[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE JESSE BROWN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LANE EVANS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 6, 2003

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleague, the 
gentleman from Chicago, Danny Davis in recognizing a true American 
hero, the Honorable Jesse Brown. The late Jesse Brown served as the 
Secretary ``for'' Veterans Affairs from 1993-1997. Jesse insisted that 
people refer to him as the Secretary ``for'' Veterans Affairs in order 
to emphasize his role as a champion of veterans. It is for this role 
that he will always be remembered.
  Jesse spent his teens and early adulthood in Chicago where his 
mother, Mrs. Lucille Brown, continues to reside today. It is fitting 
that we re-name the West Side division of VA Chicago in his name.
  Jesse was a personal friend of mine, but thousands of veterans in 
this Nation also recognized him as a friend. He oversaw a period of 
growth and improvement in the VA health care system that changed many 
Americans' view of the health care system by modernizing and greatly 
improving the quality of its services and allowing new access to 
millions.
  Jesse never took ``no'' for an answer. When it came to demanding the 
best for our veterans, he would even take on the President. I remember 
the legendary stories of his trips to the White House to challenge the 
President's budgets for veterans. He always wanted more and he almost 
always won. Even at his memorial service, which I, along with former-
President Clinton, attended this past summer, long-time friends and 
associates spoke of a man to whom it was impossible to say no.
  Jesse's path was probably laid for him when he was wounded in combat 
while on patrol in Danang. The injury would leave him partially 
paralyzed for the rest of his life. After a long period of 
recuperation, Secretary Brown began a career in veterans' advocacy that 
spanned the remainder of his life. The Secretary worked his way up the 
Disabled American Veterans structure culminating his 25-year career by 
serving as executive director from 1989-1993.
  As Secretary ``for'' Veterans Affairs, Jesse fought to make good on 
his promise of ``putting veterans first.'' He made it his priority to 
meet veterans whose needs had long gone unrecognized--he made 
homelessness ``the fifth mission'' of the VA. He added counseling for 
women who experienced sexual trauma during military service. He worked 
tirelessly to expand benefits for veterans who were former prisoners-
of-war and for those exposed to Agent Orange, radiation and mustard 
gas. He began an aggressive research agenda into the causes and 
effective treatments for veterans of the first Persian Gulf War.
  Even toward the end of his life, Secretary Brown continued his 
advocacy for veterans as the first executive director of the Disabled 
Veterans Life Memorial Foundation. Sadly, Jesse left us all too soon 
after a struggle with Lou Gehrig's disease this past summer. He is 
survived by his wife Sylvia, along with two children Carmen Stewart and 
Scott Brown and many other relatives and friends.
  As a fellow Marine, Jesse truly knew the meaning of ``leave no man 
behind.'' He lived his life according to that creed. He has earned the 
honor we are bestowing upon him today.

                          ____________________