[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO THE LATE SURESH KWATRA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 1999

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, before the first session of he 106th Congress 
adjourns, I want to pay tribute to Mr. Suresh Kwatra, a dedicated 25-
year career employee of the United States Department of Veterans' 
Affairs, who died unexpectedly on June 21, 1999.
  Mr. Kwatra was indeed an inspiring individual. He was an accounting 
graduate of Delhi University. He immigrated to the United States from 
his native India in 1969 and served in the United States Army during 
the Vietnam conflict, shortly after gaining his American citizenship.
  Mr. Kwatra began his career with the former Veterans Administration 
in 1974. He served as a veterans benefits counselor, strategic planner 
with VA's national cemetery system, and statistician and analyst in the 
Office of VA's Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning. Because of 
his exceptional initiative and professionalism, the Congressional 
Veterans' Claims and Adjudication Commission selected Mr. Kwatra to be 
an analyst and project manager. In my role as chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Benefits, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I have read 
his insightful analysis in the commission's report.
  Mr. Speaker, Suresh Kwatra came to America, served proudly and 
honorably in our military, and then committed his life to serving 
fellow veterans for a quarter of a century. To Suresh's former co-
workers, members of his church and community, his wife of 25 years 
Shoba, and sons Sameer and Naveen, I say that Suresh Kwatra was more 
than an inspiring individual, indeed he was an American hero.

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