[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 15, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S701-S702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Remembering Wayne Stenehjem

  Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the late 
North Dakota attorney general, Wayne Stenehjem.
  Earlier this month, North Dakota laid to rest a dedicated public 
servant for our great State who was both a colleague and a true friend. 
Wayne spent over four decades serving the people of North Dakota. 
Throughout that time, he worked to make our State a better place to 
live. Moreover, he was a fierce advocate for the rule of law and the 
rights of North Dakotans.
  Wayne was the best at what our State has to offer, having called 
North Dakota his home for the entirety of his life. He was born in 
Mohall, ND, graduated from the University of North Dakota, and received 
his law degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law.
  Wayne started his career in public service in North Dakota's State 
Legislature, where he served for 24 years, first as a member of the 
North Dakota House of Representatives and then as a member of the North 
Dakota Senate. He then ran for the position of attorney general and was 
the longest serving attorney general in the State's history, having 
held the position for 21 years.
  In fact, Wayne and I both ran for State office in 2000, Wayne for 
attorney general and I ran for Governor. We spent much of the year 
traveling the State together and, once elected, we were able to start 
our service in statewide office at the same time. It was a blessing to 
have my time as Governor and now Senator coincide with Wayne's service 
as attorney general. This not only provided us with many opportunities 
to work together on issues important to North Dakotans, it allowed me 
to get to know him as a friend and to experience his many great 
qualities.
  He was incredibly intelligent. He had a tremendous sense of humor, 
and he possessed a deep knowledge about a wide variety of subjects, 
from sports to trivia, to history, to law--you name it. Wayne was one 
of the most intelligent people I ever met. There is much to miss about 
Wayne and many great memories to be grateful for.

[[Page S702]]

  Wayne is survived by his wife Beth Bakke Stenehjem and son Andrew, 
along with many, many other loved ones. He had a large family, and he 
loved them all.
  Mikey and I extend our deepest condolences to Wayne's family and all 
of his loved ones. North Dakota lost a strong advocate for our State, 
but his legacy will continue on.
  Rest easy, Wayne. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for all 
that you accomplished.
  Mr. President, I yield to my colleague from North Dakota.
  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I, of course, associate with every word 
Senator Hoeven said. I think it is fortuitous we are joined in the 
Chamber today by the next speaker who came here to talk about something 
altogether different, but Senator Wicker knew our attorney general, 
Wayne Stenehjem, maybe longer than I did, actually.
  As Senator Hoeven said, a couple of weeks ago, the good people of 
North Dakota lost a really good friend. We said goodbye to one of our 
State's most dedicated and beloved public servants. Attorney General 
Wayne Stenehjem died unexpectedly and suddenly on January 28, just 1 
month after announcing his intention to not seek reelection and retire 
at the end of this year.
  Wayne was, as John said, North Dakota's longest serving attorney 
general, having been in office since 2001. Prior to this, he was in the 
State legislature, winning his first election while at the University 
of North Dakota--a law student at the age of 22 and continuing his 
service in the legislature for 24 more years.
  He gave 46 years of continuous service to the people of North Dakota, 
and we are just now beginning to comprehend the impact of the 
significance of all that he did for our State and during those 
important years.
  I first became acquainted with Wayne when he was serving as a State 
senator, and I was a desk page in the legislature. Our friendship and 
political collaborations continued during the years as I worked for the 
North Dakota Republican Party and later held State-appointed and 
elected offices. In the 9 years I have been in Congress, Wayne has been 
a valued friend, a trusted advisor, and an invaluable champion of 
States' rights and the U.S. Constitution.
  His work representing North Dakota in State and Federal courts and as 
a member of the State Industrial Commission was monumental. It 
positioned our State to be an energy powerhouse and, at the same time, 
an unwavering steward of our environment. Among the most notable 
Federal issues that Wayne championed for our State was objecting to the 
onerous Waters of the United States regulations proposed by the Obama 
administration. Wayne skillfully led a coalition of 13 States in 
opposition, resulting in a nationwide stay of that rule. He was also 
instrumental in procuring a historic stay of the Clean Power Plan from 
the U.S. Supreme Court. In both cases, he skillfully underscored the 
rights and the responsibilities of States, while drawing a blueprint 
for cooperative federalism in environmental policy.

  Wayne's servant leadership over the past four decades was woven into 
countless battles, triumphs, and solutions. An ardent supporter of open 
records and meetings laws and transparency in government, every public 
group, including Governor Hoeven, Public Service Commissioner Cramer, 
and anybody in government understood that regardless of the size or the 
importance of your commission or your committee, we all felt Wayne's 
scrutiny on behalf of transparency for the people.
  He developed innovative ways to crack down on illegal meth production 
and to better control the opioid epidemic. Human trafficking and 
domestic abuse issues were also always--always--on the top of his 
priority list and on his radar. He was a fierce advocate and supporter 
of law enforcement, the brave men and women who protect the safety of 
our communities. They all knew that Wayne had their backs.
  His work was impressive. Yet Wayne was not a grandstander. He worked 
quietly and had much more respect for good outcomes than for personal 
gain and benefit. Wayne smiled all the time. He literally smiled all 
the time. And on the very rare occasion he didn't, you were probably in 
trouble, and you probably deserved it, but it was rare. He was a fun-
loving person. He knew what to take seriously and what to enjoy. His 
balance of life is really what I think endeared him to so many people.
  Wayne was the same person last month that he was in college, which is 
his greatest testament, I think, to public service. When you accomplish 
as much as Wayne did and reach the pinnacle of service as he did and he 
was the same guy who represented the University of North Dakota in the 
State legislature 46 years ago, that says it all about his character 
and about Wayne's stature.
  Recognized among the very elite attorneys general in the country, the 
Nation's 36 current and former attorneys general who attended his 
funeral in Bismarck, speaks volumes about the high regard to which he 
was held by his peers.
  North Dakota and our Nation have lost a true patriot, and Wayne 
Stenehjem left an incredible legacy we can all celebrate. He dedicated 
his life to public service in our State, and our State is a much, much 
better place because of him. Thousands of people knew Wayne. Thousands 
more--and really millions--were impacted by Wayne's good work, 
particularly in the attorney general's office.
  In the context of eternity, our life is but a snap of a finger, but 
in the context of history, Wayne Stenehjem's contributions are massive 
and longstanding.
  On behalf of all North Dakotans, Kris and I send heartfelt sympathy 
to his wife Beth; his son Andrew; his very, very large extended family; 
and the legion of dedicated friends and admirers.
  As a lifelong Eagle Scout, Wayne was no doubt familiar with the 
famous scouting adage, ``Leave a place better than when you found it.'' 
Without a doubt, Wayne left North Dakota and this Nation a better 
place. May we all be inspired by his lifetime of public service and the 
profound impact it had on all that is excellent about North Dakota 
today. Rest in peace, Wayne.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.