly 3 years he worked to ex- pand foreign market access for U.S. producers, promoted the growth of the renewable fuels industry, and advanced coop- erative conservation. Additionally, MIKE JOHANNS developed an indepth farm bill proposal, which became the foundation [ v ] VerDate Aug 31 2005 16:23 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 091900 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE14\91905.TXT KAYNE for improvements and reforms adopted in the final 2008 farm bill. MIKE JOHANNS also served as Nebraska’s 38th Governor from 1999 to 2005. As Governor, he promoted an agenda of tax relief, less government, building the economy, protecting families, and ensuring the health, safety, and success of Ne- braska’s children. MIKE JOHANNS served on the Lancaster County Board from 1983 to 1987, and on the Lincoln City Council from 1989 to 1991. He was elected mayor of Lincoln in 1991 and was reelected in 1995 without opposition. He successfully ran for Governor in 1998 and was reelected in 2002. He grew up on a farm where he learned a work ethic that has been put to use serving the people of Nebraska and this country. The values he developed while growing up serve as the foundation for his commitment to public service. MIKE JOHANNS is a graduate of St. Mary’s University of Min- nesota. He earned a law degree from Creighton University in Omaha and practiced law in O’Neill and Lincoln. Senator JOHANNS is married to Stephanie Johanns, former Lancaster County Commissioner and Nebraska State Sen- ator. The couple has two children and five grandchildren. [ vi ] VerDate Aug 31 2005 16:23 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 091900 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE14\91905.TXT KAYNE Farewell to the Senate Tuesday, December 9, 2014 Mr. JOHANNS. I wish to start by saying I so appreciate the kind words by Senators McCain, Chambliss, and Isakson. I see there are others in the Chamber who may weigh in and offer a thought or two. I can’t express how much I appreciate it. I would like to offer a few thoughts—my farewell thoughts—today. I rise, first, to convey a very deep and sincere appreciation to the people of a really great State, the State of Nebraska. They have entrusted me with the high privilege and the sol- emn responsibility of representing them in this body. I am honored to have served as a Senator from Nebraska, and I hope and pray that I have done so in a manner that upholds the high standards that Nebraskans have rightly es- tablished for their elected office holders. If I could turn back the clock 32 years I would do it again—from my first day as the county commissioner, throughout my service as a Lincoln City Council member, as mayor of our capital city, Lincoln, as the Governor of Ne- braska, in President Bush’s Cabinet, and now as a Senator. No doubt about it, if I could turn back the clock, I would just do it again. I am so grateful for the trust placed in me and the support of so many people who have made this service possible. Let me start with the top of the list, and that would be my family. My wife, Stephanie, has been an incredible pillar of support. One of my best friends refers to her as ‘‘spirited.’’ That would be an understatement. She is a true partner. She has given her whole heart to public service—both her own serv- ice as a State senator and as a county commissioner when we first met—and to mine. I thank my children, Justin and Michaela, who are now grown up. They have their own families. We have five beau- tiful grandchildren. They have been a source of true joy and pride. They too have cheerfully supported me despite the [ vii ] VerDate Aug 31 2005 16:23 Jun 22, 2015 Jkt 091900 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE14\91905.TXT KAYNE sometimes long hours and the missed birthdays—I could go on and on. It cut into that dad and grandpa time. I offer a special