Tim Walz is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 1st district of Minnesota.

Background

The son of a public school administrator and community activist, Congressman Tim Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska on April 6, 1964. Raised in a rural community, Walz spent his summers farming with his extended family. In 1982, Tim Walz graduated from Butte High School along side his 24 classmates.

Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard at the young age of 17, serving as a member of the Guard for twenty yeaars. After high school, Walz worked a number of odd jobs before accepting a temporary teaching position at the Native American Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. It was his experience at the Pine Ridge reservation that convinced Tim Walz to follow his father’s lead and become an educator.

Prior to his retirement, Tim Walz was the highest ranking enlisted National Guard soldier in southern MinnesotaPrior to his retirement, Tim Walz was the highest ranking enlisted National Guard soldier in southern Minnesota. In 1989, Walz earned a B.S. in social science education from Chadron State College in Nebraska. That year he earned the title of Nebraska Citizen-Soldier of the Year.

After 24 years in the Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in the spring of 2005. Prior to retiring, Walz served overseas with his battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.^[1]

Harvard and China

With his teaching degree complete, Harvard University offered Walz an opportunity to gain a new perspective on global education by teaching in the People's Republic of China. Working in China during 1989-1990, Walz was a member of one of the first government sanctioned groups of American educators to teach in Chinese high schools.

Following his return, Tim Walz seized the opportunity to develop a program of cooperation between American and Chinese students. Walz established a small business called Educational Travel Adventures, Inc. through which he conducted annual educational trips to China for high school students. The business includes a scholarship program that allows students to travel and study in China regardless of their financial situation.

Walz has also served as a visiting Fellow of International Relations at the Macau Polytechnic University, a position that "helped develop his knowledge of China’s unique international status".^[2]

Service

Upon his return to the U.S. in 1990, Walz served full-time in the Army National Guard. He subsequently accepted a position teaching and coaching in Nebraska where he met his wife, Gwen Whipple. In 1993, Walz was named the Outstanding Young Nebraskan by the Nebraska Junior Chamber of Commerce for his service in the education, military, and small business communities.

Married in 1994, Tim and Gwen Walz moved to Mankato, Minnesota two years later. The couple accepted positions teaching and coaching at Mankato West High School where Tim taught until his run for Congress in 2006.

Tim Walz’s inspiring approach to teaching has gained him recognition as the 2002 Minnesota Ethics in Education award winner, 2003 Mankato Teacher of the Year, and the 2003 Minnesota Teacher of Excellence. Walz completed his master's degree in educational leadership in 2001 and is currently working on his doctorate at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota.^[3]

Congressional Delegation Visit China and Tibet

November 14, 2015 Press Release:

Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi today issued the following statement after leading a historic Congressional delegation to Tibet, Beijing and Hong Kong:

TIBET:

“Our delegation was grateful for the opportunity to travel to Lhasa, Tibet to observe, learn and listen about life on the Tibetan plateau.

“We engaged in candid talks with the Secretary of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), Chen Quanguo; Vice Party Secretary of TAR, Baima Chilin; and Party Secretary of Lhasa, Qi Zhala regarding the importance of respecting Tibet’s autonomy, its ecology, and the human rights and religious freedom of its diverse people.

“Ours was the first Congressional delegation to enter Tibet since the 2008 unrest marked by protests, demonstrations and violence. The delegation recognized China’s commitment to building infrastructure across China, including in Tibet, and addressing climate change. We expressed concerns regarding freedom of religion and expression for the Tibetan people; the preservation of Tibet’s unique cultural, religious and linguistic heritage; and diplomatic and public access to Tibet.

“We also conveyed to the Chinese government officials the strong, bipartisan support the Dalai Lama enjoys in the Congress of the United States and among the American people.

BEIJING:

“In Beijing, the delegation met with the Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Li Keqiang; National People’s Congress Chairman, Zhang Dejiang; and National People’s Congress Vice Chairman, Zhang Ping.

“The delegation and Chinese officials discussed the importance of building upon President Obama and President Xi’s agreements on climate change, protection of cyber space and countering the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

“The delegation reiterated the imperative of respect for religious freedom and expression in Tibet; autonomy and democracy in Hong Kong; and respect for human and women’s rights across China. The delegation also expressed specific concerns related to the recent arrest and detention of human rights lawyers and activists.

“At Peking University, the delegation participated in a climate change forum with students who shared their determination to address the climate crisis.

HONG KONG:

“While in Hong Kong, our delegation met with Hong Kong Chief Executive C.Y. Leung and discussed the imperative of preserving Hong Kong’s autonomy and the importance of the US-Hong Kong bilateral relationship.

“The delegation also met with Pan-Democratic, Labor and Liberal Party legislators. Our discussions with these legislators, civil society activists and student leaders, focused on the imperative of preserving Hong Kong’s autonomy, advancing democracy, and protecting the rule of law and human rights.

CONCLUSION:

“Our purpose for this trip was to deepen our understanding, increase our mutual respect and further strengthen US-China ties. Throughout the trip, we engaged in respectful and candid discussions on issues of importance and look forward to continuing our dialogue.

“The delegation is grateful to U.S. Ambassador Max Baucus, US Counsel General Clifford Hart, and the US country teams in Beijing and Hong Kong for their leadership and service.”

In addition to Leader Pelosi, the Members of the delegation are:

• Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Co-Chair, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; Member, Agriculture Committee, Rules Committee

• Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN), Appropriations Committee

• Congressman Tim Walz (D-MN), Armed Services Committee, Agriculture Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee; Congressional-Executive Commission on the People’s Republic of China

• Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Member, Financial Services Committee

• Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Foreign Affairs Committee, Natural Resources Committee; Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

• Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA), Budget Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee; Congressional-Executive Commission on the People’s Republic of China^[4]

Wellstone connection

Wrote Jim Hightower in the Austin Chronicle, December 22, 2006;^[5]

One group that is doing a great job of applying organization to agitation is Wellstone Action. Named for the legendary progressive senator Paul Wellstone, this group holds intensive training sessions around the country to hone the political skills of potential candidates, campaign workers, and citizen activists. Called "Camp Wellstone," these sessions empower regular folks to act on their progressive principles, to challenge even the most entrenched political establishment … and to win.

Begun in 2003, Wellstone Action has been educating and motivating a whole new generation of grassroots leaders who are not beholden to money interests, not tied to old-line political hierarchies, and not afraid to offer a new politics based on ideas and ideals. And now, graduates of these citizenship camps are running winning campaigns all across the country.

In the Nov. 7 election, Camp Wellstone alumni ran for local, state, and federal offices, and 78 of them were elected in 18 states. They will now be state senators, country commissioners, secretaries of state, and even members of Congress – three Wellstone grads (John Hall of New York, David Loebsack of Iowa, and Tim Walz of Minnesota) were elected to the U.S. house this year. In addition, one of Wellstone Action's trainers, Keith Ellison, was elected to the house, becoming the first Muslim to serve in Congress.

Tim Walz team 2010

David Richard Gilbert-Pederson October 27, 2010:

With Susy Bates, Andrew Mahowald, Anja Kresojevic, Alexis Pennie, Em Rose, Katie Troyer and Sarah Clarke.

Minneapolis Riots

In the wake of the Minneapolis riots in May 2020, Keith Ellison held a press conference on May 30 with other "community leaders" where he supported the people who were ostensibly protesting the death of George Floyd, and claimed outside elements were responsible for infiltrating the ^[6]

"People that are trying to tarnish the reputations of the noble protest for justice are out there trying to mix in with the crowd so that people don't just say 'oh look all those protests are bad, their cause can't be just, they're just out there causing trouble.' ...We know that the noble, just aims of the protestors are righteous and good. But we also know that some evil elements are literally defusing themselves with the protest to destroy and cause arson so the whole community has a low opinion of the protest. Because they are not for justice for Mr. Floyd - They're against it!"

From the article:

"Joining Ellison was a long list of community leaders, as well as Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Some were visibly shaken as the gravity of this week’s events became clear.

“They’re not part of our state, and they’re coming from the outside,” Klobuchar said.

Other speakers who came together included Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson; Mary Merill; Robert Liligren; Lul Osman; Clarence Castile; Imam Asad Zaman; Bo Thao-Urabe; Justin Terrell.

The community leaders denounced systemic racism that they say have long contributed to inequality and tensions, and said outside anarchists were intent on causing destruction.

“We cannot watch our brothers being murdered and, then, on top of that, watch our communities being demolished and then trying to blame us,” said Osman.

Emilia Gonzalez Avalos, executive director of Unidos MN, a nonprofit, spoke about how minority business owners on Lake Street, the heart of the Minneapolis Latino community, sought to defend their livelihoods.

Politics

On November 7, 2006 Tim Walz won election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated six-term incumbent Gil Gutknecht by a margin of 53% to 47%. On November 4, 2008 Walz was re-elected overwhelmingly in the traditional swing district held by Republicans most of its existence.

Tim Walz represents Minnesota's 1st Congressional District which includes the communities of Worthington, Mankato, Albert Lea, Austin, Rochester and Winona.^[7]

Committees

Walz is a member of the House Agriculture Committee, the Veteran's Affairs Committee and was recently named Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, of which Tim is also a member.^[8]

Supported by Council for a Livable World

The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their policies. The Council supported Tim Walz in his successful House of Representatives run as candidate for Minnesota.^[9]

Planned Parenthood

Walz received $5000 in lobbying funds from Planned Parenthood in 2008.

Lobbied by communist Mark Froemke

Minnesotans were well-represented at the June 25, 2009 Washington DC rally for health care reform. Among the union members urging Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Tim Walz and Rep. Collin Peterson to support health care reform that will "offer quality affordable health care to America now" were: Linda Slattengren, president of MNA, Laura Askelin, president of SE MN ALC, Mark Froemke, president of the Western Minnesota ALC and Tim Lovaasen, president of the CWA State Council.^[10]

Netroots Nation

At the 2011 Netroots Nation conference the LIUNA sponsored a Fight Back for Good Jobs rally featuring LIUNA President Terry O’Sullivan, Van Jones, Sen. Ben Cardin, Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and other political, business and community leaders.^[11]

ARA endorsement, 2014

The Alliance for Retired Americans Political Action Fund endorsed Tim Walz in 2014, also 2012.^[12]

On CAIR

"The years you have spent serving our community and defending civil liberties are an incredible accomplishment. Thank you for the wonderful work you do in Minnesota and across our great nation.”

Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) (October 2017).

Staff

As at April 18, 2011, the following had worked as staff members for Tim Walz:^[13]

External links

• Walz's website with the House of Representatives

References

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