[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 19172]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                      APPRECIATION TO JOHN BRADLEY

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, on Friday, August 6, 1999 John Bradley 
completes a two year assignment to the Senate Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs. In view of his outstanding performance and contributions to 
the Committee and our country's veterans, I am taking this occasion to 
recognize John.
  In mid 1997, the Committee was without a professional staff member 
with expertise in veterans' health care delivery system. I turned to 
the Department of Veterans Affairs for the temporary assignment of such 
a person. In truth, I anticipated retaining whoever was assigned only 
until such time as my Staff Director was able to interview and propose 
a permanent professional staff member. VA's then Acting Secretary 
Herschel Gober agreed to the detailing of John Bradley since John had 
served a similar assignment to this Committee in the 103rd Congress.
  John Bradley turned out to be the consummate professional and the 
search for a permanent professional staff member was halted. A veteran 
of the Vietnam conflict and a career employee of the VA with over 25 
years of service, primarily with the Veterans Health Administration, 
John made an immediate impact. With the Committee's legislative agenda 
completed, he directed with great professional skill the rigors of 
staff conferencing with his House counterparts.
  It also soon became apparent that John was not a bureaucrat or intent 
on maintaining the status quo. In fact, he is an intellectual and 
innovative thinker who is willing to explore new ideas to advance the 
cause of veterans health care.
  During his assignment to the Committee, John played a major role in 
shaping the following legislation: the Veterans' Health Care 
Improvements Act of 1998, the Persian Gulf War Veterans Act of 1998, 
and the Veterans Compensation Cost of Living Adjustment Act of 1998. 
Additionally, John has spent many hours this year working on S. 1076, 
the Veterans Benefits Improvements Act of 1999 which I hope will pass 
the Senate soon.
  Upon his departure and on behalf of the Committee, I extend my deep 
appreciation to John for his courage, his innovation, his 
professionalism and, above all, his enduring concern for veterans. He 
shall be missed.

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