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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING BRET BAIER COMMITMENT TO SERVICE IN JOURNALISM
______
HON. MICHAEL WALTZ
of florida
in the house of representatives
Friday, July 24, 2020
Mr. WALTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and
career of news anchor Bret Baier as he celebrates his 50th birthday.
Mr. Baier has dedicated many years to hard-hitting journalism and
pursuit of conveying hard truths to the American people, often putting
his own life on the line in warzones to do so. His informative
journalism and steadfast moral compass embody the principles of a true
servant leader.
Bret Baier earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science and
English from DePauw University in 1992. He made his way into the
television scene by working for several news stations from Raleigh,
North Carolina, to Rockford, Illinois and Beaufort, South Carolina
before sending his audition tape to Fox News in 1998 and serving as the
Atlanta bureau's first reporter.
When our nation was attacked on September 11, 2001, Bret didn't shy
away from danger. He drove all the way to Arlington, Virginia to cover
the attack on the Pentagon. The reporting he did during this time
landed him a job as the Pentagon correspondent, covering key national
security, intelligence, military, and foreign policy issues. In 5 years
time, he covered some of the nation's most impactful national security
events, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He again did not
shy away from danger, reporting from Iraq 12 times and Afghanistan 13
times. Baier has interviewed President Donald Trump, Vice President
Mike Pence, former President Barack Obama, former President George W.
Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney, traveling with these
administrations and top military officials to report in 74 countries.
In 2006, he served as the chief White House correspondent, covering
the second term of the Bush administration. He has since covered the
political cycles of the 2012 and 2016 elections, moderating five
Republican primary debates in 2012 and anchoring three GOP debates for
Fox News in the 2016 cycle. Bret currently is Fox News Channel's Chief
Political Anchor and the anchor of his own show, ``Special Report with
Bret Baier.'' It is worth noting that Special Report is the top-rated
cable news program in its timeslot and consistently one of the top five
shows in cable news.
In a world defined by political division, Baier is known and
respected as a straight shooter. His accolades include the 2016 Kenneth
Y. Tomlinson Award for Outstanding Journalism by the Robert Novak
Journalism Fellowship Program, the 2017 Sol Taishoff Award for
Excellence in Broadcast Journalism by the National Press Foundation,
and the 2018 Urbino Press Award by the Municipality of Urbino. He is a
New York Times bestselling author, a loving father to his two sons
Daniel and Paul, and a devoted husband to his wife Amy.
Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the
career and lifelong servant leadership of Bret Baier. It is with great
pride that we thank him for his service and wish him continued health
and happiness with his friends, family, and loved ones. We hope his
50th birthday is filled with joy, love, and peace. Here's to many more.
____________________
