[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 213 (Wednesday, December 16, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S7534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO JAN BARAN

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I want to extend congratulations 
and best wishes to a friend, a skilled attorney in the areas of 
campaign finance and election law, and a devoted defender of the First 
Amendment.
  After more than 35 years, Jan Witold Baran is retiring from the law 
firm Wiley Rein LLP at the end of the month. Throughout his 
distinguished career, Jan has successfully represented thousands of 
clients, including me. He has put his brilliance to work defending all 
Americans' rights to participate in our democracy and express 
themselves through voluntary contributions to the candidates of their 
choice, so that a few elite gatekeepers cannot control the public 
discourse in our country.
  When you consider Jan's background, it is no surprise he is committed 
to preserving freedom. Jan was born in postwar Europe to a Flemish 
mother and Polish Catholic father. Before Jan was born, his father had 
survived 2\1/2\ years in concentration camps including Auschwitz, 
before he was liberated by American troops at Dachau. Jan's father was 
incarcerated because during his tenure as mayor of a small town in 
Poland, he refused to turn in his rifle to the Gestapo. Clearly a 
stubborn dedication to freedom under law is in Jan's bloodline.
  Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of the Baran family's 
immigration to America. I am sure his parents would be extremely proud 
of what their son has accomplished. A decorated scholar from Vanderbilt 
Law School; general counsel for the National Republican Congressional 
Committee; a trailblazing attorney at the FEC; general counsel to the 
1988 campaign of President George H. W. Bush; counsel to the Republican 
National Committee. President Bush appointed him to the Commission on 
Federal Ethics Law Reform and as Ambassador and Chairman of the U.S. 
Delegation to the World Administrative Radio Conference.
  Jan Baran has been an integral part of legal teams that have defended 
Americans' political speech rights before the U.S. Supreme Court. He 
was part of my team when I challenged the constitutionality of the 
campaign finance law known as McCain-Feingold. From McConnell v. FEC to 
Citizens United and beyond, Jan was in the middle of these important 
battles. Through these episodes and many more, I personally have 
witnessed and appreciated Jan's candor, sharp legal mind, and strategic 
thinking.
  Washington can be a transient place, but Mr. Baran has stayed in the 
fray for more than 40 years and given his best every day to uphold free 
speech and defend the Republic. I am not sure if the people of that 
small town in Poland know that the son of their wartime mayor's son 
built such a distinguished career in just one generation. His talent, 
perseverance, and commitment to his country are a credit to where Jan 
came from and the life he has led along the way. I extend my warm 
wishes to him and his wife Kathryn, their four children, sons-in-law, 
and grandchildren.

                          ____________________