[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1433]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



CELEBRATING THE CONTRIBUTONS OF MRS. MARY COOK, CONGRESSIONAL LIAISON, 
                 V.A. REGIONAL OFFICE, DECATUR, GEORGIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MAC COLLINS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 6, 2001

  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Mary Cook for 
her contributions to the veterans of the State of Georgia. Over the 
past 34 years, Mrs. Cook, who works in the V.A. Regional Office in 
Decatur, Georgia, has gone above and beyond the call of duty. She has 
always assisted my office and other legislative offices in providing 
courteous, expeditious and judicial treatment of veterans in the 
Southeast area.
  Mrs. Cook began her career in federal service in 1960 with the 
Federal Aviation Agency. In 1970, she came on board with the Veterans 
Administration, where she has remained for the last 30 years.
  In all our dealings Mrs. Cook has never allowed cases to languish in 
government red tape. She has always been very aggressive in pursuing 
these cases and making sure our office was kept informed of all 
developments.
  She has taken on many special projects over the years, including 
serving as the VA Regional Office Women's Veterans Coordinator from 
January 1993 to March 2000. As the WVC, Mrs. Cook interviewed, 
counseled and provided help to women veterans seeking specialized 
assistance. She also worked with the Women Veterans Committees at the 
Georgia VA Medical Centers to insure coordinated services and 
assistance were provided to women veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, we often overlook the daily sacrifices and dedication of 
federal employees. Mrs. Cook is an example of a federal employee who 
not only takes pride in her work, but has a true dedication to the 
people she is charged with serving. As she retires from federal service 
and goes on to another phase in her life, please join me in 
congratulating her on a job well done and wishing her the very best in 
the future.

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