[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 150 (Monday, September 15, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THANKING JOHN McINTYRE (MAC) TOLAR FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR 
                                 NATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRYAN STEIL

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 15, 2025

  Mr. STEIL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and thank John 
McIntyre (Mac) Tolar for dedicating over three decades of service to 
our Nation's military, state, local, and federal governments, including 
the past thirteen years as an employee within the United States House 
of Representatives.
  After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Mac enlisted 
in the United States Marine Corps as an infantry officer in 1987. Mac 
remained on active duty for eight years and continued his reserve duty 
through 2012. During his distinguished military career Mac was also a 
Reconnaissance Officer and deployed to the Middle East in support of 
Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and in support of the Global War 
on Terror.
  Mac was decorated with four awards for exceptional individual service 
and received numerous awards from his unit. While on reserve duty, Mac 
earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina in 2001 and 
completed his military career as a Judge Advocate.
  After earning his law degree, Mac embarked on a career in local 
government. From November 2001 to February 2003, Mac served as an 
Assistant Solicitor for the 15th Circuit in Conway, South Carolina, 
where he was responsible for prosecuting misdemeanor offenses and 
General Session transfer cases. Mac showed tremendous initiative in 
this role by developing and implementing a successful DUI curriculum 
for local law enforcement personnel. This training program was so 
successful that it was later expanded to the South Carolina Criminal 
Justice Academy and the Commission on Prosecution Coordination.
  Mac continued his career in South Carolina serving as the in-house 
Counsel for the Georgetown County government. In this role, Mac was 
responsible for drafting, reviewing, and approving legal documents, 
including deeds, contracts, leases, dedication instruments, financing 
documents, resolutions and ordinances. These wide-ranging 
responsibilities afforded Mac the opportunity to provide expert legal 
representation to several county offices, boards, commissions, and 
employees.
  After a four-year tour in private practice, Mac joined the office of 
United States Representative Martha Roby as her Military Legislative 
Counsel. Mac's military and legal background perfectly positioned him 
for his role in the office. His primary responsibilities included 
serving as the Congresswoman's Veterans affairs, national security, and 
foreign policy advisor. Mac was instrumental in creating and managing 
Representative Roby's constituent Veterans' Advisory Committee, which 
allowed the Congresswoman to gain additional insights, perspectives, 
and ideas to drive her oversight and legislative agenda.
  In July 2014, Mac landed his next role in Congress working for the 
Select Committee on Benghazi. He was initially hired to serve as the 
Select Committee's Senior Counsel and then moved into the important 
role of Security Manager. As an employee of the Select Committee, Mac 
analyzed thousands of pages of documents, communications, and other 
executive branch materials relating to the terrorist attacks in 
Benghazi.
  Once his tenure with the Select Committee ended, Mac landed in the 
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer in 2016 and immediately 
began serving as the Director of the Wounded Warrior Program, now known 
as the Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program.
  Over the past nine years, Mac's leadership, stewardship, and 
dedication have driven several significant enhancements to this 
outstanding program. These efforts include modernizing several 
components of the program, updating the requirements for participation, 
broadening the scope to cover Gold Star Family Members and Active-Duty 
Military Spouses, expanding allocations assigned to Member, Committee, 
Leadership, and House Officer organizations, enhancing the orientation 
program and professional development offerings for the Aides, and 
launching the program's social media presence and dynamic website.
  Mac's impact on the program is best seen in the lives and careers of 
the many Aides who came through during his tenure as Director. From 
December 2016 to August 2025, 339 Aides completed the two-year 
assignment. Of those, 37 percent of them continued their careers in 
Congress. Additionally, nearly 80 percent of the Aides built on their 
experience by finding new roles in government, transitioning 
successfully to the private sector, or enrolling in college to further 
their education. These achievements are a true reflection of Mac's 
leadership--underscoring not only the strength of the program, but also 
the lasting opportunities it provided to so many.
  I would also like to recognize and thank Mac's family for their 
encouragement, love, and support, including his wife Helen Tolar--who 
was also a decorated House and Senate senior staff member--and their 
three children Walker, Mary Mac, and Oliver.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mac Tolar for his outstanding 
contributions and overall impact on our Nation. Whether it was in the 
military, local or state government, or as an employee of the House of 
Representatives, Mac always made a difference in each job and an impact 
in every role.

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