[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 24116-24117]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING MINNESOTA'S COMMISSIONER OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, JEFFREY OLSON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 2004

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a public servant, 
patriot and tireless advocate for veterans--Jeffrey Olson, Minnesota 
Commissioner of Veterans Affairs.
  Commissioner Olson announced this week that he will be retiring at 
the end of the year from his post as commissioner which he served since 
2001. Prior to this appointment, he served as deputy commissioner since 
1983. At both posts, Commissioner Olson has worked to ensure that the 
needs of our veterans and soldiers are a priority.
  Commissioner Olson brought much experience through his work as a 
Washington County Veterans Service Officer and the Assistant Director 
of the Veterans Employment and Training Service at the University of 
Minnesota.

[[Page 24117]]

  During the Vietnam War, Jeff Olson served in the U.S. Army, attached 
to the United States Armed Forces Courier Service where he was 
responsible for preparing and transporting top-secret materials.
  Long a champion of Minnesota veterans, Jeff Olson is a member of 
numerous veterans' organizations and serves as Chair of the American 
Legion's National Convention Commission, Vice Chair of the National 
Legislature Council and is actively involved in the community.
  I personally worked with Jeff Olson on many issues. When he was 
deputy commissioner, he helped me pass an important amendment to the 
Minnesota constitution that provided our Gulf War veterans with a bonus 
for their service.
  I thank Jeff for his years of service on behalf of our veterans and 
wish him a happy and healthy retirement.

                          ____________________