[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 125 (Thursday, September 23, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S11374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       VET CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

 Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, it gives me great pleasure to 
publicly acknowledge the five Vet Centers from around this country that 
are being recognized for their superior services as ``Vet Centers of 
Excellence.'' While I am proud of the fine facilities located in 
California, Arizona, Georgia and West Virginia, the one I want to 
praise today is in my state of Vermont.
  Vermont is very fortunate to have two Vet Centers--in fact we boast 
the first in the nation back in the days when the Readjustment 
Counseling Service (RCS) was just getting started with pilot sites 
strategically located around the country. The nation's first Vet 
Center, an excellent facility, was designed to help veterans in the 
Burlington, Vermont area.
  The Vet Center we honor today opened in mid-1981 and is located in 
White River Junction, Vermont. It serves veterans on both sides of the 
Connecticut River in Vermont and New Hampshire. The team leader, Tim 
Beebe, assesses their work modestly, saying ``we are just doing our 
job.'' Maybe they don't understand the impact they have. This 
incredible staff go so far above their ``job''. They are caring, 
involved and understanding friends, devoted to offering a safe haven to 
those veterans suffering the emotional wear and tear of battle, often 
thirty years after leaving the service.
  I am sure I don't need to remind my colleagues in Congress that the 
work being done at Vet Centers throughout the Country is enormously 
important. Over the years, the Vet Center program has been so 
successful in meeting the readjustment needs of Vietnam veterans that 
the VA Readjustment Counseling Service expanded the scope of their good 
work to veterans of all eras. This move was heartily endorsed by 
Congress and is now law. Long before this mandate, however, the White 
River Junction Vet Center subscribed to an open door policy to all 
veterans. Their message was simply put: ``Welcome home--you are not 
alone.''
  Mr. President, I believe in the great work being done by Vet Centers 
everyday throughout this country. I also know, however, that a ``Vet 
Center of Excellence'' award is only given to the those centers that 
stand a little taller than the rest. The White River Junction Vet 
Center staff exemplifies excellence. I want to offer my warmest 
congratulations to this incredibly talented group of professionals and 
remind them that they are shining examples to their colleagues in the 
206 Vet Centers around the United States.

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