[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 198 (Monday, December 17, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7654-S7655]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO TOMMY WILLETT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, after leading the Monroe County 
government for nearly a decade, my friend County judge-executive Tommy 
Willett will retire at the end of his term. I would like to take a 
moment to congratulate him on his accomplishments during his time in 
office and to thank him for his leadership.
  In 2011, Tommy answered the call of public service, stepping away 
from his successful business career to run for office. The job isn't an 
easy one. Speaking as a former judge-executive myself, I know firsthand 
the broad range of responsibilities that fall into the job description. 
But whatever the challenge, Tommy always worked to better the lives of 
the men and women of Monroe County.
  I would like to mention one particular project I had the privilege to 
work on with Tommy. More than a decade ago, the community began 
discussing plans to construct its own water treatment facility. At that 
time, the county was purchasing water from the city of Tompkinsville, 
eventually reaching a high cost of nearly $80,000 per month. When 
county officials brought the idea to my attention, I stepped in to 
help. In addition to funds raised by the community and at the State 
level, I directed Federal resources to the project to help complete it. 
Working together with Tommy for a number of years, I was delighted to 
see the facility become fully functional earlier this year, with the 
capacity to pump 2 million gallons of water per day.
  The Monroe County Water District's treatment plant is just one 
example of Tommy's lasting impact on behalf of his constituents. With a 
constant drive to help Kentuckians however possible, he should be proud 
of his time in office. As he ends his public service, I extend my warm 
wishes for a restful retirement. Whatever the future may hold for 
Tommy, I hope he enjoys more time with his sons, Scott and James, and 
his four grandchildren, I ask my Senate colleagues to join me in 
congratulating Judge-Executive Tommy Willett for his public service in 
Kentucky.
  Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that this 
letter from 44 former U.S. Senators be printed in the Congressional 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                December 10, 2018.
       Dear Senate Colleagues: As former members of the U.S. 
     Senate, Democrats and Republicans, it is our shared view that 
     we are entering a dangerous period, and we feel an obligation 
     to speak up about serious challenges to the rule of law, the 
     Constitution, our governing institutions and our national 
     security.
       We are on the eve of the conclusion of special counsel 
     Robert S. Mueller III's investigation and the House's 
     commencement of investigations of the president and his 
     administration. The likely convergence of these two events 
     will occur at a time when simmering regional conflicts and 
     global power confrontations continue to threaten our 
     security, economy and geopolitical stability.
       It is a time, like other critical junctures in our history, 
     when our nation must engage at every level with strategic 
     precision and the hand of both the president and the Senate.
       We are at an inflection point in which the foundational 
     principles of our democracy and our national security 
     interests are at stake, and the rule of law and the ability 
     of our institutions to function freely and independently must 
     be upheld.
       During our service in the Senate, at times we were allies 
     and at other times opponents, but never enemies. We all took 
     an oath swearing allegiance to the Constitution. Whatever 
     united or divided us, we did not veer from our unwavering and 
     shared commitment to placing our country, democracy and 
     national interest above all else.
       At other critical moments in our history, when 
     constitutional crises have threatened our foundations, it has 
     been the Senate that has stood in defense of our democracy. 
     Today is once again such a time.
       Regardless of party affiliation, ideological leanings or 
     geography, as former members of this great body, we urge 
     current and future Senators to be steadfast and zealous 
     guardians of our democracy by ensuring that partisanship or 
     self-interest not replace national interest.

[[Page S7655]]

       Max Baucus,-(Montana); Evan Bayh, (Indiana); Jeff Bingaman, 
     (New Mexico); Bill Bradley, (New Jersey); Richard Bryan, 
     (Nevada); Ben Nighthorse Campbell, (Colorado); Max Cleland, 
     (Georgia); William Cohen, (Maine); Kent Conrad, (North 
     Dakota); Al D'Amato, (New York); John Danforth, (Missouri); 
     Tom Daschle, (South Dakota); Dennis DeConcini, (Arizona); 
     Chris Dodd, (Connecticut); Byron Dorgan, (North Dakota).
       David Durenberger, (Minnesota); Russ Feingold, (Wisconsin); 
     Wyche Fowler, (Georgia); Bob Graham, (Florida); Chuck Hagel, 
     (Nebraska); Tom Harkin, (Iowa); Gary Hart, (Colorado); 
     Bennett Johnston, (Louisiana); Bob Kerrey, (Nebraska); John 
     Kerry, (Massachusetts); Paul Kirk, (Massachusetts); Mary 
     Landrieu, (Louisiana); Joe Lieberman, (Connecticut); Blanche 
     Lincoln, (Arkansas); Richard Lugar, (Indiana).
       Barbara Mikulski, (Maryland); Ben Nelson, (Nebraska); Sam 
     Nunn, (Georgia); Larry Pressler, (South Dakota); David Pryor, 
     (Arkansas); Don Riegle, (Michigan); Chuck Robb, (Virginia); 
     Jay Rockefeller, (West Virginia); Jim Sasser, (Tennessee); 
     Alan Simpson, (Wyoming); Mark Udall, (Colorado); John Warner, 
     (Virginia); Lowell Weicker, (Connecticut); Tim Wirth, 
     (Colorado).

                          ____________________