[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 56 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S4307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO MIKE FIELD

 Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I want to talk for a moment about 
Mike Field, a man whose public service has done much to improve the 
quality of life for people in our home State of Idaho.
  Like many Western States, much of Idaho is made up of large swathes 
of rural areas where it can be challenging to provide the housing, 
infrastructure and economic opportunities for those residents. Having 
grown up in the rural community of Grandview, Mike learned this 
firsthand. Raised by loving and civic-minded parents, Oscar and 
Francis, he saw the work ethic and generosity that was demonstrated 
within his own family and by his neighbors. It became a foundation he 
used as he built his career in extending the helping hand of the State 
and Federal governments to Idahoans in our rural areas.
  He started his work in this body, the U.S. Senate, where he served 
under Senators Jim McClure and Larry Craig. Mike worked with fellow 
Idahoans and helped them sort out their difficulties with Federal 
agencies. Showing a deft touch with people, he became the Idaho State 
director of USDA Rural Development and later the USDA Farm Service 
Agency. In both roles, Mike naturally led and served Idaho's many 
farmers and ranchers, in part based on his days growing up and working 
with them. Mike then was appointed as a council member to the Northwest 
Power Planning Council, where he worked to provide an infrastructure 
for reliable and cost effective power that would reach many areas of 
Idaho. He also dealt with natural resource issues that impacted the 
livelihood of many in the rural parts of our State.
  From there, he returned as the head of the USDA Rural Development 
IDAHO, where he has served over the past 8 years. In that capacity he 
has used his optimism and good nature to lead and motivate a team that 
has brought hundreds of millions of dollars in improvements to our 
State. He oversaw many positive changes in housing, drinking water and 
jobs throughout our rural areas. Mike built a strong trust between the 
different levels of government, tribes and agencies as he worked to 
improving the quality of life for rural Idahoans.
  I cannot imagine what Idaho, and particularly its rural areas, would 
look like today without the efforts of Mike Field. Together, with his 
wife Debbie, they have greatly improved the lives of Idahoans with 
their dedicated public service.
  I congratulate Mike for his many years of outstanding leadership and 
service to his fellow Idahoans.

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