[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY ROGER R. RAPP

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 17, 2002

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Roger R. Rapp, 
who on October 3, 2002, will be retiring after serving 30 years at the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
  Roger personifies the steadfast career civil servant. He began his 
federal career at the Veterans Health Administration in 1972, advancing 
through various positions which included field assignments at VA 
medical centers in Dayton, Ohio, and Washington, DC. Ultimately, Roger 
moved to the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), where he served as 
the director of the National Cemetery Area Office in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania. In 1987, Roger was named Director of Field Operations for 
the NCA. In March of 2000, his title was changed to that which it is 
today, Deputy Under Secretary for Operations. As the one responsible 
for operations and construction at NCA, Roger has personally visited 
each of the 120 VA National Cemeteries.
  Roger's dedication to veterans and their families is apparent to all 
who know him, and he truly is a man with a vision. He has been a 
leading voice in ensuring the expansion of existing cemeteries, 
development of new national cemeteries, and expanding the State 
Cemetery Grants Program. Through his leadership, the number of national 
cemeteries increased from 103 in 1973 when NCA was formed, to the 
current 120; five new national cemeteries are currently in the planning 
stages.
  It is said that Roger knows the majority of NCA employees nationwide 
on a first name basis, and he has devoted his career to helping all VA 
employees take pride in their jobs and focus on the needs of veterans. 
Owing to his leadership, NCA scored 93 percent on the American Customer 
Satisfaction Index, the highest score of any federal government entity. 
Roger was also instrumental in establishing the Director Training 
Programs to provide upward mobility and career advancement for VA 
employees throughout the system. Additionally, he's contributed 
significantly over the years to Leadership VA, the agency's executive 
development program.
  Mr. Speaker, Roger Rapp is an advocate for veterans and has dedicated 
30 years to this advocacy--20 years with the National Cemetery 
Administration alone. And when the situation called for it, he has done 
so with humor and selflessness. Indeed, Roger was a lucid and 
forthright witness when testifying before the House Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs. Thank you, Roger, for your dedication to America's 
veterans. You are leaving, a lasting legacy of dedicated federal 
service.

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