Congressional Record, Senate — November 15, 2022, S6688: Additional Statements
Summary
This is S6688 of the Congressional Record, Senate, November 15, 2022, in the Additional Statements section. Mr. King's Tribute to Jaci Holmes recognizes the career of Jaci Holmes and congratulates her on retirement from the Maine Department of Education. Ms. Klobuchar's Tribute to Todd Haugen honors Todd Haugen, who is retiring on November 18 after 42 years as a local radio host in Bemidji. The page also continues a tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Nate Kitzke, a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate described as having served in the Air Force for over 18 years and as a legislative liaison in the Air Force Senate Liaison Office.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Congressional Record, Senate — November 15, 2022, S6688: Additional Statements.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-11-15-crec-2022-11-15-pt1-pgs6688-42903febe0/
, SHA-256 4de4bc642a715a093f3438cde3f2f16815387912dc98eeaeb67b7c0c84518bfd.Full text
S6688 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE November 15, 2022
Hill. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force thankful for Nate’s service and his Jaci, your dedication and presence at
Academy, Nate has served in the Air work with my office and the Senate the Maine DOE will be dearly missed
Force for over 18 years. As a deployed over the past 2 years on issues of vital and not soon forgotten. Thank you for
squadron commander and C–130 pilot, importance to this great Nation. I sa- all that you have done, and I hope that
Nate has led thousands of airmen in lute this American patriot whose self- you will enjoy your retirement and
support of U.S. Air Force missions less service has kept our country safe some more time out on Casco Bay.∑
worldwide. and strong. f
Throughout his career, Nate has f
demonstrated exceptional, unrivaled TRIBUTE TO TODD HAUGEN
officership. He is a senior pilot with ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ∑ Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Madam President,
over 2,150 flying hours in the C–130E/H --- today I rise to honor and pay tribute to
and has flown more than 1,000 combat Todd Haugen, a Minnesota legend who
TRIBUTE TO JACI HOLMES is retiring on November 18 after 42
hours over five deployments in support
of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi ∑ Mr. KING. Madam President, today I years as a local radio host in Bemidji.
Freedom, New Dawn, and Inherent Re- wish to recognize the outstanding ca- A proud graduate of Bemidji State
solve. Prior to his current assignment, reer of Jaci Holmes and congratulate University, Todd did not always intend
Nate had the privilege of being a de- her on a well-deserved retirement from to become a radio host. He graduated
ployed squadron commander at the the Maine Department of Education. with a major in geography with no
407th Expeditionary Operations Sup- For nearly 35 years, Jaci dedicated her- radio experience, originally hoping to
port Squadron, where he led two teams self to advocating for Maine children pursue a legal career and only taking a
of airmen and civilians in managing and ensuring that their educational part-time gig as an afternoon radio DJ
two strategically essential Kuwaiti air- needs are not only met, but surpassed. to earn some more money. Todd fig-
fields. Jaci started her career in education ured that any job where he got to meet
As a legislative liaison in the Air as a kindergarten and first grade and interview Barbara Mandell, one of
Force Senate Liaison Office from June teacher where she quickly saw the im- the biggest country singers in the
2020 to June 2022, Lieutenant Colonel portance of providing strong edu- country, couldn’t be half bad. But he
Kitzke performed his duties well and cations from the beginning of child- fell in love with his part-time pursuit,
without reservation supporting the hood. This passion and understanding drawn to the critical role that local
116th and 117th U.S. Congresses. His brought her to Westbrook College in radio stations play in keeping commu-
strategic thinking and foresight helped Portland, ME, where she chaired the nities informed.
early childhood education department Todd has been a staple on local air-
to strengthen and improve our national
for 7 years and used her experience in waves since 1980 when he first joined
security. Nate accomplished this uti-
the classroom to help others to become the team at KB101. With the exception
lizing his in-depth Air Force knowledge
educators themselves. Her passion for of 6 months in 1985, Todd has remained
with numerous engagements between
education, particularly early childhood at KB101 throughout his entire career,
Congress and the Department of the
education, only grew as she joined the where he has hosted the morning show
Air Force. for almost four decades.
Nate expertly conveyed Department Maine Department of Education—
DOE—in 1989. For generations of families in the
of the Air Force positions on the Air Bemidji area, Todd’s voice was as inte-
Force Future Design that included the At the DOE, Jaci has served under
five Governors and 13 Maine DOE com- gral to their mornings as their break-
future bomber, tanker, and fighter fast and coffee. Commuters counted on
force. Nate’s direct support provided missioners—a remarkable feat that is a
him for weather updates, students
the U.S. Senate critical information testament to her dedication to edu-
looked to him for the score of high
necessary for three National Defense cation and Maine’s children. Her time
school sports games, and the entire
Authorization Acts. His efforts helped at the department included tenures in
community depended on him for honest
establish the U.S. Space Force, ensure several senior roles, including 12 years
news reporting and candid interviews.
the confirmation of the 26th Air Force as the director of the child develop- Through his daily Chatabout public
Secretary, the 22nd Air Force Chief of ment services system and most re- affairs show, Todd has interviewed
Staff, and ensured the Department of cently as the Federal and State legisla- countless local elected officials and
the Air Force support of the National tive liaison since 2000. leaders, highlighting the issues that
Defense Strategy in our return to great In these positions, Jaci played an in- matter the most to his listeners, from
power competition. strumental role in shaping two decades city council agendas and school board
Lieutenant Colonel Kitzke planned of State and Federal education legisla- meetings, to public safety guidance and
and led delegations for Members of tion. Her guiding hand can be seen flu season tips. As Todd says, public
Congress on visits all over the world to throughout many of the most meaning- service and helping people is the best
include the bicameral Reagan National ful modernizations of the way students part of his job.
Defense Forum. Nate’s significant ef- learn and are supported. This legacy of But not all of Todd’s conversations
forts led to successful engagements be- extraordinary impact was epitomized were so serious. Throughout his four
tween this governing body and senior by the key testimony she provided decades in local radio, he also got the
Department of Defense Officials includ- Congress on the reauthorization of the chance to show off his light-hearted
ing the Secretary of the Air Force. All Federal Individuals with Disabilities side, participating in cow milking con-
of these engagements helped U.S. Sen- Education Act—IDEA. Thanks to her tests, riding elephants, and even intro-
ators understand defense equities and feedback, the IDEA was able to better ducing a wrestling match—all for the
their impact on national security. Due meet the needs of Maine’s children enjoyment of his listeners.
to his direct involvement and steward- with disabilities. Todd’s engaging and entertaining
ship, Members of Congress were able to During the pandemic, Jaci did what work has won him a record six Na-
make informed decisions and ensure she has done throughout her entire ca- tional Association of Broadcasters
the Department of the Air Force was reer and stepped up to serve Maine’s Crystal Awards, a National Association
properly resourced and funded. children. In the height of the COVID–19 of Broadcasters Crystal Heritage
After serving in this crucial role for crisis, she served on the elementary Award, and two National Association
the past 2 years and becoming a fixture and secondary school emergency relief of Broadcasters Education Founda-
on Capitol Hill, Lieutenant Colonel team and helped to oversee the dis- tion—NABEF—Service to America
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
Kitzke will move to his next assign- tribution of the CARES Act funding to Awards. He has also been a two-time fi-
ment, attending Air War College at Maine schools. nalist for the National Association of
Maxwell AFB, AL, a selection reserved Jaci’s lifetime of public service is Broadcasters Marconi Award for Small
only for the top echelon of Air Force truly admirable, and I know that oth- Market Personality of the Year.
leaders. Nate, his wife Gileanne, and ers will be inspired to carry on her Todd’s service to his community has
their son Diego have sacrificed much as work supporting Maine’s next genera- gone beyond just keeping them in-
a family in service to our Nation. I am tion. formed and entertained on the radio.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:25 Nov 16, 2022 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G15NO6.017 S15NOPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2022-11-15_crec-2022-11-15-pt1-pgs6688.pdf
- Size
- 240,381 bytes
- SHA-256
- 4de4bc642a715a093f3438cde3f2f16815387912dc98eeaeb67b7c0c84518bfd
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov