[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 70 (Friday, May 23, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO EDWARD P. SCOTT

 Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, it is with great regret that I rise 
today to note the impending retirement of Edward P. Scott, Assistant 
Secretary for Congressional Affairs with the Department of Veterans 
Affairs [VA]. Ed has served in this position since his confirmation by 
the Senate in May 1993, after being nominated by President Clinton.
  As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have greatly 
appreciated Ed's successful efforts to maintain close relations with 
legislators and keep Congress apprised of VA operations, programs, and 
policies. During his tenure, VA confronted the impact of judicial 
review on veterans' claims; addressed the health care, research, and 
compensation needs of Persian Gulf veterans suffering from undiagnosed 
illnesses; and, in the face of unprecedented fiscal pressures, began 
the most comprehensive restructuring of its health care and benefits 
administrations in history. Ed has played a critical role in developing 
and implementing VA's response to each of these challenges, while 
keeping Congress fully informed of, and involved in, major 
developments.
  Mr. President, prior to his administration appointment, Ed enjoyed a 
long and varied career in public service. After graduating cum laude 
from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1963, where he was 
Law Review editor, he clerked for New Jersey Supreme Court Associate 
Justice Nathan Jacobs. He then joined the Air Force for 3 years, 
working as an assistant staff judge advocate at Keesler Air Force Base 
before retiring in the rank of captain. Soon after, he joined the Peace 
Corps, serving as deputy director and, later, country director, in 
Korea. Returning to the United States, he signed on as a staff attorney 
to the Mental Health Law Project in Washington, DC. In 1977, he joined 
the staff of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, thus embarking on a long 
and distinguished career in the veterans arena. In the 16 years he was 
employed on the committee staff, he alternately served as majority and 
minority general counsel and, ultimately, staff director and chief 
counsel.
  As a committee staffer, Ed was instrumental in creating the Vet 
Center Program, enacting the Montgomery GI bill, elevating VA to 
cabinet rank, and establishing the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals. 
During the 102d Congress, one of the most productive legislative 
periods in the committee's history, he helped revamp VA physician pay, 
improve homeless veterans programs, create a fairer system of 
compensation for survivors of disabled veterans, bring educational 
benefits in line with inflation, heighten concern for minority 
veterans, and establish a program to help treat women who were sexually 
abused in the military. In addition, under the leadership of my 
distinguished colleagues, Senator Daschle and Senator Rockefeller, 
respectively, he helped resolve controversial matters relating to agent 
orange exposure and VA drug pricing.
  Mr. President, I should also note that Ed played an important role in 
improving health care benefits and services for Hawaii's 120,000 
veterans. Ed had an opportunity to visit Hawaii, gaining firsthand an 
appreciation of the unique needs of our multiethnic veterans population 
as well as of the special problems that confront the community as a 
consequence of Hawaii's insular geography and isolation from the 
mainland. He materially supported the Hawaii Delegation's efforts, 
initiated by my late predecessor, Senator Spark Matsunaga, to establish 
a VA medical center on Oahu; triple the size of the Honolulu VA 
outpatient clinic; and, establish vet centers, primary care clinics, 
and a residential post-traumatic stress disorder treatment center in 
the neighbor islands.
  Mr. President, however extensive Ed's achievements, what is most 
remarkable about this good man is the grace and sense of balance he has 
brought to public service. In dealing with many different organizations 
and personalities, each with a separate agenda, often on extremely 
contentious issues, he brought calm to rough waters and comfort to 
bruised egos. His willingness to consider every side to an issue, his 
ability to rise above partisan and personal concerns, truly elevated 
the level of debate on veterans issues. By his example, he constantly 
reminded us of our primary obligation, which is to promote the welfare 
of veterans.
  Thank you, Mr. President. Ed's departure from public service is a 
loss to all who care about good government. I offer him and his wife, 
Jane, my best wishes as they embark on a new, and I hope rewarding, 
phase of life.

                          ____________________