[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE LANE EVANS, MEMBER OF CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2006

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Congressman Lane 
Evans, who is retiring after serving this institution honorably for 24 
years.
  As Ranking Member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Rep. 
Evans has served not only his 17th District constituents, but he has 
also been the voice for veterans nationwide. As a Marine and Vietnam 
veteran, Rep. Evans had a deep and abiding understanding of veterans' 
issues and a keen sense of the unique issues affecting Vietnam 
veterans, like Agent Orange. He has been a tireless advocate for 
improving veterans' health care and benefits and was not afraid to 
challenge the Veterans Administration if he thought they were 
shortchanging veterans' programs, particularly VA services for homeless 
veterans.
  He shone a bright light on the horrific problems of antipersonnel 
land mines and authored the first law prohibiting the export of 
landmines which ultimately led to the awarding of the 1997 Nobel Peace 
Prize to the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines. His legacy on 
landmines has saved countless lives around the globe.
  It is with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to Rep. Lane Evans, one 
of the most dedicated and principled public servants that I have ever 
had the privilege to serve with. Semper Fi.

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