Congressional Record, Senate, January 31, 2022, Page S412
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated January 31, 2022, at page S412, made up of tributes inserted by Senators. One honors a Navy lieutenant named Kokot, a legislative liaison who will return to sea duty on the USS Tripoli (LPH 10). A tribute by Mr. Marshall remembers Vice Admiral Paul Foster. A further tribute congratulates a man named Tony on his retirement from a Montana forest working group. One statement thanks a staff member for support in passing the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act in 2021, saying more than a million Americans are no longer at risk of losing earned benefits. The statements are those of the Senators who inserted them.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, January 31, 2022, Page S412.”
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S412 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 31, 2022
After 3 years of serving in this vital Lewis, and other workers, families, and It is my honor to recognize Tony for
role, during which he became a very small businesses, for its passage. Be- his leadership and commitment to
popular fixture on Capitol Hill, Lieu- cause of their advocacy, we were fi- bettering the Forest and serving his
tenant Kokot will return to sea duty in nally able to pass the Butch Lewis community. Through his passion for
USS Tripoli (LPH 10), the Navy’s new- Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act advancing the Working Group’s mis-
est America class amphibious assault into law as part of the American Res- sion for and dedication to solving for-
ship homeported in San Diego, CA. cue Plan in 2021. We were successful in est-related issues, I have no doubt that
Tripoli was built in Pascagoula, MS, no small part due to the unwavering Tony’s hard work has made the great
and is the third ship to bear the name support she provided. Now, more than a State of Montana a better place to live.
of the first U.S. battle fought on for- million Americans who have worked Congratulations on your retirement,
eign soil. This Chamber will keenly hard all their lives and gave up raises Tony. You make Montana proud.∑
feel Lieutenant Kokot’s absence. A at the bargaining table in order to put f
substantial debt is owed to Jon’s par- that money toward retirement are no
REMEMBERING VICE ADMIRAL
ents, Ronald and Pamela Kokot, for longer at risk of losing the benefits
PAUL FOSTER
the parenting and love that produced they earned. And many American busi-
this outstanding young leader. Regret- nesses—often small, family-owned ∑ Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President,
tably, Jon’s mother passed away when businesses—will be able to continue to today I wish to recognize VADM Paul
he was 22, but I know that she watches support their workers and grow and Frederick Foster, USN, of Wichita, KS,
over her son with the same pride that create more good, union jobs. on the 50th anniversary of his passing.
is felt by many Members of Congress. I Karen Ferguson will be remembered Foster was the first Naval Officer to re-
am grateful for LT Jonathan Kokot’s for a lifetime of service on behalf of ceive the Congressional Medal of
service and his work with my office workers and their families, and the Honor. Moreover, he earned the Navy
and the Senate, and I salute him. May compassion and skill she brought to Cross, the Distinguished Service
he always have ‘‘fair winds and fol- our efforts. Her legacy will continue Award, and Navy Merit Commendation.
lowing seas.’’ through the millions of past, current, VADM Paul Frederick Foster was a
f and future workers and their families true American hero.
who will have a more secure retirement Paul Foster was in Wichita, KS, in
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS thanks to her work.∑ 1889. He was the son of a traveling min-
--- f
ister and thus grew up in Kansas, Utah,
Oklahoma, and finally Idaho. There, he
REMEMBERING KAREN FERGUSON TRIBUTE TO TONY COLTER would attend the University of Idaho
∑ Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask my ∑ Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, today I for 1 year before earning an appoint-
colleagues to join me in honoring the have the distinct honor of recognizing ment to the U.S. Naval Academy in
life of a lifelong champion for Amer- Tony Colter of Powell County as Mon- Annapolis, MD, from Senator Fred
ican workers across the country, the tanan of the Month for his many years Dubois of Idaho in 1907. In June 1911,
founder and longtime president of the of leadership in resolving forestry and Foster exited the Naval Academy as a
Pension Rights Center, Karen Fer- timber issues and his dedication to passed midshipman with a bachelor of
guson. making Montana a better place to live science. He was commissioned as en-
Karen came to Washington, DC, in for all Montanans. sign in July 1911. After graduation he
the early 1970s to work with Ralph Tony is a founding member of the would be attached to the USS Wash-
Nader as a public interest lawyer, Beaverhead-Deerlodge Working Group, ington, but by December was quickly
fighting for consumers and workers which was formed in 2011. The group transferred to the USS Utah, a battle-
against unchecked corporate power. As brings Montanans with diverse inter- ship in the Atlantic Fleet.
one of ‘‘Nader’s Raiders,’’ she found her ests together to collaborate with For- In the beginning of 1914, the United
calling. Recognizing the void of public est Service staff and community mem- States chose to intercede in the Mexi-
advocacy for retirees and pensioners, bers to promote collaboration and can Revolution. While on its way to
Karen founded the Pension Rights Cen- transparency when solving forest-level Mexico, the USS Utah was instructed
ter in 1976. This marked the beginning issues in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Na- to intercept a German ship carrying
of a crusade that lasted more than four tional Forest. arms intended for the Mexican dictator
decades, on behalf of pensioners who so Tony’s leadership and passion for the Victoriano Huerta. The German ship
often did not have much of a voice in Working Group has impacted the lives arrived in Veracruz before the Utah,
their own government. Over the next 45 of many of his fellow Montanans. He which resulted in the American occu-
years, Karen personally assisted thou- has been instrumental in helping de- pation of the city. During the fighting
sands of workers who were denied the velop science-based restoration strate- on April 21 and 22, Foster led his com-
retirement benefits they earned, and gies, forging diverse partnerships, and pany ashore. For distinguished conduct
she advocated for retirement security improving Forest Service projects in battle, he was awarded the Medal of
for millions more. through collaborative approaches and Honor.
As one of our country’s leading ex- recommendations. Paul Frederick Foster would go on to
perts on pension law and a passionate Fellow members of the Working serve as commanding officer of mul-
advocate for workers and their fami- Group say that Tony cares deeply tiple submarines during World War I.
lies, Karen was a source of strength about the group’s vision for the Forest, During his service a submariner, he
and guidance to her allies in Congress and his passion and charisma made him was promoted to the rank of lieutenant
for decades. She was instrumental to a valuable leader and representative commander and was decorated with the
the passage of a number of reforms for the Working Group. They say that Navy Distinguished Service Medal for
that improved the cause of retirement learning from and working alongside the sinking enemy submarine. At the
security, including the Retirement Eq- Tony was an honor. outset of U.S involvement in World
uity Act of 1984, a critical law that pro- Tony also worked for many years at War II, Foster was called for Active
vided benefits to millions of widows Sun Mountain Lumber in Deer Lodge. Duty at the rank of commander. He
and divorced women. His former coworkers, friends, and col- was tasked with naval inspections. The
Most recently, Karen was a leader in leagues all agree that his efforts have highest rank he would achieve was vice
the fight to protect and restore multi- made a lasting impact. Bryan Lorengo admiral at the time of his second re-
employer pension benefits for millions with the Montana Logging Association tirement from the Navy. After the war,
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
of union members across the country, said, ‘‘The one thing that sticks out Paul Frederick Foster was appointed
including 100,000 Ohioans. She worked about Tony is his calm demeanor and to the Atomic Energy Commission in
directly with my office to help draft willingness to listen first while re- Vienna, Austria, by President Eisen-
the Butch Lewis Act and fought for specting people’s opinions and views hower.
years alongside Mr. Lewis, his widow even though they might be opposite of It is my honor to commemorate
and leader in her own right, Rita his own.’’ VADM Paul Frederick Foster for his
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