[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              STATEMENT ON THE RETIREMENT OF BUTCH HINTON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, let me take this means to pay tribute to 
a dedicated and loyal public servant, Henry L. ``Butch'' Hinton. On 
January 4, 2008, Mr. Hinton will retire following a distinguished 37-
year career with the United States Government Accountability Office, 
GAO, capped by 13 years as the Managing Director of the agency's 
Defense Capabilities and Management team.
  Mr. Hinton began his career with GAO in 1970, rising through the 
ranks to lead one of its major divisions--the National Security and 
International Affairs Division, and after an organizational 
realignment, one of its key teams--the Defense Capabilities and 
Management team. He is an acknowledged subject matter expert on a wide 
variety of national security programs and policy issues dealing with 
defense planning and budgeting, force structure and readiness, weapon 
systems acquisitions, homeland defense, military and civilian 
personnel, logistics, infrastructure, and business and force 
transformation. In addition, he has an in-depth understanding of the 
Federal legislative and regulatory processes.
  Through the years, I have had the privilege of working with Mr. 
Hinton in my capacity as both chairman and ranking member of the House 
Armed Services Committee. As a result of his work on highly sensitive 
and complex issues related to military readiness, threats to national 
and global security, the global war on terrorism, the base realignment 
and closure process, and human capital management, he has been a two-
time recipient of the Comptroller General's Award for exceptional 
effort and achievement of results in support of the Congress and the 
American taxpayer. He has also received GAO's Integrity Award, two GAO 
Distinguished Service Awards, and GAO's Meritorious Service Award.
  GAO was created in 1921 with the mandate to audit, evaluate, or 
investigate virtually all Federal Government operations--wherever they 
might take place. In other words, the GAO serves as a ``watchdog'' over 
the taxpayers' money--guarding against fraud, abuse, and inefficient 
allocation of public funds.
  GAO evaluations under Mr. Hinton's guidance and leadership have saved 
taxpayers billions of dollars. During his career as head of GAO's 
National Security and International Affairs Division, and GAO's Defense 
Capabilities and Management team, Congress has implemented numerous 
recommendations resulting from his work. He has also led the work on 
reports to improve the readiness and capabilities of active and reserve 
forces, oversight of military operations including the use of 
contractors on the battlefield, reliability of cost reporting, 
transparency over military compensation costs, defense planning in such 
areas as infrastructure and force protection, and efforts to transform 
the Department of Defense's business operations, including the need for 
a Chief Management Officer.
  Madam Speaker, Butch Hinton's tenure at GAO has been characterized by 
success on every level. He has served as an example of a truly 
exceptional public servant. I am sure my colleagues will join me in 
wishing him well in his retirement.

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