[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15170]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       RETIREMENT OF ROBERT ABBEY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today on the occasion of his 
retirement, to honor the 27 years of public service of Robert V. Abbey 
of Reno, NV. Bob hails originally from Mississippi. He was born in 
Clarksdale and earned his Bachelors Degree in Resource Management at 
the University of Southern Mississippi. Over the past 8 years, I am 
proud to say he has become a Nevadan.
  Bob began his public service working for the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers. Later he moved to the Bureau of Land Management where he has 
distinguished himself as a dedicated land manager, visionary leader, 
and exceptional citizen.
  Bob's early career at BLM included tours of duty as a budget analyst 
in Washington D.C.; assistant district manager in Yuma, AZ, district 
manager in Jackson, MS; and associate and acting state director in 
Colorado. Since the fall of 1997, Bob has served as the Nevada State 
director of the BLM. His job may very well be the toughest in Nevada 
and perhaps in the ranks of the BLM; in any case, it is among the most 
important for both.
  Although his address has changed many times during his career, his 
commitment to public lands and public service has never wavered. The 
West and Nevada are better for it.
  Today, Bob Abbey leads a staff of 750 employees who manage 48 million 
acres of public land in Nevada. He has led the Nevada BLM during an 
exciting and historic time. Increased public land use, record 
population growth, evolving management mandates and shrinking budgets 
represent just a few of the challenges facing the Nevada BLM. Bob Abbey 
has handled every difficulty with grace and vision.
  During his tenure, Bob directed the implementation of the Southern 
Nevada Public Lands Management Act. This is no small task given that 
Clark County, NV leads the Nation in sustained growth and development 
and ever increasing recreational use of public lands.
  Bob and his staff also helped me and the other members of the Nevada 
Congressional Delegation in the development of the Clark and Lincoln 
County land bills. These bills were among the most significant public 
lands legislation in the 107th and 108th Congresses, respectively, and 
Bob's leadership helped make them possible.
  Bob's motto that we have more in common than our differences has set 
the tone for the best working relationships between Federal land 
managers and Nevadans in my memory. He has inspired his employees to 
solve problems, take pride in their work, and serve the public with 
distinction. The results serve as testament to his character, courage, 
and conviction.
  At the end of next week, Bob Abbey will retire from Federal service 
with a remarkable record of achievements. But perhaps his greatest 
contribution as a land manager will come to fruition while he is 
enjoying his retirement with his wife Linda.
  After wildfires devastated vast swaths of rangeland in Nevada and 
other Western States in 1999 and 2000, Bob played a key role in 
crafting a blueprint for rangeland and ecosystem restoration in the 
West. The so-called Great Basin Restoration Initiative is a grand 
vision and roadmap for healing the landscape in Nevada. Unfortunately, 
to date, the BLM and Department of Interior have yet to match Bob's 
vision with appropriate funding. It is my hope that this is a temporary 
delay and that one day soon, a thriving Great Basin ecosystem will 
serve as the enduring legacy of Bob Abbey's public service.
  Although I regret that Bob Abbey is retiring, I know I speak for 
thousands of Nevadans when I thank him for his exemplary public service 
and wish him well with his future endeavors. We know Bob has made 
Nevada and our Nation a better place.

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