[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 109 (Thursday, June 27, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S4645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONFIRMATION OF ROB WALLACE
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I would like to say just a few words
about Rob Wallace, the newly confirmed Assistant Secretary for Fish,
Wildlife, and Parks at the Department of Interior.
I have known Rob for over 35 years. Without question, Rob is the
right person for the job. Throughout his long and distinguished career,
Rob has struck the proper balance between wildlife management, habitat
management, and the use of our public lands.
In terms of wildlife conservation, Rob is way up there in terms of
his commitment. Rob's experience and leadership in Wyoming and in our
Nation's capital are ideally suited for this critically important
position.
Throughout his 45-year career, Rob has served in a variety of jobs
that directly relate to the two Federal agencies he has been nominated
to oversee. Rob began his career as a seasonal park ranger in Grand
Teton National Park. Since then, Rob has served in a number of
positions. He has been Assistant Director of the National Park Service,
chief of staff for Wyoming Senator Malcolm Wallop, staff director for
the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee--a committee on
which I currently sit. He has been chief of staff for Wyoming Governor
Jim Geringer, and manager of U.S. Government Relations for the General
Electric Company.
Rob currently serves as the president of the Upper Green River
Conservancy. It is the Nation's first cooperative conservation bank.
Rob cofounded the Upper Green River Conservancy. It protects core sage
grouse habitat in the ecologically rich and the energy rich Upper Green
River watershed in Southwest Wyoming.
He built an innovative partnership of ranchers, conservation groups,
energy companies, investors, and other stakeholders. Rob is also the
founding member of the board of the Grand Teton National Park
Foundation, a group of people absolutely working together, committed to
the Grand Teton National Park. It promotes the park's cultural,
historic, and natural resources. He has also served on the boards of
many organizations dedicated to conserving wildlife and enhancing our
national parks.
Rob's nomination passed the Environment and Public Works Committee by
unanimous vote, and a near-unanimous reported vote in the Committee of
Energy and Natural Resources.
Rob Wallace is an outstanding choice for this position of Assistant
Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. He is the right person for the
job, and I am so pleased the Senate has now confirmed his nomination.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida.
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