[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2025]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE SERVICE OF THOMAS L. BALDINI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 1, 2010

  Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the service of my good 
friend and District Director Thomas L. Baldini of Marquette, Michigan. 
Tom has been a member of my staff since 2003, but has been a devoted 
member of the Marquette community for over 40 years and has been a 
committed public servant to the people of Michigan throughout his long 
career.
  Tom graduated from Northern Michigan University (NMU) in Marquette in 
1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education 
(Political Science/Economics and History). Following his time at NMU, 
Tom began his distinguished career as a high school economics and 
political science teacher with Marquette Area Public Schools, a 
position he held for 18 years. Throughout his teaching career, Tom also 
served as a part-time instructor at NMU.
  In 1983, Tom began serving as the Special Assistant to Michigan 
Governor James Blanchard for Upper Peninsula Affairs and Education 
Advisor, and was referred to as the ``Governor of the Upper 
Peninsula.'' Tom continued to serve the citizens of Michigan with 
Governor Blanchard until 1991, when he went back to work for Marquette 
Area Public Schools as Assistant to the Superintendent for Personnel 
and Finance.
  Three years later, Tom had the distinct honor of being appointed by 
President Clinton--and later confirmed by the U.S. Senate--to become 
the Chairman of the U.S. Section of the International Joint Commission 
(IJC) for Canada and the United States. Tom was later tapped by 
President Clinton once again to become the U.S. Commissioner to the 
International Boundary Commission (IBC) for the United States and 
Canada. Tom was the first American to hold these two diplomatic 
positions for the United States concurrently.
  Looking for a change in his professional life, Tom became my District 
Director in 2003 and has been with me ever since. When I am in 
Washington, Tom is my eyes and ears in northern Michigan and serves as 
my chief representative throughout our expansive District. Tom 
possesses a firm passion for public service and a steadfast commitment 
to the people of Michigan, and always stands ready to assist in any way 
he can. He managed my 10-person district staff in seven different 
offices and assists constituents, local communities, local governments 
and businesses throughout the district.
  Madam Speaker, Thomas L. Baldini is a dear friend to both me, and the 
citizens of northern Michigan. His remarkable career of public service 
is truly inspiring and I know that after my time in Congress has ended, 
Tom will continue to play an integral role in his community for years 
to come. I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to 
join me in recognizing Thomas L. Baldini's four decades of service to 
the State of Michigan.

                          ____________________