[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 93 (Thursday, July 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO MS. DORCAS R. HARDY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. HENRY E. BROWN, JR.

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 8, 2004

  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute 
to Ms. Dorcas R. Hardy, who, among her many noteworthy accomplishments, 
served as the Chairman of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment 
(VR&E) Task Force.
  In May 2003, VA Secretary Anthony Principi established the Task Force 
to give the VR&E program ``an unvarnished, top-to-bottom independent 
examination, evaluation, and analysis.'' Chairman Hardy fulfilled the 
challenge with an extensive testimony before the House Veterans' 
Affairs Committee on the operations, findings, and recommendations to 
improve the VR&E program.
  Included among the Task Force's 100-plus recommendations is a new, 
five-track employment process aimed at assisting veterans with finding 
and retaining employment. The report also includes recommendations 
focusing on four categories: programs, organizations, work processes, 
and integrating capacities. Ms. Hardy summarized the recommendations 
best by saying that they are necessary for the program ``to be 
effective in the 21st Century'' and they will help ``to communicate to 
veterans and partners that the purpose of the program is employment.'' 
Indeed, long-term sustained employment should be the goal of every 
vocational rehabilitation participant.
  Ms. Hardy received her B.A. from Connecticut College, her M.B.A. from 
Pepperdine University, and completed the Executive Program in Health 
Policy and Financial Management at Harvard University.
  Ms. Hardy is also the President of Dorcas R. Hardy & Associates, a 
government relations and public policy firm serving a diverse portfolio 
of clients in the health services, insurance, financial and associated 
industries. She has a distinguished record of public service 
culminating with her appointment in 1986 by the late President Ronald 
Reagan as the Commissioner of Social Security.
  With Ms. Hardy's continued dedication to public service, America and 
her veterans benefit. For this, I pay her tribute.

                          ____________________