[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 65 (Wednesday, May 9, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO J. DAVID COX

 Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment 
today to recognize National Secretary-Treasurer of the American 
Federation of Government Employees AFGE, J. David Cox, the recipient of 
the 2012 Yitzhak Rabin Public Service Award.
  This award is given out by the American Friends of the Yitzhak Rabin 
Center each year to individuals who reflect Prime Minister Rabin's 
legacy of peace, leadership, and public service. Having come to know 
and appreciate J. David's accomplishments, I feel that he is more than 
a fitting recipient of this honor.
  Over the course of his decades-long involvement with AFGE and AFL 
CIO, J. David has worked tirelessly to ensure that Federal employees 
here in Washington, D.C. and across the nation enjoy the dignity, fair 
pay, and safe working environment that they deserve. Based upon the 
number of leadership positions he has been elected to by his fellow 
Federal workers, it is clear that they approve of his efforts. In the 
past, he has served as Executive Vice-President of the AFGE National 
Veterans Affairs Council, President of AFGE Local 1738 in North 
Carolina, and Co-Chair of the Department of Veterans' Affairs National 
Partnership Council. In addition to his role as National Secretary-
Treasurer, he currently is vice co-chair of the AFL CIO's Union 
Veterans Council, vice-president of North Carolina State AFL CIO, and 
was appointed by President Obama to serve on the Federal Salary Council 
and the Federal Prevailing wage council.
  J. David got his start in the Federal workforce in 1983 as a 
registered nurse within the Department of Veterans Affairs. He served 
our nation's veterans for 23 years before moving on to AFGE in 2006. As 
Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I have come to value J. 
David as an important advocate for veterans as well as VA's Federal 
workforce. J. David has testified before us several times over recent 
years and has established himself as a key asset to the Committee. 
Throughout his testimony, J. David has always sought to make sure that 
the doctors, nurses, and other health professionals at VA have the 
resources they need to provide the best possible care to our veterans. 
In particular, his vocal support for assured funding and VA budget 
reform help to lead to the current 2-year appropriations process that 
VA uses today.
  I am grateful for J. David's work and applaud the American Friends of 
the Yitzhak Rabin Center for selecting him as one of this year's award 
recipients. I offer my sincerest congratulations to J. David and hope 
that he continues to fight for Federal employees and veterans into the 
future.

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