[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 13, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S2020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS VOLUNTARY 
                                SERVICE

  Mrs. McCASKILL. Mr. President, I ask the Senate to join me today in 
recognizing, celebrating, and highlighting the significance of the 70th 
anniversary of the Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service, 
VAVS, this year. This program is one of the largest centralized 
volunteer groups in the Federal Government with approximately 75,000 
volunteers providing more than 9.7 million hours of service for our 
Nation's veterans during their hospital stay.
  It has been 70 years since this program started in 1946. Since then, 
the volunteers have donated more than 782.2 million hours of service to 
support our veterans. More than 7,400 national and community 
organizations support the volunteers, including support by a national 
advisory committee, comprising 55 major veteran, civic, and service 
organizations who work together to improve volunteerism in VA.
  Keeping up with the VA's fast-paced efforts to expand access to care 
for veteran patients into the community, this program, too, has strived 
to continue their efforts to assist our veterans. The volunteers serve 
in many different ways, including supplementing staff in hospital 
wards, community living centers, outpatient clinics, community-based 
volunteer programs, respite care programs, end-of-life care programs, 
creative arts, adaptive sports, vet centers, veterans homes, national 
cemeteries, and veterans benefits offices.
  Just in 2015, the volunteers contributed a total of 10.8 million 
hours of service. The current monetary value of those hours from all of 
the volunteers is more than $250 million. Additionally, the volunteers 
and their organizations contributed more than $105 million in gifts and 
donations in 2015, for a combined total value of $355.5 million in 
volunteer service and giving.
  While the tangible value of these volunteer activities is impressive, 
it is impossible to calculate all of the compassionate care and efforts 
that the volunteers provide for our veterans. These volunteers are a 
priceless asset for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  I ask that the Senate join me in celebrating the Department of 
Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service on 70 years of outstanding service 
to our Nation's veterans and wishing them the best in continuing to 
serve.

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