[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 79 (Monday, May 11, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S2195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING WILLIAM GREENBERG

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, today, along with Senator Blumenthal, we 
honor the life and mourn the loss of Judge William Greenberg, who 
dedicated more than 50 years of his life to public service in the U.S. 
military and as a civilian judicial leader.
  In both Kansas and Connecticut, we understand the value and sacrifice 
of military service. Judge Greenberg served our Nation proudly, 
enlisting in the 117th Cavalry, 50th Armored Division of the U.S. Army 
in 1967 and serving as a cavalry scout. He would go on to commission in 
the Judge Advocate General's Corps and remained in the Army Reserves 
for 27 years, eventually retiring as a brigadier general.
  After his time in uniform, he received his law degree from Rutgers 
University and said the highlight from his law school experience was 
his civil procedure class that was taught by future Supreme Court 
Justice, the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Following a judicial clerkship 
within his home State of New Jersey's Superior Court, he began a long 
and distinguished career as a trial lawyer.
  In 2009, he was appointed Chairman of the Reserve Forces Policy 
Board, where he advised the Secretary of Defense and led efforts to 
expand legal support for wounded and injured servicemembers. His 
dedication earned him the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding 
Public Service, the Department of Defense's second-highest civilian 
honor. In November 2012, he was nominated to the Court of Veterans 
Appeals by President Barack Obama.
  Judge Greenberg dedicated his life to serving those who served our 
country, including founding a program in New Jersey that provides free 
legal assistance to reservists called to Active Duty and advocating for 
wounded servicemembers going through the medical discharge process. His 
commitment rightfully earned him national recognition, including being 
awarded the Medal of Honor from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation.
  The Court of Veterans Appeals was created in 1988 by President Reagan 
to examine claims for service-connected disability compensation and 
other benefits that are appealed by veterans and their families upon 
decisions by the Department of Veterans Affairs, including the VA Board 
of Veterans Appeals. This court was the first of its kind and provided 
a forum for veterans and their dependents to advocate for themselves 
when they disagreed with VA. Judge Greenberg was the 17th judge 
appointed to serve on the court and did so faithfully for 13 years.
  During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, then-chairman Senator Johnny Isakson charged Judge 
Greenberg to ``be an outspoken judge, just as you have been an 
outspoken lawyer.'' As judge, he lived up to this. He would go on to 
write more separate opinions than all of his colleagues, besides former 
Chief Judge Bruce Kasold.
  Judge Greenberg always looked for ways to improve the lives of his 
fellow veterans, and he should be an example for each of us to follow 
as we continue to seek to improve care, benefits, and services for 
veterans, servicemembers, and their families, caregivers, and 
survivors. We know his legacy will live on in the veteran community and 
with the people he loved. He will be sorely missed and our prayers are 
with his family, friends, and colleagues.

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