[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 18970-18971]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        RETIREMENT OF JOHN KATZ

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a gentleman by 
the name of John Katz. John is a longtime public servant to the State 
of Alaska who is set to retire at year's end. John has served Alaska 
for more than 40 years, working for eight different Governors, 
Republican and Democratic, liberals and conservatives. He once said he 
was comfortable serving so many different Governors because the issues 
for Alaska were consistent. Whether they be responsible resource 
development, State sovereignty, or Federal assistance with 
infrastructure, the one constant figure connecting one administration 
after the next over eight administrations has been John Katz.
  John started his career as a high school teacher and coach in 
Baltimore City public schools back in 1966, following his graduation 
from Johns Hopkins University. In 1969, he earned his law degree from 
the University of California at Berkeley. He then moved to Alaska to 
work as a legislative and administrative assistant to Congressman 
Pollock and then later for Senator Ted Stevens.
  John has truly played many crucial roles for the State of Alaska. He 
served for several years as the counsel to the Joint Federal-State Land 
Use Planning Commission for the State of Alaska. He served as special 
counsel to Gov. Jay Hammond back in 1979, advocating the State's 
position on the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, or 
ANILCA, to Congress. Two years after that, he was appointed 
commissioner of natural resources by Governor Hammond. Then, in 1983, 
John was sent by Gov. Bill Sheffield to head Alaska's Washington, DC, 
office, and he has served as the liaison between the State and the 
Federal Government for the past 28 years--a pretty remarkable record, 
if you would consider it. As Alaskans, we know how important his role 
has been in bridging the very considerable gap between our State and 
the Federal Government--a key role when more than 60 percent of 
Alaska's land is controlled by the Federal Government.
  You could refer to John as Alaska's fourth Congressman--his 40-year 
tenure in the league of the late Senator Stevens and Representative Don 
Young. John's breadth of knowledge and understanding of Alaska's issues 
have guided him in his very unique role.
  Since entering public service, John has been involved in key issues, 
such as the passage of the landmark Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 
back in 1971, the legislation in 1976 which extended America's fishery 
zones to 200 miles which allowed for the Americanization of Alaska's 
fishing fleet. There was also the passage back in 1980 of the Alaska 
National Interest Land Conservation Act, the Nation's largest 
conservation lands measure. There was the Alaska Railroad Transfer Act 
back in 1983, the Tongass Timber Reform Act in 1990 and 30 other major 
pieces of legislation and hundreds of amendments that have greatly 
affected the lives of all Alaskans.
  What is so remarkable about John is that there is no Alaskan public 
policy issue he did not master, a pretty incredible feat there but no 
Alaska public policy issue that he did not have his fingerprints on, 
involved with or have a mastery of.
  In 1972, for example, he served for 2 years on the Executive Advisory 
Committee of the Federal Power Commission, making decisions on 
electricity generation during a period of rapid population growth in 
Alaska. In 1974, he published a legal analysis of the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act and how it should impact Native Alaskans for the 
Joint Federal-State Land Use Planning Commission. Five years later, he 
served on the Hard Rock Minerals Commission of Alaska, helping to chart 
a course for the rebirth of our State's mineral industry. There is 
seemingly no Alaskan issue too complex or daunting for John Katz.
  When I first met John, it was probably somewhere in the early 1980s. 
At the time, I was a staffer in the office of the speaker of the Alaska 
House of Representatives in Juneau, and I was immediately taken by the 
kindness of this gentleman, extraordinarily polite to a very young 
staffer, but also his intellectual prowess that was shown whether it 
was a casual conversation or whether it was a detailed policy analysis.
  Former Gov. Tony Knowles called him ``one of the most remarkable 
public servants I've ever dealt with.'' Governor Hammond, during the 
lengthy debate over ANILCA, called him truly indispensable. Senator 
Stevens once said: ``He's as near a genius as I've seen.'' I would 
clearly agree with that. Some of his coworkers have even jokingly 
called him their own human Google machine, noting that in many cases it 
was more efficient, it was easier to walk down the hall and ask John 
for legal and policy background, saving them hours of research, and 
John had it all there, instant recall and as precise as it could 
possibly be.
  Throughout his career, John served effectively and quietly, always 
preferring to work in the background, never seeking that limelight. He 
always presented every side of the issue, never telling any of his 
superiors simply what they might have wanted to hear. He truly was the 
consummate professional, a man who never got a fact wrong in a 
briefing, in a discussion or in a political strategy session. That may 
have been at least one of the many reasons why he has been so honored 
during his career, receiving the highest honor of the Alaska Federation 
of Natives, which is the Denali Award, winning Commonwealth North's 
2008 Walter J. Hickel Award for distinguished public policy leadership 
and receiving more resolutions, commendations, and praise than most in 
Alaska's history.
  John has built a reputation as an Alaskan institution, always loyally 
serving our beloved State. He has championed oil exploration in the 
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, noting the potential benefits for not 
only Alaska's economy but, more important, for America's overall 
economic and national security. While John has listed the failure, so 
far, to persuade Congress to open ANWR as perhaps one of his biggest 
disappointments, he has always stood by the factually solid arguments 
for opening ANWR, never letting his passionate advocacy of opening the 
coastal refuge get in the way of objectively presenting arguments to 
Members of Congress.
  I think it is important to note John's statement in his resignation 
letter to Governor Parnell. He stated the following:

       Professionally, I have become increasingly discouraged by 
     the polarization and deterioration of the public policy 
     process at the Federal level. It's the worst I've seen during 
     my 43-year career.

  That was the statement in John's resignation note. As someone who has 
relied on John's wise counsel and his wisdom during my 8 years in the 
Senate, I think this is a poignant remark about the state of affairs in 
Congress. The debate surrounding our politics has grown more caustic, 
while ignoring the fact that while we all may take different positions, 
we all ultimately have our Nation's interests at heart.
  John leaves an esteemed legacy that will benefit Alaska for decades 
to come. We can learn so much from his

[[Page 18971]]

example of what a public servant should be, and Alaska will deeply miss 
his presence. I know I speak for all Alaskans in sincerely thanking 
John for his years of dedicated service and his pragmatic approach to 
faithfully serving the State of Alaska. I wish him nothing but the best 
in the future for all his endeavors.
  I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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