[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 26, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E92]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. DARRYL KEHRER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 26, 2005

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Darryl 
Kehrer, Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Benefits of the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee, who is retiring after 37 years, 33 of 
which were devoted of public service to our nation's veterans.
  Darryl's distinguished career in public service began with active 
duty in the United States Air Force from 1966-1970, after which he 
received an Honorable Discharge as Staff Sergeant. Since then, he has 
served with distinction at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the 
United States Senate, and as Staff Director of the Subcommittee on 
Benefits of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs at the United States 
House of Representatives. Furthermore, he served as Executive Director 
of the Congressional Veterans Claims Adjudication Commission, and Staff 
Director of the Panel on Veterans' Benefits for the Congressional 
Commission on Servicemembers and Veterans Transition Assistance.
  Darryl has dedicated his career to improving the lives of our 
nation's veterans and to provide them with the very best with respect 
to benefits and services in their transition to civilian life. He has 
made significant contributions to the development and enactment of 
veterans' legislation to improve education, employment, and transition 
assistance, to name just a few of his accomplishments.
  As the Chairman of the Veterans Benefits Subcommittee during the 
107th Congress, Darryl's strong work ethic and commitment to the issues 
was unwavering. He worked tirelessly with me to enact the Jobs for 
Veterans Act (PL 107-288), and since then he has continued his work 
with the Department of Labor to ensure the legislation is reaching 
veterans and helping them make the transition from military service to 
civilian employment. His comments and insight into issues affecting 
veterans was invaluable to me when I served as the Chairman and 
continues to be today.
  Darryl has been a guest instructor at the University of Missouri and 
the Harry S Truman Library, the John Stennis Institute of Government at 
Mississippi State University, West Potomac and Annandale High Schools 
in Virginia, the United States Military Academy, and the United States 
Air Force Academy. Using the Montgomery GI Bill as an example of how 
legislation is made, he developed a case study on the enactment of this 
significant piece of veterans legislation, providing students with a 
hands-on approach to law-making. He has accompanied me to both West 
Point and the Air Force Academy, where we visited with instructors and 
spent time with the cadets. At the Air Force Academy, we did a joint 
presentation to students regarding the Member and staff perspectives of 
the U.S. Congress. His success as a guest instructor is clearly 
demonstrated by how frequently these renowned institutions ask him to 
return.
  Darryl's passions are teaching, mentoring, and baseball. He has spent 
the past fifteen years volunteering for the Annandale Little League, 
and the League established an ongoing scholarship in his name. Called 
the ``Kehrer Cup,'' it is awarded to the youngster who personifies the 
values of Little League Baseball and includes a $550 scholarship to the 
Little League Baseball International Summer Camp. He also received the 
Ellie Doyle Award for his exemplary partnership with the Fairfax County 
government in youth sports activities. A self-proclaimed ``baseball 
fanatic,'' Darryl has used his passion to instill the love of the game 
and the ideals of sportsmanship in children and young adults.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout his career as a public servant and volunteer 
in the community, Darryl has exemplified the highest ideals of family, 
community, and public service. With his retirement, we are losing an 
exemplary public servant and true friend of our nation's veterans. 
Thank you, Darryl, for your many years of dedicated service to our 
nation.

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