Floor SpeechNeutral2026-04-16

REMEMBERING WILLIAM "BILL" LUNNEY

TaxesEnvironment

Context

On 2026-04-16, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) delivered a floor speech titled "REMEMBERING WILLIAM "BILL" LUNNEY" in the Senate. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment. It referenced legislation: S1818.

Full Text

REMEMBERING WILLIAM "BILL" LUNNEY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 67 (Thursday, April 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 67 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S1818] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING WILLIAM ``BILL'' LUNNEY Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and work of Mr. William ``Bill'' George Lunney, a beloved and passionate leader in the Dane County, WI, parks and conservation community. Bill served for 30 years as chair of the Dane County Park Commission, where he made a tremendous and lasting impact on our outdoor spaces. Our community mourns his loss, and his contributions will be remembered for generations to come. Bill was born in 1941 in Goshen, NY. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a bachelor of arts in political science and his law degree. After graduation, Bill moved to Madison, WI, where he began a 57-year career dedicated to environmental stewardship and public service. Bill's career began with a variety of roles in the Wisconsin State court system. He was elected to the Dane County Board of Supervisors in 1969, and his passion for public service was evident early on in his career. While serving on the Dane County Board, Bill emerged as a leading local conservation champion. He spoke at our Nation's first Earth Day celebration in 1970 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Recognizing that conservation requires both public and private sector leadership, he cofounded the Wisconsin Wetlands Association. The organization played a vital role in protecting natural areas from development and ensuring responsible stewardship of existing lands. Bill's leadership was instrumental in safeguarding Madison's wetlands and advancing conservation efforts across the region. While serving as chair of the Dane County Park Commission, Bill, alongside his wife Judie Pfeifer, cofounded the Foundation for Dane County Parks and went on to serve as its president. Together, they built a permanent endowment to support and sustain Dane County Parks for generations to come. By the end of his tenure, Dane County parkland had grown from 3,500 acres to more than 18,000 acres, a remarkable expansion driven in large part by Bill's leadership and his ability to inspire others to value conservation. In recognition of his life's work, Bill will be inducted into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame this April, an honor that both excited and humbled him. Above all, those who knew Bill best say he always put his family first. He was a loving husband, son, father, and grandfather. Bill's legacy is reflected not only in the land he helped preserve, but in the people he inspired. Known for his encouragement and curiosity, he left an indelible mark on the conservation community through his steady leadership and vision. Bill often repeated the mantra, ``A park is not just a piece of land, it is a vibrant part of the community.'' The Madison area is better because Bill himself was such a vibrant part of that community. I am deeply grateful for Bill's lasting impact on preserving our natural environment. His work will continue to benefit the Madison community and will live on in those he inspired throughout his service to Dane County. ____________________

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REMEMBERING WILLIAM "BILL" LUNNEY Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 67 (Thursday, April 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 67 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S1818] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REMEMBERING WILLIAM ``BILL'' LUNNEY Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and work of Mr. William ``Bill'' George Lunney, a beloved and passionate leader in the Dane County, WI, parks and conservation community. Bill served for 30 years as chair of the Dane County Park Commission, where he made a tremendous and lasting impact on our outdoor spaces. Our community mourns his loss, and his contributions will be remembered for generations to come. Bill was born in 1941 in Goshen, NY. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a bachelor of arts in political science and his law degree. After graduation, Bill moved to Madison, WI, where he began a 57-year career dedicated to environmental stewardship and public service. Bill's career began with a variety of roles in the Wisconsin State court system. He was elected to the Dane County Board of Supervisors in 1969, and his passion for public service was evident early on in his career. While serving on the Dane County Board, Bill emerged as a leading local conservation champion. He spoke at our Nation's first Earth Day celebration in 1970 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Recognizing that conservation requires both public and private sector leadership, he cofounded the Wisconsin Wetlands Association. The organization played a vital role in protecting natural areas from development and ensuring responsible stewardship of existing lands. Bill's leadership was instrumental in safeguarding Madison's wetlands and advancing conservation efforts across the region. While serving as chair of the Dane County Park Commission, Bill, alongside his wife Judie Pfeifer, cofounded the Foundation for Dane County Parks and went on to serve as its president. Together, they built a permanent endowment to support and sustain Dane County Parks for generations to come. By the end of his tenure, Dane County parkland had grown from 3,500 acres to more than 18,000 acres, a remarkable expansion driven in large part by Bill's leadership and his ability to inspire others to value conservation. In recognition of his life's work, Bill will be inducted into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame this April, an honor that both excited and humbled him. Above all, those who knew Bill best say he always put his family first. He was a loving husband, son, father, and grandfather. Bill's legacy is reflected not only in the land he helped preserve, but in the people he inspired. Known for his encouragement and curiosity, he left an indelible mark on the conservation community through his steady leadership and vision. Bill often repeated the mantra, ``A park is not just a piece of land, it is a vibrant part of the community.'' The Madison area is better because Bill himself was such a vibrant part of that community. I am deeply grateful for Bill's lasting impact on preserving our natural environment. His work will continue to benefit the Madison community and will live on in those he inspired throughout his service to Dane County. ____________________