Michael B. Enzi

Bio:  Michael B. Enzi was born February 1, 1944 in Bremerton. In Wyoming, he started school in Thermopolis, graduated from Sheridan High, BBA George Washington University, MBA University of Denver. Enzi started a shoe store in Gillette and was mayor for 8 years, state legislator for 10 years. He was sworn in as Wyoming’s 20th United States Senator on January 7, 1997. Senator Enzi has made a name on Capitol Hill for his unique way of breaking down party lines and working across the aisle. He has had more than 100 bills signed into law with a signatures from each of the last three presidents. Senator Enzi is the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and a member of the Finance Committee, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and the Small Business Committee. He had the good fortune marry Diana (Buckley) in 1969. They are the parents of three and the grandparents of four. The joy of representing Wyoming is topped by few things. Being a grandfather and fly-fishing are two.

Military Bio:  Enzi served in the Wyoming Air National Guard from 1967 to 1973 where he received the rank of tech sergeant with a supply specialty.

Legislation:  Enzi helped start veteran’s clinics in Wyoming. These save miles of travel for veterans, which is especially important in winter, by using local doctors and telemedicine. Enzi has supported many different legislative efforts for veterans. One of the more recent bills is the Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act which would transfer jurisdiction over certain public land from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for inclusion in the Black Hills National Cemetery. This cemetery is relied on heavily by veterans from neighboring Wyoming and North Dakota, two of only a few states that do not have national cemeteries. This bill will expand the cemetery by approximately twenty percent, ensuring that dignified burials are available to current and future veterans in that area. Another recent legislative effort to benefit veterans led by Senator Enzi was included in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. Senator Enzi was able to include a legislative priority of his which would ensure that veterans would be eligible to streamline their effort to pursue a broad range of civilian health care credentials and careers, by using any medical training they received while in the military towards their chosen health care career field. This passed overwhelmingly and was signed by the president on July 22nd of this year.