[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 122 (Thursday, July 30, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S6185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH A. VIOLANTE

 Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, I wish to recognize Joseph A. 
Violante, national legislative director for the Disabled American 
Veterans, DAV, who will be retiring at the end of this week after over 
20 years of service to DAV.
  Joe's career of service started long before his tenure at DAV. As a 
U.S. Marine, he served in combat in Vietnam. Following his honorable 
discharge from the Marine Corps, Joe began practicing law in 
California, and in 1990, Joe joined the DAV Washington staff in its 
appellate work before the VA Board of Veterans Appeals, lending his 
legal expertise to serve his fellow veterans. Joe became DAV's national 
legislative director in 1996.
  It is an incredible service to defend the United States in combat. 
Joe went above and beyond that. He came home and started fighting for 
others who served, helping countless veterans through his work at DAV. 
Over the past 2 decades, he has played a role in crafting major 
veterans legislation, and his work has affected policies at the VA, the 
Department of Labor, the Department of Defense, and other Federal 
agencies. Joe has helped spur internal VA reforms, establish increases 
in VA's annual appropriations, expand primary care for veterans, expand 
the National Cemetery system and establish caregiver benefits for 
wounded veterans. These accomplishments, just few of many, will 
continue to help veterans for years to come.
  Joe served as national legislative director for three Presidential 
administrations and testified at my very first hearing as chairman of 
the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. It was an honor to work with 
him, and I know I am not alone when I say I am sad to see him go. His 
retirement is well-deserved, and I wish Joe and his wife Debbie all the 
best.

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