[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 19, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E259-E260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING PAUL RUSSO ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 19, 2024

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
congratulate Mr. Paul Russo, a dedicated public servant, on his 
upcoming retirement. For the past forty years, Mr. Russo has worked 
tirelessly to improve the lives of our Nation's heroes through the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. Since 2018, he has been employed as the 
Director of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System. In this capacity, Mr. 
Russo has overseen the delivery of healthcare for more than 130,000 
Veterans in Florida. In addition to running the main hospital, Mr. 
Russo has managed eight outpatient clinics,

[[Page E260]]

supervised 4,500 employees and managed an annual operating budget of 
more than $1 billion. Mr. Russo also served as Director of the Miami VA 
Healthcare System for six years and at the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA 
Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina for two years. Mr. Russo is 
a recipient of numerous awards for distinguished service. He has also 
served on many boards and committees within the Department of Veterans 
Affairs and external to the agency. It is clear that Mr. Russo has made 
a profoundly positive impact on the lives of many Veterans, and I am 
grateful for his service.

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