[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 39 (Thursday, April 11, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S2573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CELEBRATING OVER A HALF CENTURY OF SERVICE TO VETERANS

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Madam President, I am pleased today to say a few 
words about the Paralyzed Veterans of America, PVA to those of us who 
work on veterans matters, in connection with the organization's PVA 
Awareness Week, which takes place next week.
  PVA began in February 1947, when delegates from seven groups of 
paralyzed veterans from around the country met at the Hines VA Hospital 
in Chicago, IL. Those veterans agreed to form a national organization 
to address the needs of spinal cord injured veterans. They believed 
that veterans with spinal cord injuries would have the strongest voice 
in speaking for veterans with such injuries and for all who were 
similarly disabled, a belief that has been borne out over the years. 
The original members of PVA also emphasized the need both to conduct 
research to find a cure for spinal cord injury while, at the same time, 
providing for the basic, immediate needs of spinal cord injured 
veterans.
  Since its inception, PVA has dedicated itself to the well being of 
some of America's most catastrophically disabled veterans as it has 
developed a unique expertise on a wide variety of issues involving the 
special needs of its members, veterans of the armed forces who have 
experienced spinal cord injury, SCI, or dysfunction. PVA, which 
received a Congressional charter as a veterans service organization in 
1971, is a dynamic, broad-based organization with more than 40 chapters 
and sub-chapters nationwide and nearly 20,000 members. In addition to 
its Washington, D.C. headquarters, PVA operates 58 service offices 
around the country to serve the needs of all veterans seeking 
Department of Veterans Affairs' claims and benefits.
  PVA is a leading advocate for quality health care not only for spinal 
cord injured veterans, but for all other veterans as well. They also 
continue to press for research and education addressing spinal cord 
injury and dysfunction.
  PVA's commitment to research can be seen in its sponsorship of the 
Spinal Cord Research Foundation which supports research to alleviate, 
and ultimately end, medical and functional consequences of paralysis; 
its endowment in 1980 of a Professorship in SCI Medicine at Stanford 
University; its creation of the Spinal Cord Injury Education and 
Training Foundation to support innovative education and training 
programs; and its role in establishing the PVA-EPVA Center for 
Neuroscience and Regeneration Research at Yale University along with 
the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and Yale University, with the goal of restoration of function 
in people with spinal cord dysfunction.
  PVA also coordinates the activities of two coalitions of 
professional, payer, and consumer groups, the Consortium for Spinal 
Cord Medicine and the Multiple Sclerosis Council, which develop 
clinical practice guidelines defining standards of care for people with 
spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis.
  While PVA's Congressional charter requires it to devote substantial 
resources to representing veterans in their claims for benefits from 
VA, the PVA Veterans Benefits Department goes above and beyond the call 
of duty, providing assistance and representation, without charge, to 
veterans with a spinal cord dysfunction and other veterans seeking 
health care and other benefits for which they are eligible. This 
assistance is offered through a network of PVA national service 
officers across the nation who assist veterans in making claims for 
benefits and monitor medical care at local VA medical facilities. PVA's 
national service officers assist claimants through every stage of the 
VA claims process and also offer representation to veterans who have 
claims pending before the Social Security Administration.
  PVA's advocacy does not stop at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. It 
has one of the most active presences at the U.S. Court of Appeals for 
Veterans Claims and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 
arguing cases that have set precedents that have helped thousands, if 
not millions, of veterans and their families.
  Other key PVA programs include its Architecture Program, which plays 
an important role in the lives of severely disabled veterans with 
quality design and construction of affordable and accessible housing; 
its Health Analysis Program, which keeps a constant eye on the 
performance of the VA health care system as well as other health care 
systems in the public and private sector; and its Sports and Recreation 
Program which is dedicated to promoting a range of activities for its 
members and other people with disabilities, with special emphasis on 
activities that enhance lifetime health and fitness, including through 
co-sponsorship of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games with the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
  For 16 years, PVA has co-authored an important, highly respected 
policy guide for the Congress, The Independent Budget: A Comprehensive 
Policy Document Created by Veterans for Veterans, with the Disabled 
American Veterans, AMVETS, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars which 
addresses the needs of veterans on issues ranging from health care to 
benefits and the resources required to meet these needs in the VA 
budget every year.
  PVA's Government Relations staff is well-known here on Capitol Hill. 
It's Advocacy Program is a leading voice for civil rights and 
opportunities that maximize independence of individuals who have 
experienced spinal cord injury or disease, or other severe 
disabilities. PVA played an important role in the passage of the 
Americans with Disabilities Act. It continues its advocacy as an active 
member of the Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities. Its 
Legislation Program staff is directly involved in every budget, 
legislative, and policy initiative affecting veterans under 
consideration in the Congress every year.
  Over the years, I have relied heavily on PVA members in my State of 
West Virginia to keep me informed about the issues so critical to 
veterans with spinal cord injuries. I am particularly grateful for the 
wisdom and counsel of my friend Randy Pleva, President of WV PVA and 
one of PVA's National vice presidents. I do not know a more dedicated 
and compassionate advocate for paralyzed veterans.
  Those of us who work with PVA every day recognize the dedication and 
expertise that this organization brings to Capitol Hill. The 
organization is one of the top national veterans' service organizations 
in terms of expertise and dedication. We must acknowledge the extreme 
sacrifices that the members of their organization have made in service 
to this country and honor the fact that PVA members continue that 
service on behalf of veterans and all Americans with disabilities.
  At a time when this country has soldiers deployed to far-off lands in 
defense of freedom, it is important that we recognize these men and 
women who have served this country in the past and continue to serve 
our nations' veterans today. I look forward to a continuing partnership 
with PVA to provide for the needs of veterans, past, present, and 
future.

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