[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 21, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3764-H3765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING TIMOTHY J. BURKE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bacon) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the hard work and 
success of Timothy J. Burke, who retired from the Omaha Public Power 
District on July 2 after serving the company for 24 years. He began his 
career with OPPD in 1997 as vice president and in 2015 took over as the 
company's 12th President and CEO.
  During his time with OPPD, Tim faced some tough challenges, but with 
his tenacity and great leadership skills, he overcame them all.
  Burke's tenure as CEO will be remembered as one of transition. He 
made several decisions early on that set the future for OPPD. When he 
became the CEO, OPPD initiated utility-wide lean financial work to make 
the utility financially efficient and strong. Burke also made what he 
called the most difficult decision he ever made or had been involved 
with, recommending the closure of Fort Calhoun Nuclear Generating 
Station due to financial concerns and economies of scale at the 
country's smallest nuclear plant.
  In addition, under Burke, the company continued to achieve financial 
stability and 5 straight years of no general rate increase--which is 
amazing--which is now in its fifth year of no rate increases. Further, 
Burke's time at OPPD included a transition to more renewable energy and 
the commitment to be a net zero-carbon emitter by 2050.

[[Page H3765]]

  Throughout his career, Burke has remained active in local and 
industry organizations. His recent involvement includes the American 
Public Power Association, Large Public Power Council, Nebraska Power 
Association, the Business Ethics Alliance trustee, and the past chair 
and executive committee of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and 
United Way of the Midlands. He has also been heavily involved with 
Offutt Air Force Base and STRATCOM and has served as chair of the 
STRATCOM Consultation Committee. He is on the executive committee of 
the Offutt Air Force Base Advisory Council, and he has been a civic 
leader with the Air Force Chief of Staff and the Air Force Global 
Strike Command Civic Leader program.
  I had 16 assignments in the Air Force and found the local community 
around Offutt to be the most supportive and welcoming of all, and Tim 
embodies that patriotic welcoming spirit to the fullest.
  Family is extremely important to Tim. He and his wife, Terri, have 
three sons, five grandchildren, and a sixth grandbaby on the way.
  Post retirement, Tim is looking forward to first spending more time 
with his family and then finding ways to keep himself busy in the local 
area. He has been heavily involved in the local area, and I am sure he 
will continue to do so, and we need him.
  On top of all of this, one of Tim's passions is music, especially 
playing with his Irish pub band, the Shenanigans, with two of his sons. 
Burke is an exceptional leader and a skilled communicator and has 
served the Omaha area with honor and distinction.
  We thank Tim for his time with OPPD and for keeping the power on for 
those living in southeast Nebraska.

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