[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2765]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                WELCOMING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JOHN WALSH

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, today it is my pleasure to welcome the next 
Senator from Montana, Lt. Gov. John Walsh. Governor Walsh will be sworn 
in prior to the weekly caucus meetings.
  I am really happy with this man coming here. My friend the assistant 
leader has heard me say this before, but I think it is worth repeating. 
When I served in the House of Representatives, I served on the Foreign 
Affairs Committee, and Henry Kissinger appeared before the subcommittee 
chaired by Congressman Solarz from New York. The Congressman said to 
Henry Kissinger: ``I am really at a loss as to what to call you. 
Doctor?'' He was a Ph.D. ``Mr. Ambassador?'' He had been an ambassador. 
``Mr. Secretary?'' He went through some other titles he previously had. 
Finally, Kissinger interrupted him and said: ``Your Excellency'' would 
be just fine.
  We now have the same problem. John Walsh has been a general. He has 
been Lieutenant Governor, and it is protocol when one is Lieutenant 
Governor to be referred to as ``Governor.'' So he has a number of 
different titles, but soon he will be Senator.
  I have talked to him on many different occasions. He is a fine man. I 
am confident he will find his time here among the most rewarding 
experiences of his distinguished career. And he is distinguished. He 
spent his entire adult life serving the people of Montana and our 
Nation.
  Lieutenant Governor Walsh served in the Montana National Guard for 
more than three decades. After enlisting as a private, he rose through 
the ranks to lead the Montana National Guard as Adjutant General. He 
led 2,000 guardsmen in response to the devastating wildfires in 2000. 
General Walsh also led 700 soldiers of the Montana National Guard's 1st 
Battalion, 163rd Infantry Regiment in combat in Iraq. And combat it 
was. It was some of the most difficult fighting that took place in the 
entire war. It was the largest mobilization of guardsmen in Montana 
since World War II. The battalion was awarded the Valorous Unit 
Citation, and General Walsh received a Bronze Star for his exemplary 
service.
  In 2008 Lieutenant Governor Walsh was appointed Adjutant General for 
the Montana National Guard. He led the State's guardsmen until 2012, 
when he retired to continue his public service in a new capacity as 
Lieutenant Governor of the State of Montana. Both as Adjutant General 
and as Lieutenant Governor, he has fought for access to education for 
veterans and for every Montana child. The Walsh family places great 
value on the power of education. Lieutenant Governor Walsh was the 
first member of his family to graduate from college. His wife of 29 
years, Janet, has taught in the public schools in Montana for many 
years. In fact, John and Janet met while they were both attending 
Carroll College in Helena, MT. They have two children and one 
grandchild, all of whom they are very proud. John Walsh received his 
master's degree at the U.S. Army War College in 2007.
  John Walsh possesses a true independent Western spirit and a 
commendable dedication to the people of Montana. I have no doubt he 
will continue to serve his State and the Nation with distinction as a 
U.S. Senator.

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