[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 43 (Thursday, March 17, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S1581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                         TRIBUTE TO MIKE DUNCAN

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to a 
distinguished Kentuckian, a man who knows the meaning of public 
service, who I am proud to call a friend. Robert M. ``Mike'' Duncan 
will be celebrating his 65th birthday next month, and I want to wish 
him great happiness and every success on such a special occasion.
  Mike is well known in Kentucky and nationally for wearing many hats. 
Currently he serves as the president and CEO of the American Coalition 
for Clean Coal Electricity, a national nonprofit organization that 
advocates for coal miners in Kentucky and elsewhere and for the use of 
coal as an affordable and reliable resource in our Nation's energy mix.
  Mike has served the Republican Party in many roles, most notably as 
the 60th Chairman of the Republican National Committee, RNC, from 2007 
to 2009. He came to that role having previously served as treasurer and 
general counsel of the RNC before his election as chairman.
  During his career, Mike's served on the campaigns of five Presidents. 
He worked in the White House as the assistant director of the Office of 
Public Liaison. He was appointed to the President's Commission on White 
House Fellows in 2001, and later served as the chairman and a board 
member of the Tennessee Valley Authority. He served in various roles 
with the U.S.-China High Level Political Party Leaders Dialogue and the 
Center for Rural Development.
  Mike is also active politically in Kentucky at every level. He has 
served as a precinct captain to a county chairman to the State chairman 
to the national chairman. In 1998, he chaired Jim Bunning's successful 
U.S. Senate race. Mike's involvement with Kentucky politics dates back 
to his time interning for the Kentucky General Assembly, when he got 
the chance to serve as President Richard Nixon's driver when the 
President was campaigning for reelection in the Bluegrass State.
  Mike is also active with numerous nonprofit organizations. He is a 
trustee of the Christian Appalachian Project and runs a student 
mentoring program. He has been recognized with honorary degrees from 
several schools, including the College of the Ozarks, Cumberland 
College, and Morehead State University.
  In his professional life, Mike is the principal owner, along with his 
wife, Joanne, of two community banks with five offices in eastern 
Kentucky. He has served as the president of the Kentucky Bankers 
Association and as a director of the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank 
Cincinnati Branch.
  Mike holds degrees from Cumberland College and the University of 
Kentucky College of Law. He and Joanne call Inez, KY, their home; and 
they have a son, Rob, who is an assistant U.S. attorney.
  Mike was 8 years old when his uncle ran for superintendent of 
schools. It was volunteering for his uncle's campaign that sparked his 
love of politics, and we are glad that it did. He has been of great 
service to the people of Kentucky and to the people of this Nation for 
many years, and we owe him our gratitude.
  I want to wish Mike a very happy birthday, and I know my colleagues 
join me in recognizing his achievements and wishing him many happy 
returns.
  Thank you, Mike, for your service to the Party and to our country.

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