[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 65 (Thursday, April 10, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S2556]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO TIM PENNY

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Tim Penny, a 
public servant, former colleague, and friend who is retiring after a 
lifetime of service to the State of Minnesota.
  Tim grew up on a family farm in southeastern Minnesota, served in 
both the Minnesota State Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, 
and has spent the past 18 years leading the Southern Minnesota 
Initiative Foundation as president and CEO.
  Tim has been with me on many visits across southern Minnesota. 
Whether it was helping the community of Madelia recover from a 
devastating fire or to expand early childhood education, Tim's love for 
the people of Minnesota has always shined through.
  To quote Tim, ``I am always in awe of the accomplishments of small-
town residents when they are provided the resources to realize their 
ambitions.'' And his work helped turn those ambitions to revitalize 
communities into reality.
  Tim began his public life as a State senator in 1976. Six years 
later, he was elected to represent Minnesota's First Congressional 
District in the U.S. House, where he served for 12 years. He gained a 
reputation for his principles and independence.
  Tim's commitment to transparency and honesty in government were 
central themes in the three books he wrote about his Washington 
experience: ``Common Cents,'' ``Payment Due,'' and ``The 15 Biggest 
Lies in Politics.'' Talking about that book, he said, ``We elect people 
to achieve the common good and when you get bogged down and paralyzed 
by mindless sloganeering you don't end up with the sort of consensus 
that moves policy forward.''
  He carried those values and commitment to the common good to the 
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation and in all his other work in 
the community.
  He was a senior fellow at the Humphrey Institute and also worked for 
the public affairs firm Himle Horner. Tim is cochair of the Economic 
Club of Minnesota, cochair of the Committee for a Responsible Federal 
Budget, and serves on the Board of Parent Aware for School Readiness.
  Tim, thank you for your work at the Southern Minnesota Initiative 
Foundation and through your many years representing our State in 
Washington. Minnesota is better because of you. I wish you all the best 
in your retirement.

                          ____________________