[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 22 (Tuesday, February 12, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S650-S651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JIM WILLIS

 Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, on March 1, 2013, one of Oregon's 
most dedicated leaders will retire. I want to take a few minutes to pay 
tribute to a public servant and one of Oregon's foremost advocates for 
veterans, Jim Willis.
  Jim has worked selflessly to better the State and the nation. For 48 
years, he has been helping others, from his two enlistments in the U.S. 
Air Force, including a tour of wartime service in South Vietnam, to a 
career with the Oregon State Police, to his time with the American 
Legion, and finally his leadership at the Oregon Department of Veterans 
Affairs, ODVA.
  After his service in Vietnam, Jim knew what it felt like to return 
home to a country where veterans were not always welcomed and at times 
forgotten. He understood the words of George Washington when he said, 
``The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in 
any war, no matter how justified, is directly proportional to how they 
perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by 
their nation.''
  This is why Jim championed funding for the Oregon Veterans' Home, 
pressed for veteran health care funding under the Federal VA system, 
increased financing limits on veterans' home loans, supported the 
construction of the Oregon Medal of Honor Memorial and Afghan-Iraqi 
Freedom Memorial, and initiated the construction of a second veterans 
home in Lebanon, Oregon.
  I cannot say enough about the distinguished efforts Jim has made over 
the last 23 years at ODVA on behalf of servicemembers and their 
families. With his direction, our heroes knew there were trained 
service officers in their county ready to assist them with benefits, 
home loans, and countless other issues. The trained professionals and 
the team he built at ODVA were always willing to help a veteran in a 
time of need. As President of the National Association of State 
Directors of Veterans Affairs, Jim coordinated these efforts nationally 
to assure veterans received what they worked so hard for.
  I am grateful to have had Jim as a partner in several endeavors at 
the Federal level, including the effort to put a halt to pension 
poachers who were stealing money and benefits from veterans under the 
guise of veterans' assistance.
  Even in retirement, Jim will continue to find ways to give back to 
the community. He will continue to serve on the American Legion 
National Cemetery Committee, on the Veteran of Foreign Wars National 
Resolutions Committee, and as Vice President of the Oregon World War II 
Memorial Foundation.
  I could not be prouder of Jim and his life's work. He embodies the 
best of Oregon and the best of a grateful nation. As our servicemembers 
continue to come home and reintegrate into society, I am confident the 
benefits and services they have earned will be available to them 
because of Jim and people like him. His dedication to veterans will 
continue to have a lasting impact on ODVA for years to come.
  Mr. President, I know Senator Merkley will be speaking after me to 
express his gratitude for Jim's many years of hard work. I'm proud to 
join my fellow Oregonians in recognizing the great service of Jim 
Willis and wishing him the best as he begins this new chapter in his 
life.
 Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to echo what my 
colleague Senator Wyden said in recognition of Jim Willis, a native 
Oregonian and one of Oregon's greatest champions for veterans and their 
families.
  As an airman during the Vietnam War, and as an officer for the Oregon 
State Police, Jim has dedicated his life to serving and protecting the 
citizens of the United States and the State of Oregon.

[[Page S651]]

  Jim saw his work as fulfilling a sacred obligation: we all have the 
responsibility to honor and care for our veterans. For the past decade, 
under Jim's leadership, the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs, 
ODVA, has stayed true to its mission and recognized and honored 
Oregon's veterans and their families by providing the highest quality 
programs, services and benefits.
  Jim's dedication to providing quality programs and resources to all 
veterans and their families has lead ODVA--a relatively small agency--
to accomplish a lot during his service. His decision to retire comes on 
the heels of some major accomplishments over the last few years, 
including beginning construction of a new veterans' home and the 
completion of a community center, both to serve Oregon's elderly 
veterans. Jim's legacy will be the impact that these projects will have 
on the lives of Oregon's veterans and their families.
  With his service to the American Legion National Cemetery Committee 
and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and his current tenure as President of 
the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Jim 
works from a national platform to promote and advocate for veterans 
benefits. For Jim, every day is Veterans Day.
  It has been a pleasure to work with Jim, both as a member of the 
Oregon State Legislature and as a U.S. Senator.
  Jim will be retiring to his home in Albany, where he will spend time 
with his family. He plans to ``continue to be concerned for my fellow 
veterans as long as I am able to assist in serving them in the 
future,'' and in that regard will continue to be active in the American 
Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and with the committee overseeing 
Oregon's World War II Memorial, currently under construction on the 
grounds of the Oregon Capitol.
  Oregon is proud of and grateful for all of the hard work and 
leadership displayed by Jim Willis over his long and decorated career. 
I am especially proud of his many achievements and I thank him for his 
many years of outstanding public service. We wish him a happy and 
healthy retirement, and thank him for his continued dedication to 
Oregon's veterans.

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