[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 45 (Monday, March 16, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S3112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                         TRIBUTE TO DEBRA CLOW

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I wish today to recognize the work 
and career of Debra K. Clow of Sioux Falls, SD. Later this month, Debra 
will be retiring after nearly 37 years of Federal service in the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
  Debra grew up in Yankton, SD. She attended the University of South 
Dakota at Springfield and started her career with the ROTC at USD in 
August 1972. She began her career with the VA as a fee base clerk in 
January 1974 and over the years worked impressively in various 
capacities, including development clerk, claims examiner, authorizer, 
training and quality coordinator, and coach. In recent years, she also 
advised and updated South Dakota congressional staffs with the detailed 
status of cases involving numerous veterans.
  While working at the VA Regional Office in Sioux Falls, Debra served 
as the women's veterans coordinator. She served as coordinator from 
1990 to 2008, witnessing the evolving scope of care and attention to 
the unique issues affecting women veterans. She has also attended 
numerous VA outreach events to explain VA benefits to veterans and 
their dependents.
  I want to commend Debra for her many years of service to this 
Nation's veterans and their families. Her honorable service has been 
marked by a true sense of dedication and commitment to the men and 
women who have served our Nation in the Armed Forces. Countless 
veterans have benefitted from her dedicated work, much of which was 
done behind the scenes but always with the best interests of the 
veterans in mind. I applaud her great service, and I am sure that she 
is retiring from the Department of Veterans Affairs with many rewarding 
experiences and memories.
  I wish Debra and her husband, Jeff, all the best in retirement. As a 
life member of the Izaak Walton League of America, a 25-year member of 
the American Business Women's Association, and an avid gardener and dog 
lover, I am sure there are many endeavors awaiting her attention and 
effort. Again, I wish to recognize and commend Debra for her great 
service to our Nation.

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