[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9139]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. GEORGE POOLE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 2005

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I was saddened to learn recently 
of the passing of Mr. George Poole, a distinguished senior manager with 
the Department of Veterans Affairs' Insurance Service. VA's Insurance 
Service has long been recognized as one of the finest-managed 
organizations within the federal government, due in no small measure to 
Mr. Poole and his commitment to our service-
members, veterans, and their survivors.
  Few Americans can match George's years of devoted service to country. 
He began his public career by serving in the United States Air Force 
from 1964 through 1968. Following his honorable discharge, he received 
bachelor and law degrees, taking full advantage of the VA-administered 
GI Bill. Who can doubt that his military service and studies made 
possible by the GI Bill inspired him to pursue a career dedicated to 
helping fellow veterans. This dedication translated into a 
distinguished 28-year career with the VA's Insurance Service, where he 
served from 1977 until his death April 27th.
  While it is difficult to highlight just one of his many 
accomplishments, surely his creation and development of the Insurance 
Service's ``Special Outreach'' effort warrants particular mention. This 
outreach involves matching insurance participation and disability 
reports from various sources to identify recently separated, seriously 
injured veterans who have not taken advantage of VA's life insurance 
programs. Based on the efforts of George and his staff, over $96 
million in insurance proceeds have been provided to veterans' 
survivors. Few among us have had such a dramatic and positive impact on 
the lives of so many others.
  Mr. Poole was always available to provide invaluable research, data, 
and program explanations to the members and staff of the House 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs--often on short notice. As such, his 
expertise and professional manner were essential to the Committee when 
crafting bipartisan legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs, the subcommittee with jurisdiction over VA's 
insurance programs, I extend my sincere condolences to Mr. Poole's 
wife, Denise; his two sons, Todd and Corey; his granddaughter, 
Madeline; and his equally dedicated coworkers at the VA Regional Office 
and Insurance Center in Philadelphia.

                          ____________________