[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 14 (Monday, January 23, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S50-S51]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO CHERYL L. MASON

  Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, today I would like to honor the 30 years 
of public service and career of a distinguished American and champion 
for veterans, servicemembers, and their families: Mrs. Cheryl L. Mason.
  As the Department of Veterans Affairs' Chairman of the Board of 
Veterans' Appeals, Chairman Mason helped deliver thousands of veterans 
and their families appeals on their earned benefits and VA services, 
ensuring they received timely decisions, including throughout the 
COVID-19 pandemic.
  Chairman Mason's lifelong commitment to serving veterans, 
servicemembers, and their families is no surprise given her background. 
She is the daughter of a U.S. Navy World War II veteran and a proud 
military spouse, serving her country alongside her husband Brett during 
his nearly 21 years in the U.S. Air Force.
  Like many military spouses, Chairman Mason experienced a few breaks 
in her professional career due to relocations. However, she never let 
that stop her from working, whether it was as an LBJ intern on Capitol 
Hill for Congressman Bob McEwen, for the Department of the Air Force, 
in academia, or in private practice as an attorney. In fact, her 
experience served as a catalyst for her to become a champion for the 
military spouse community, where she went on to assist VA, the 
Department of Labor, Defense, and the Hiring Our Hero's Program at the 
U.S. Chamber of Commerce to reduce military spouse unemployment and 
underemployment.
  After decades of public service, Mrs. Mason was confirmed by the U.S. 
Senate and sworn-in as the Chairman of

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the Board of Veterans' Appeals in November of 2017. She is the first 
woman and military spouse to hold this position.
  During her time as Chairman, Mason demonstrated strong leadership to 
the veterans and communities she served. From hiring 65 new veterans 
law judges to increase both hearing and decision capacity, to expanding 
use of remote work during the pandemic that resulted in record-setting 
hearings, she delivered on her commitments.
  As the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee since 
2017, it was a great honor to work with Chairman Mason and the Board of 
Veterans' Appeals to spearhead landmark laws such as the Veterans 
Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act, which reduced the claims 
backlog from 472,000 cases to 96,000 cases in 4 years, and the VA Tele-
Hearing Modernization Act, which VA was able to quickly implement as a 
result of Chairman Mason's efforts.
  Cheryl has also been an outstanding champion for the hiring of 
veterans, military spouses, and caregivers at VA and in the executive 
branch. And as a PREVENTS ambassador, she has done great work in 
developing and distributing a holistic public health approach to 
suicide prevention, working locally and nationally to end suicide.
  It is my honor to recognize Cheryl's 30 years of outstanding service 
and top-notch commitment to serving our military men and women, 
veterans, and their families. While Cheryl is beginning a new chapter, 
I have no doubt she will continue to serve as a leading national 
advocate.
  Chairman Mason, on behalf of myself and a grateful nation, I extend 
my greatest appreciation to you for your enduring leadership, advocacy, 
and service to all veterans. Your impact will be felt by veterans 
nationwide for years to come. Thank you.

                          ____________________