[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 26 (Monday, February 25, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING MR. MICHAEL HIGGINS ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 25, 2013

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and some sadness that 
I rise to honor Mr. Michael R. Higgins, a Professional Staff Member of 
the Armed Services Committee, on the eve of his retirement.
   For over forty years, Mike has dedicated himself to his country and 
the Armed Forces. He served in the United States Air Force for twenty 
years and retired as Lieutenant Colonel. For the next 23 years, it was 
our great fortune that he chose the Armed Services Committee as the 
home for his incredible talents.
   Mike served 7 HASC chairmen and 8 subcommittee chairmen, helping to 
steer our committee through war and peace. His sage advice guided 
members out of the Cold War and through the sporadic conflicts of the 
1990s, social changes both large and small, and a tough 11 years of 
war. For any analyst looking to answer the question, ``How did the all-
volunteer military survive those war years?,'' I would urge them to 
examine the contributions of Mike Higgins.
   When the Pentagon struggled to attract quality recruits, Mike helped 
improve military recruiting and retention programs. When issues arose 
with outdated military pay and retirement policies, Mike modernized 
those systems. When the strains of combat brought in Wounded Warriors 
to rehabilitate, Mike helped guarantee attention to their needs.
   Mike encountered an historic array of challenges to the Armed 
Forces. Some were structural, some were strategic, and some were 
social. But Mike's consummate professionalism, commitment to the 
military people that he loved, and perseverance in the face of the 
toughest political and policy debates helped us meet each issue with 
wisdom and experience. For that, I am grateful and in his debt.
   His legacy is unmistakable. Whenever the military and Congress found 
themselves at odds, whenever there was a shared obstacle to overcome, 
and whenever a member of our committee -Republican or Democrat-needed 
advice or counsel, Mike was there.
   Mike Higgins is a giant. He shaped the service of every man and 
woman of the Armed Forces over the last two decades. Every military 
retiree, their survivors, and each military family benefited from 
Mike's commitment to them. Mike will cast a long shadow far beyond his 
retirement.
   His humility is matched only by his intellect, his ability to listen 
and a fearsome ability to see to the heart of an issue. When oversight 
is your business, sharp eyes are your sword. And no sword was sharper 
than that of this modest, unassuming Airman, who served his country 
with the tenacity of a lion, yet would today be surprised that so much 
is being made of all that he accomplished. Thank you, Mike.

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