[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 62 (Friday, April 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A TRIBUTE TO THE SERVICE OF AL PERRY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 27, 2012

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleague Mr. Denham to 
pay tribute to the service of Mr. Al Perry on the occasion of his 
retirement from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Central California Healthcare 
System. His years of dedicated service to United States veterans 
exemplifies his reverence for our country and demonstrates the best of 
what America has to offer.
  After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from 
Middlebury College in 1970, Mr. Perry served in the United States 
Medical Service Corps from 1971 to 1973. This service marked the 
beginning of his unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting the 
welfare and safety of our nation. Following his service, Mr. Perry 
attended Northeastern University where he obtained a Master's Degree in 
Public Administration, and the Medical College of Virginia where he 
earned a Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration.
  During his career with the VA, he has served as a friend and 
counselor to many of our nation's service men and women. As a coach and 
mentor for the VA's career and development programs, Mr. Perry served 
as a guide and moral paradigm for countless veterans by steering and 
advising them through difficult decisions. Prior to this, Mr. Perry 
served as adjunct faculty at California State University, Long Beach 
and Boston University.
  A tireless advocate for all veterans, Mr. Perry has held a number of 
leadership positions within the VA. He served as Co-Chair, Chair, 
Acting Director, and eventually Director of several national taskforces 
and healthcare systems, including the VA National Workload Realignment 
Taskforce, the CARES Livermore Realignment Taskforce, and the federal 
medical disaster stations during Hurricanes Katrina, Ike, and Gustav.
  Under his management, the VA Central California Healthcare System was 
widely recognized. In 2003, the VA Central California Healthcare System 
received the ``Central California Excellence in Business Award'' from 
the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and the Fresno Bee. In 2006, they 
received the VA Secretary's Annual Labor-Management Partnership Award 
and were recognized by the VA Under Secretary with the Annual Diversity 
Award. They also received the Robert W. Carey Performance Achievement 
Award and were ranked among ``America's 100 Most Wired Hospitals'' in 
2009, 2006, and 2004. In 2010, they received the Robert W. Carey 
Performance Achievement Award.
  Mr. Perry's longstanding commitment to U.S. veterans is truly a 
reflection of his character and has not gone unrecognized. He is the 
recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the OPM ``HERO'' 
Award for Community Service in the Federal Non-Military Division the 
Presidential Rank ``Meritorious Executive'' Award, the ``Distinguished 
Executive'' Award, and the 2011 Veterans Health Administration 
Certified Mentor of the Year Award.
  Mr. Perry has been a true champion for veterans of the Central 
Valley. He and his team have consistently and effectively partnered 
with local elected officials in efforts to better serve and care for 
Central Valley veterans.
  We applaud Mr. Perry for his many years of work on behalf of our 
nation's veterans and their families. His retirement marks a 
bittersweet milestone for the VA Central California Healthcare System. 
We wish him the best of success as he begins the next chapter of his 
life.
  Mr. Perry is looking forward to enjoying more time with his wife, 
Susan-Jean Perry, and his daughters and son in-law, Amanda Perry, 
Meredith Kohl, and Kristoffer Kohl.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Denham and I ask our colleagues to join us in 
congratulating Mr. Al Perry on his successful career as a leader in the 
Veterans Affairs Central California Healthcare System, and honoring for 
his life-long service to the United States of America and its veterans.

                          ____________________