S5656 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 30, 2012 

senior managers is a good first step toward correcting this problem. 

However, more needs to be done. IRS 

still has not committed to prioritizing 

claims raised by whistleblowers. In addition, the important protections afforded to taxpayers, including the right 

to appeal IRS decisions, delay IRS 

from actually collecting the taxes for 

years and, as the law is currently written, the taxes must be collected first 

before a whistleblower can be paid any 

money. 

From my long history of oversight of 

the IRS, I know that it is essential 

that taxpayers be protected from sometimes overeager IRS employees. Yet 

there must be a way to ensure that the 

process and procedures that exist to 

protect taxpayers don’t deter whistleblowers from coming forward. The 

Treasury Department and the IRS have 

agreed to participate in a roundtable 

discussion that I hope will help identify solutions. 

It is unfortunate that objecting to 

these nominees, both of whom were approved by the Finance Committee by 

unanimous, bipartisan votes, was the 

only way I could get information about 

the whistleblower program. At least 

there is now more information than 

ever before about the IRS whistleblower program. 

f 

BULGARIA TERRORIST ATTACKS 

Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I 

rise to express my outrage at the recent attack on a tour bus in Burgas, 

Bulgaria, that killed five Israeli citizens and the Bulgarian driver and injured scores of passengers. This heinous act was obviously the handiwork 

of terrorists who prey on innocent civilians in order to shock and horrify 

the world and try to rally some to a 

twisted, violent ideology. The terrorists must be stopped. 

I am equally outraged by the fact 

that the Burgas attack appears to be 

the latest in a series of attacks on 

Israeli citizens. There have been several since the beginning of this year 

alone, two aimed at Israeli diplomats 

in India and Georgia in February, as 

well as a foiled plot against tourists in 

Cyprus the week before the tragedy in 

Burgas. The attacks targeting Israeli 

Embassy personnel in India and Georgia fell on the 18th anniversary of a 

suicide bombing of the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires which 

killed 85 people. Argentine authorities 

blamed that attack on Hezbollah 

operatives. 

All of these attacks have the hallmarks of Iranian involvement or plots 

by their surrogates. The day after the 

attacks in India and Georgia, Iranian 

nationals involved in a bomb-making 

plot in Thailand were arrested after 

they accidentally detonated their 

homemade explosives, severely injuring one of the perpetrators. Thai officials reported that the improvised explosives found in Bangkok were the 

same as those used in India and Georgia. 

I understand that the investigation 

of the Burgas attack is ongoing and the 

United States and other countries are 

working closely with Bulgarian officials. White House counterterrorism 

chief John Brenan has visited Bulgaria, 

and, while he did not implicate Iran or 

Hezbollah in public statements he 

made while there, he pointed out that 

both Tehran and its Lebanese surrogate have been implicated in attacks 

on civilians in the past. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 

Netanyahu has stated that Israel has 

‘‘fully substantiated intelligence’’ that 

the Burgas attack was carried out by 

Hezbollah. I have not seen that information, but I think that based solely 

on press reports of results thus far in 

the investigations of these attacks, one 

can reasonably conclude that Iran and 

Hezbollah have been involved—further 

evidence of Iran’s longstanding use of 

political violence and sponsorship of 

terrorism to achieve its goals. 

According to a recent edition of the 

Jewish Press, the Director of Israel’s 

Mossad and the Chief of its Shin Bet 

have said that Iran and Hezbollah have 

tried to commit terrorist attacks 

against Israeli diplomats, businessmen 

and tourists in over 20 countries during 

the past 2 years. 

We must stand with the people and 

the Government of Israel. We must 

lead the international community in 

redoubling efforts to assist Israel, and 

all countries on whose soil these heinous acts are committed, in tracking 

down the terrorists and bringing them 

to justice and continue to work to prevent such attacks in the future. 

I am confident that my colleagues on 

both sides of the aisle support our government’s work with Israel and the 

international community to counter 

Iran’s insidious network of terror. 

f 

REMEMBERING NEIL MCMURRY 

Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, 

Wyoming has experienced an incredible 

loss. I rise today to remember one of 

Wyoming’s most beloved citizens, Neil 

McMurry. On Thursday, July 19, 2012, 

Neil passed away at the age of 88. During his remarkable life, Neil made a 

profound and lasting contribution to 

the Casper community and the great 

State of Wyoming. 

Neil was a successful entrepreneur, a 

committed citizen, and a good friend. 

Throughout his life, Neil always demonstrated an enduring commitment to 

his family, Wyoming, and our Nation. 

He loved his family. He loved his home 

State of Wyoming. He loved his country. 

Ann Chambers Noble, a Wyoming author, recently wrote Neil’s biography, 

‘‘Hurry McMurry: W.N. ‘Neil’ 

McMurry, Wyoming Entrepreneur.’’ 

The title appropriately describes this 

extraordinary man. He grew up during 

the Great Depression, and saw firsthand the impact it had on his community. In 1941, Neil joined the U.S. Army 

Air Corps. He flew over 29 missions in 

Europe as a turret gunner on a B–17 

aircraft during World War II. 

Following his brave service to our 

Nation, Neil returned to Wyoming to 

raise a family and start a very successful business career. Neil was a man 

with determination, integrity, and a 

strong work ethic. He recognized the 

vast opportunities and great potential 

Wyoming has to offer. In 1949, he saw 

opportunity in constructing roads and 

highways across Wyoming. Along with 

his business partner, Vern Rissler, the 

Rissler-McMurry Company became one 

of the largest highway construction 

companies in Wyoming. The company 

built much of Wyoming’s transportation routes. 

While many people would have retired after running a successful contracting firm for over three decades, 

Neil was on the lookout for new opportunities. Neil and his business partners, John Martin and Mick McMurry, 

had a hunch that significant natural 

gas was in the Jonah Field in southwest Wyoming. In 1991, the McMurry 

Oil Company purchased wells and mineral leases in the Jonah area. His vision and willingness to take a risk 

turned into a natural gas play of historic proportions. 

Neil McMurry will be remembered for 

his successful business endeavors that 

created thousands of jobs for the people 

in Wyoming. His efforts and entrepreneurial spirit significantly impacted 

Wyoming’s economy. 

While his business abilities will continue to be admired, it will be his selfless devotion to others and his willingness to give back to his community 

that will forever keep his memory in 

the hearts of the people of Wyoming. 

His charitable donations made a difference in the lives of people in his 

community. 

Even though he lived a long life, Neil 

left us too soon. His remarkable contributions to the youth of Wyoming 

will be honored on August 7 by the 

Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming. While this would have been just 

one of many honors, it was very special 

to Neil. Through the generosity of the 

McMurry Foundation, Neil and his 

family have given unprecedented levels 

of support to Wyoming organizations 

particularly organizations supporting 

our youth. 

My wife Bobbi and I will truly miss 

him. We are blessed that Neil was our 

friend and grateful for the moments we 

spent together. During this time of 

such great loss, we find solace in knowing that the legacy of Neil McMurry 

will live on. 

Bobbi and I extend our deepest sympathy to the McMurry family. We wish 

his family all of our best and send our 

prayers to each of them. 

f 

ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS 

MELBA, IDAHO 

∑ Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, today I 

wish to congratulate and acknowledge 


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