[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 14, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2937-S2938]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO KAREN GOODE

 Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, it is an honor to pay tribute 
today to Ms. Karen Goode, who has retired after 47 years of dedicated 
public service with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional 
Office in Jackson, MS. Since becoming a U.S. Senator in 2018, I have 
come to appreciate Ms. Goode who has earned consistent high praise from 
my State office staff responsible for assisting veterans with their VA 
claims. Karen's knowledge, responsiveness, reliability, and 
trustworthiness have enabled me to serve Mississippi's

[[Page S2938]]

veterans better and more effectively, and I am very thankful to her for 
that.
  Karen began her career with the VA in 1975 in a clerical position 
with the finance department. A GS-3 at the time she was hired, Karen is 
retiring as a GS-13 supervisory veterans service representative, which 
is evidence of her meritorious work leading to continual promotions 
throughout her Federal civil service career. In the process, she 
acquired the knowledge and skill sets for processing all claims for 
compensation, pension, education, vocational, and rehabilitation. Ms. 
Goode's thorough understanding of the claims review process, along with 
her excellent management skills, propelled her into key senior 
leadership roles that led her to supervising seven different employee 
teams over her VA career.
  Ms. Goode's high degree of professionalism earned her multiple 
special recognitions. At the recommendation of the veterans service 
center manager, Karen in 2006 served as the representative for the 
southern area on a quality assurance detail HELP team in Washington, 
DC. In 2012, at the completion of a designated special project as 
quality team coach, Karen obtained Lean Six Sigma Green Belt 
designation.
  Even though Congress writes the laws regarding veterans' benefits, it 
is up to teams set up within the VA to review veterans' claims and 
determine if they are eligible for benefits. It can be a complex and 
lengthy process, which I highly respect. Covering a broad range of 
benefit categories, I understand the effectiveness in which VA team 
member groups review and process claims can differ greatly. Despite 
exercising most of her leadership away from the public eye, 
Mississippi's veterans are fortunate to have been served by Ms. Karen 
Goode for so many years working in this capacity. She has been 
unwavering in her commitment to ensuring that Mississippi's veterans 
receive the benefits to which they are entitled under the law.
  In conclusion, I am incredibly grateful to Ms. Karen Goode for 
dedicating her career to serving those who have served our country. I 
commend her for her many accomplishments, and I send her my best wishes 
for an enjoyable retirement.

                          ____________________