[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 24, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING ROBERT BAUMAN ON HIS RETIREMENT

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                          HON. BRUCE L. BRALEY

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 24, 2012

  Mr. BRALEY of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to congratulate Bob 
Bauman on his long-awaited and well-deserved retirement from the Butler 
County Rural Electric Cooperative, REC. Bob has served as CEO and 
General Manager in Allison, Iowa, since 1984, and has been very active 
in rural development. He was instrumental in establishing an economic 
development program at Butler County REC and building a $1.8 million 
revolving loan fund for the program. In addition, he was the leader in 
forming Homeward Inc., a nonprofit housing provider assisting rural 
Iowans with their housing needs. Homeward has made more than $10 
million in loans in 25 Iowa counties and assisted 1,000 families as 
they acquire and maintain their homes.
  He has served on the Governor's Task Force on Housing, the Iowa 
Institute of Cooperatives Legislative Committee, and on boards of 
directors for the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, the 
Community Vitality Center, the National Rural Utilities Cooperative 
Finance Corporation, CFC, and the National Cooperative Services 
Corporation. He's also served on the National Rural Electric 
Cooperative Association, NRECA, Community and Economic Development 
Committee, and as chair of the NRECA/CFC Rural Housing Committee.
  In March 2012, the Iowa Area Development Group honored Bob with the 
Silver Shovel Award for outstanding leadership, innovation, and 
achievement in business and community development.
  Calling Bob a leader is an understatement. He has had a tremendous 
impact on the quality of life of thousands of Iowans, and he has been a 
good friend and adviser to me. I wish Bob all the best in his next 
endeavor, and I know his wife, Vicki, and all of their children, are 
proud of him.

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