[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 84 (Monday, June 2, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E900-E901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN HONOR OF STATE SENATOR DON WILLIAMS

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 2, 2014

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, this year residents of Connecticut's 29th 
district will bid a fond farewell to a man who has served them for 22 
years. While serving in Hartford, State Senator Donald E. Williams 
never stopped personally helping those living in his district.
  Prior to being elected to the Senate, Don served as First Selectman 
for the town of Thompson, Connecticut, overseeing the first mandatory 
town recycling program in Connecticut. During his time as First 
Selectman, he also served as Chairman of the Northeastern Connecticut 
Council of Governments and as Chairman of the Northeast Economic 
Alliance. He previously worked as an attorney focusing on municipal law 
at the law firm of Boland, St. Onge & Brouillard in Putnam.
  When Don arrived in Hartford as a State Senator in 1993, he quickly 
earned the respect of his peers. He became an influential member of the 
Senate and was elected as the Senate President Pro Tempore in 2004. He 
is now Connecticut's longest serving President Pro Tem.
  Among his numerous duties as President, he has managed the schedule 
and policy agenda for his fellow senators. Among his legislative 
triumphs, Don helped spearhead the campaign finance law of 2005 and he 
pushed for cleaning up the ``Sooty Six'' power plants in 2002. In 
chairing the Judiciary Committee, Senator Williams authored and 
spearheaded legislation to create the Office of the Child Advocate and 
the Office of the Victim Advocate. He led the fight to improve 
nutrition in Connecticut schools and helped position our State as a 
national leader in combating childhood obesity.
  In the wake of the terrible violence in Newtown, Connecticut, Senator 
Williams partnered with Governor Malloy to steer important, sensible 
gun laws to passage. Among his final accomplishments, Don led passage 
of Connecticut's Smart Start, a competitive grant program that moves 
Connecticut closer to universal pre-K education.
  He served on the Board of Directors for the New England Board of 
Higher Education. He has championed the UCONN 2000 and UCONN 2020 
initiatives to revitalize the University of Connecticut. In addition to 
his legislative work, Don is also publishing a biography on the life of 
Prudence Crandall, which includes a significant amount of abolitionist 
history. His writing has received rave reviews from book critics and 
accolades from local historians, who appreciate the telling of this 
important story in Connecticut's history.
  I am proud of working with Don on a number of different projects in 
eastem Connecticut, including the continuation of support for the 
Storrs Center, a mixed-use residential and commercial center, as well 
as ensuring Federal support for rail line revitalization.
  As Senator Williams finishes up his final term, I wish him the best 
of luck. Although he is retiring from public office, I have no doubt 
that he will remain an active member of his community. I ask my 
colleagues to join with

[[Page E901]]

me in congratulating Senator Donald E. Williams on his retirement and 
recognizing his remarkable career.

                          ____________________