[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 65 (Friday, April 7, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S5538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

  The legislative clerk read the nomination of Dennis M. Duffy, of 
Pennsylvania, to be an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
  Mr. GORTON. I ask unanimous consent that the nomination be confirmed, 
the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any 
statements relating to the nomination appear at the appropriate place 
in the Record, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's 
action, and that the Senate return to legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nomination was considered and confirmed.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I am delighted to join the chairman 
of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Senator from Wyoming [Mr. 
Simpson], in bringing the nomination of Dennis Duffy to be VA Assistant 
Secretary for Policy and planning before the Senate and urging his 
confirmation.
  Dennis is a career VA employee who began working for VA in the 
Pittsburgh regional office in 1974, 2 years after he returned from 
Vietnam, where he served with the American division. For most of his 
career, he worked on benefits matters, both in the field and in VA 
central office. Most recently, Dennis has been working in Congressional 
Affairs, where he is now the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Congressional Liaison.
  The White House first indicated its intention last year to nominate 
Dennis for this position, but his nomination was not received until 
after adjournment, so we were unable to take it up. I was delighted 
when the President again submitted this nomination early in this 
Congress.
  I think the job for which Dennis has been nominated--the VA Assistant 
Secretary for Policy and Planning--is terribly important. This vital 
position has been vacant for nearly a year, and it is important that 
the Senate act on this nomination quickly so as to restore leadership 
to the office.
  I had a very strong interest in the role VA's Office of Policy and 
Planning played in health care reform during the last Congress, and I 
anticipate that there is an important ongoing role in that area as the 
Congress seeks to address eligibility reform and other health care 
matters. I am also very interested in many other exciting issues that 
the office undertakes, which I look forward to working on with Dennis 
in the weeks and months ahead.
  I am very excited that Dennis will join another VA Assistant 
Secretary, Mark Catlett, as the second career VA employee nominated to 
an advice and consent position within VA. Dennis' nomination to this 
position--a key position within VA--is a very positive message for 
career employees throughout VA.
  Mr. President, Dennis Duffy has a wonderful opportunity to serve the 
veterans of the Nation in this new office. President Clinton has shown 
great confidence in him, his work, and his commitment to veterans by 
nominating him to serve in this important position. I urge my 
colleagues to give their unanimous support to this nomination.


                          ____________________