[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E945-E946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO WALTER HEARNE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 23, 2024

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Walter Hearne 
on the occasion of his retirement from Federal service. For the last 22 
years, Walter has served the United States House of Representatives, 
and more specifically the House Committee on Appropriations, in an 
exemplary and dedicated fashion as a professional staff member.
  His long and impactful career began after completing study at James 
Madison University where Walter completed his undergraduate degree 
magna cum laude with distinction followed by a Master of Public 
Administration. It was clear from the beginning that Walter would excel 
in whatever he attempted.
  Walter began his career on Capitol Hill as a staff assistant on the 
Senate Budget Committee, where he led several special research projects 
for the staff director, including on reform issues associated with the 
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act and the Vice President's 
budget proposals during the 2000 presidential campaign. He also had his 
first taste of the Federal budget process by assisting with the 
development and enactment of the fiscal year 2002 budget resolution.
  I like to think that dabbling with a budget resolution piqued 
Walter's interest in the business of appropriations, but however it 
came to pass, in mid-2002, Walter joined the House Appropriations 
Committee as a professional staff member on the Treasury, Postal 
Service, and General Government Subcommittee and later on the 
Transportation and Treasury Subcommittee. One can tell Walter has 
served the Committee for a long time because neither of these 
subcommittees exist today in this composition.
  After cutting his appropriations teeth by reviewing budget requests 
of organizations such as the Office of National Drug Control Policy, 
the Federal Election Commission, and the Office of Personnel 
Management, Walter was asked to join the staff of the Military 
Construction and Veteran Affairs Subcommittee. For the next 7 years, 
Walter would shepherd the enactment of 14 appropriations bills, 
including supplemental bills for military operations in Afghanistan and 
Iraq and national emergencies, as well as the American Reinvestment and 
Recovery Act. Further, Walter was instrumental in enabling the Chairman 
of the Subcommittee to successfully implement major military 
construction initiatives to provide billions of dollars in increased 
funding to improve quality of life for troops and their families, such 
as new child development centers, medical facilities, and unaccompanied 
housing, as well as additional funding for the National Guard and 
Reserves.
  In 2011, Walter brought his discerning eye and unflappable demeanor 
to the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, where he would stay until 
the end of his service to our nation. Over the following 14 years, 
Walter would consistently prove to be a tremendous source of knowledge 
to the chairs of the Subcommittee, the numerous defense clerks, and his 
staff colleagues alike. Walter had a major role in the enactment of 15 
appropriations bills, while serving as the lead staffer on Air Force 
issues during a critical period of modernization that included 
research, development, and procurement of systems such as the F-35 
Joint Strike Fighter, B-21 bomber, Sentinel, KC-46 tanker, and numerous 
classified programs. He later took on a larger role in the 
Subcommittee's oversight of the Intelligence Community. In addition to 
Walter's consistent and valuable informal leadership, the Committee 
tapped him to assume the Subcommittee staff director and clerk 
responsibilities under emergency circumstances. In this capacity, 
Walter successfully guided the Subcommittee through House floor debate 
and passage of the 2018 Defense Appropriations Act,
  Throughout his storied career, Walter has been a trusted advisor to 
the Members of the Committee on both sides of the aisle. On a personal 
note, I am grateful for his counsel as the Subcommittee navigates a 
challenging period for the defense and security of our Nation. On 
behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing 
and commending Walter for his service to our country and wish him the 
best in his future endeavors.

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