[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18148]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 75TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today with great joy to congratulate 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, on its 75th anniversary. 
Through its tireless work on behalf of this Nation's veterans, VA has 
certainly lived up to the words of the great President Abraham Lincoln, 
``To care for him who shall have borne the battle and his widow, and 
his orphan.'' During its first 75 years, VA has done much to benefit 
not only veterans and their families but also the nation as a whole.
  On June 22, 1944, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the 
Montgomery GI bill into public law. Since then, the GI bill has been 
updated and modernized several times. This far-reaching legislation has 
helped improve the lives of over 20 million veterans through 
educational programs, home loan guarantees, unemployment compensation, 
and other benefits. It is estimated that over the lifetime of the 
average veteran, the U.S. Treasury receives two to eight times the 
income tax from the average veteran than was spent on the veteran's GI 
bill benefits. The GI bill is undoubtedly one of the most important 
pieces of legislation in this Nation's great history.
  VA has also established a legacy of first rate health care for our 
veterans. A recent study by the RAND Corporation found that VA outpaces 
private health care systems in delivering care to patients. RAND 
observed that VA patients were more likely to receive recommended 
health services than patients using a private provider. The study also 
concluded that VA patients consistently receive better care across the 
board, including screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.
  Additionally, VA's Medical and Prosthetics Research Program has led 
to substantial advances in prosthetics, traumatic injury, post 
traumatic stress disorder, as well as many other areas that have helped 
our veterans over the years. This research has also led to discoveries 
in medicine that effect both veterans and the general population, such 
as cancer, aging, mental illness, and heart disease. In fact, past VA 
research projects have resulted in the first successful kidney 
transplant performed in the U.S., as well as the development of the 
cardiac pacemaker, a vaccine for hepatitis, and the CAT and MRI scans.
  Another function of VA is overseeing our National Cemetery System. VA 
has helped create and manage a network of Federal and State cemeteries 
that provides deceased veterans with a respectful and peaceful final 
resting place.
  The far-reaching accomplishments that I briefly highlighted are just 
a few cornerstones of the Department's legacy. With the current 
military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, we appreciate even more 
the quality work that VA does for our veterans. And the current 
operations should also be a reminder to VA and Congress of the burdens 
our veterans face because of their sacrifices to protect our freedoms 
and liberties.
  I am extremely proud of the work VA has done, and I hope that through 
greater cooperation between Congress and the administration, we can 
expand upon VA's legacy and address the current needs of our veterans. 
I must also highlight the dedication of the staff that has worked at VA 
over the years. An agency as massive as VA would cease to function 
without quality leadership and staff. Many of VA's staff have a deep 
and passionate commitment to providing quality health care and benefits 
for our veterans.
  Our Nation's veterans and servicemembers deserve nothing less than 
top quality health care and benefits. I am sure that Congress and VA 
can work together to fulfill this obligation. Once again, I 
congratulate VA on 75 years of service to our veterans.

                          ____________________