[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 27, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S3741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BILL MILLS

 Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I have the distinct honor of 
recognizing the retirement of one of the leaders in water policy from 
the great State of Montana. Mr. Bill Mills is retiring after 57 years 
as a giant in Montana's water industry and as a respected leader 
nationally.
  Bill retired from the Air Force in 1965 and spent the next 12 years 
in the pump industry, focusing on the water business. In 1977, he 
formed the 2M Company in Billings, MT, with a $10,000 loan from his 
aunt and an SBA loan. His goal was to provide ``legendary'' service and 
support to the water well contractors and pump installers that provide 
water to homes, farms, ranches, and businesses throughout Montana. From 
those humble beginnings, he formed a 14-branch operation that covered 
the Rocky Mountain States and the Pacific Northwest. Bill served on the 
Water System Council Board in the 1990s and was a force behind Federal 
investment in programs to address rural residential and agricultural 
water issues.
  In 2006, Bill expanded his vision and focus globally by helping form 
Water 4 Kids, an international organization that provides permanent, 
safe drinking water solutions for at-risk communities. To date, Water 4 
Kids International has positively impacted over 3,000,000 lives in 
communities in Uganda, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Liberia, 
Rwanda, and the Philippines. In 2008, Bill was recognized as Montana's 
Small Business Person of the Year.
  In 2017, one of Bill's oldest and most trusted manufacturing 
partners, Franklin Electric, acquired 2M and other leading water 
equipment distributors around the country to form the Headwater 
Companies. Bill served on Headwater's board of advisers until April of 
this year.
  Please join me in congratulating Bill on a remarkable career that has 
positively impacted hundreds of employees, thousands of water industry 
professionals and helped provide millions of people with clean, 
reliable sources of water around the world.

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