[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 18]
[House]
[Pages 22901-22903]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE LANE EVANS, MEMBER OF CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to pay special tribute 
to our beloved colleague from Illinois, Congressman Lane Evans.
  Truly, Lane has been a man for others throughout his entire life; a 
patriot, a marine, someone who began his career after serving in 
Vietnam as a marine as a legal aid lawyer. He was always there for 
others. He truly is a beloved Member of this House, probably one of our 
most humble Members, and yet heroic throughout his service; a very, 
very strong human being.
  I was privileged to be elected with Lane back in 1982 as we became 
classmates in the 98th Congress of that year. It was quite a large 
class, over 60 new Members at that time. I can remember meeting him at 
the very beginning, another son of the working class of people who came 
here to make a difference.
  Lane ultimately became a leader in veterans affairs, a leader in 
fighting for better jobs with wages and pensions that people can depend 
upon, and taking on causes that were close to his heart, obviously 
representing rural Illinois. He cochaired the Ethanol Caucus long 
before we had the kind of attention paid to it today.
  But in his capacity on the Veterans Affairs' Committee where he 
served from the very beginning, he was successful in spearheading 
efforts to pass legislation to compensate Vietnam veterans for diseases 
linked to exposure to Agent Orange.
  I can remember the debate in those days back in the 1980s when the 
scientists would come up and say, Well, you know, we can't really prove 
why those cancers are caused, all these soft tissue cancers related to 
Agent Orange. The committee, with Lane's leadership and personal 
experience, came to conclude that there is a difference between doing 
what is morally right and what is scientifically provable, and Lane 
Evans always stood for what is morally right.
  Many words come to mind when I think of Lane: his honesty, his 
trustworthiness, his likability. He was a man of his word, a really 
good human being, and a good humored human being. He always had a joke. 
He was kind to all of us, intelligent, persevering and very, very 
unselfish.
  He won passage of a law that delivers health and compensation 
benefits to children of veterans exposed to Agent Orange who were born 
with spinal bifida, a crippling birth defect. It represented the first 
time children of veterans received that benefit. And he led efforts to 
expand services to women veterans and pushed for increased help for 
veterans suffering from PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder, and 
crafted legislation to direct services to the large numbers of homeless 
veterans.
  I can remember his efforts to set up the storefront homeless centers 
all across our country so that homeless veterans would feel 
comfortable. Many of them were not going into the traditional veterans 
facilities. He understood that. He played a leadership role in helping 
us to recognize the health needs of First Gulf War Syndrome.
  In 1995, he rose to become ranking member on the Veterans' Affairs 
Committee, and he was the chief House sponsor of legislation to ban the 
use of anti-personnel land mines. He knew a lot about that, having been 
a veteran himself.
  In recognition of his outstanding leadership, Congressman Evans in 
1990 was awarded the Vietnam Veterans of America first annual 
President's Award for Outstanding Achievement, and then in 1994 he 
received the AMVETS Silver Helmet Award, called the Oscar of veterans 
honors.
  Lane is the son of a firefighter and a nurse and has been a tireless 
advocate and champion of the rights and needs of working Americans, 
from fighting for higher minimum wage, to seeking affordable health 
care for all Americans, to protecting good jobs at good wages in 
Illinois and throughout our country. Throughout our two decades here, 
that has been a monumental struggle, and he never let up on his 
persevering efforts.
  I want to thank the people of Illinois tonight for sending such a 
great human being to this Congress.
  Eight years ago, Lane Evans contracted Parkinson's disease. As he has 
served with us and we have sat by him and worked with him, he never 
complained once. We watched him as it became more difficult for him to 
smile and to lift his arms and to come here to the floor, and he has 
done that through his 24th year.
  I can remember when he started the basketball games over at 
Georgetown to raise money for philanthropic causes here in the Capitol 
for the needy. He was always helping others, and he did not pay that 
much attention to himself. In fighting Parkinson's disease, which he is 
still fighting, he became a model to all of us on what the words 
``Semper Fidelis'' mean.
  So, Lane Evans, I want to thank you on behalf of the people of Ohio 
and on behalf of your colleagues here in the House. You truly have been 
a worthy servant and it has been an honor to serve by your side. We 
wish you Godspeed, and we thank you so very much for making us better 
by knowing you.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to honor the 
distinguished career of my good friend and colleague, Congressman Lane 
Evans. Lane is retiring at the end of this Congress, and the House of 
Representatives will miss his leadership and untiring support of our 
nation's veterans.
  Lane has devoted most of his entire professional life to service to 
the United States of America. He grew up in the heart of the district 
he represents, entering the Marines out of high school and serving in 
Vietnam. When he returned, he went to college and earned his law degree 
at Georgetown, and was elected to Congress in 1982.
  Since then, he has made a tremendous impact on issues of national 
importance, such as agent orange compensation for affected veterans, 
investigating Gulf War illness, and the effort to ban land mines. While 
never seeking the spotlight, our veterans, military retirees and active 
duty service personnel know they have not had a greater advocate in 
Congress than Lane Evans. Lane was awarded the Vietnam Veterans of 
America's first annual President's Award for Outstanding Achievement in 
1990 and he received the AMVET's Silver Helmet Award in 1994, known as 
the ``Oscar'' of veterans honors.
  At the same time, Lane has always defended the rights of working men 
and women, protecting the ability to collectively bargain while 
opposing unfair trade deals that have sent good paying jobs overseas. 
He has been a leader on environmental issues and a friend of the family 
farmer. Above all, Lane has been a steady presence for the issues he 
believes in and the constituents he represents.
  Over the last several years, Lane also gained prominence for his 
ongoing battle with Parkinson's disease. The dignity with which he has 
faced this disease has inspired many, and helped educate the public 
about the disease. Not many people know how painful the disease can be, 
and you would never know it from Lane, as he has faced this ordeal with 
the same courage and determination he went to war and served in 
Congress.
  Madam Speaker, what I appreciate most about Lane is his consistency. 
Whenever Lane

[[Page 22902]]

was needed, he was there. His service to our country has been profound 
and I wish him the I best as he prepares for this next chapter in his 
life. I am honored to call him my friend.
  Mr. OBEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in joining my colleagues tonight in 
recognizing the service of Lane Evans. Lane is one of those people who 
came to Congress willing to work and not very interested in getting 
much attention or claiming much credit. All the work he did 
demonstrated his beliefs that we are here not to make a name for 
ourselves, but to make life better for the people who make this country 
strong. He was an advocate for the American worker and an advocate for 
the American Veteran. Since 1995 when Lane became Ranking Member of the 
House Committee Veterans Affairs, no one has tried harder to honor our 
obligations to those who have served our Country in uniform. Like the 
lighthouses on the Great Lakes, Lane has been a beacon of wisdom. When 
you follow Lane Evans, you know you are going in the right direction.
  In addition, he is just a first rate human being. I wish him well and 
offer my sincere gratitude for his service.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor a dear friend and 
colleague, Congressman Lane Evans.
  I've gotten to know Lane through our work as co-chairs of the 
Congressional Working Group on Parkinson's Disease. He is a deeply 
dedicated, kind, and courageous person who I admire and who I will 
truly miss.
  For the past 24 years, Congressman Evans has been a champion of 
veterans and Parkinson's issues on Capitol Hill and a great friend to 
both communities. Earlier this week, I was proud to see a bill passed 
that included a program, Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and 
Clinical Centers, PADRECCs, conceived and created by Lane. By working 
with the former and current VA Administration, Representative Evans 
helped to establish these Centers that serve American veterans battling 
Parkinson's disease.
  As a former Marine, Ranking Member on the VA Committee, and person 
battling Parkinson's disease, Representative Lane Evans has a strong 
sense of mission about providing the highest standards of care for both 
constituencies. Though I am sad to see Lane go, I am encouraged by his 
commitment to help others and make a difference in people's lives. I 
hope to continue his legacy while working with the Working Group on 
Parkinson's Disease to find a cure for this terrible disease.
  This body is losing a true patriot, but we can all agree, Lane, that 
we are proud to know you, proud to have served with you, and are proud 
to honor you today.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of my 
colleague and good friend from Illinois, Mr. Lane Evans.
  Lane has always served his country with honor. From 1969 to 1971, he 
served in Vietnam in the U.S. Marine Corps, and as they say, ``once a 
marine, always a marine.'' When he was elected to Congress in 1982, he 
immediately worked to make sure veterans were given the benefits that 
they deserve, and he has fought to bring up issues that would go 
unknown if it was not for his voice. For almost a quarter of a century 
in Congress, Lane has been a champion of America's veterans, and his 
passion for this cause will truly be missed.
  Lane and I were able to develop a friendship that transcended 
politics. We worked together on many issues as members of the House 
Armed Services Committee. Serving others, especially his constituents, 
was something Lane did exceedingly well. I was able to see this 
firsthand when I traveled to his district in 2004. I was impressed, but 
not shocked, by the large amount of people who showed up at an event he 
hosted, which certainly speaks to how well-liked and respected he is in 
the 17th district of Illinois. Serving with Lane has truly been an 
amazing and educational experience.
  Unfortunately, Lane has had to battle Parkinson's Disease since 1995. 
In his fight against this debilitating disease, he has yet again shown 
courage and perseverance that proved to everyone that he was not going 
to easily give up. Lane has also been a great partner in the effort to 
advance stem cell research, which is a matter of great importance to 
me. This effort will continue so that patients with spinal cord 
injuries, Parkinson's Disease and other conditions will benefit from 
this research in the future.
  Lane, thank you for making a difference. While you will be missed in 
the halls of Congress, I wish you the very best in the next chapter of 
your life.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
honoring the service of a highly effective and respected 24-year Member 
of Congress, on the occasion of his departure. I am grateful that I 
have been able to serve with Congressman Lane Evans, who has long been 
a champion of working people and will always be remembered as a special 
champion of our Nation's veterans. The American people and our veterans 
are particularly fortunate indeed that Congressman Evans served as 
ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, beginning in 
1995.
  I associate myself with the remarks of my colleagues, who have spoken 
of Lane's many accomplishments during his tenure here. He has adroitly 
used his legislative skills and concern to the benefit and well-being 
of the American people during his entire service, but his single-minded 
concentration on veterans' issues made that in many ways his very own 
issue. Lane's experience in the Marine Corps, his service in Vietnam, 
and the affects of military service on the families of enlisted men and 
women never left Lane Evans.
  Over the course of his career, Congressman Evans led a successful 
effort to pass legislation compensating Vietnam veterans for diseases 
linked to Agent Orange exposure, secured passage of legislation that 
provides health and compensation benefits for children of veterans 
exposed to Agent Orange, and cosponsored legislation to ban the use of 
antipersonnel landmines which kill and maim people worldwide. It is no 
wonder that Congressman Evans was named the recipient of the Vietnam 
Veterans of America's first annual Presidents Award for Outstanding 
Achievement, as well as the prestigious AMVET Silver Helmet Award.
  I am pleased and proud to have served with Congressman Lane Evans. I 
am certain that constituents and family are especially proud of his 
many accomplishments. Lane goes home with the best wishes and gratitude 
of Republicans and Democrats alike in this House.
  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Congressman Lane 
Evans, who is retiring after serving this institution honorably for 24 
years.
  As Ranking Member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Rep. 
Evans has served not only his 17th District constituents, but he has 
also been the voice for veterans nationwide. As a Marine and Vietnam 
veteran, Rep. Evans had a deep and abiding understanding of veterans' 
issues and a keen sense of the unique issues affecting Vietnam 
veterans, like Agent Orange. He has been a tireless advocate for 
improving veterans' health care and benefits and was not afraid to 
challenge the Veterans Administration if he thought they were 
shortchanging veterans' programs, particularly VA services for homeless 
veterans.
  He shone a bright light on the horrific problems of antipersonnel 
land mines and authored the first law prohibiting the export of 
landmines which ultimately led to the awarding of the 1997 Nobel Peace 
Prize to the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines. His legacy on 
landmines has saved countless lives around the globe.
  It is with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to Rep. Lane Evans, one 
of the most dedicated and principled public servants that I have ever 
had the privilege to serve with. Semper Fi.
  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor my friend and colleague, 
Congressman Lane Evans, for his service in the House of Representatives 
and his dedication to the people of the 17th district of Illinois and 
veterans around the nation.
  Congressman Evans has served honorably in this chamber for eleven 
terms, and leaves with a long record of unwavering advocacy for his 
constituency and the welfare of the American public.
  Throughout his tenure, Congressman Evans has been a staunch supporter 
of our Nation's servicemen and women, serving on the House Veterans' 
Affairs Committee since 1983. His ten years as ranking member have 
earned him the admiration and respect of every major veteran service 
organization.
  A former Marine, Congressman Evans is acutely aware to the needs of 
our men and women in uniform, and has advanced several important pieces 
of legislation which provide our servicemen and women with the proper 
care they are due.
  Acting as one of the strongest voices for Desert Storm veterans, 
Congressman Evans succeeded in raising awareness of the important 
specialized treatment returning veterans required, and ultimately 
enabled them to receive this life-saving care.
  Congressman Evans has also provided dedicated service to the troops 
currently serving our Nation in harms way, providing vigorous oversight 
of our military's spending and readiness as a member of the House Armed 
Services Committee.
  Madam Speaker, Lane Evans has provided twenty four years of steadfast 
and honorable service to this great Nation, and I am proud to call him 
my colleague and friend. I would like to thank him for his career of 
service, and wish him the very best in all of his future endeavors.
  Ms. CARSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to give tribute to a great 
American, a colleague and most importantly, a friend. Lane

[[Page 22903]]

Evans has served this body with his full heart and soul for the past 24 
years and for his service and friendship I thank him so much.
  Lane is an amazing man in every sense of the word. His tireless work 
as Ranking Member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee has set the bar 
for which future Chairmen should strive to achieve. As a young Marine 
serving in Vietnam, he saw firsthand the rigors of war and it helped 
him to realize that our soldiers must be treated for all the symptoms 
of war and that some of the worst battle scars are visible but below 
the surface. His fight to get fair treatment for those suffering from 
Agent Orange in Vietnam ensured he would be one of the first to 
recognize and push for treatment of Gulf War Syndrome and post-
traumatic stress disorder.
  Physical and mental health were not the only fights that he entered 
into on behalf of Veterans. He also led the battle to get equitable 
treatment for female veterans and worked tirelessly to combat the 
plight of homeless veterans across America. His work to ensure a high 
quality of life for those who have served us with honor will be one of 
his most noted legacies in this body.
  Lane, I thank you for your friendship, your leadership and all of 
your service to our Nation. I know you have forever left your mark on 
your Nation, the House of Representatives, and all the veterans who 
have received better treatment because of your work.
  Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to enclose with my statement the 
remarks of my predecessor and friend who also served this body with his 
full heart and soul, the Honorable Andy Jacobs, former Congressman for 
the 10th Congressional District of Indiana.

                                                 December 8, 2006.
     Hon. Lane Evans, MC,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Lane: The time has come for me to put on paper what I 
     have fervently entertained in my mind through the years of 
     our acquaintance.
       To begin, you are one of my authentic heroes. British Lord 
     Chesterton said, ``Sometimes it takes less courage to die for 
     one's country than to tell her the truth.'' On many more than 
     one occasion you have displayed that greater courage in the 
     profoundly patriotic performance of your chores as a member 
     of Congress, service quite literally ``above and beyond the 
     call of duty.''
       In your effective opposition to the mindless, gratuitous 
     and vicarious militarism of some national leaders, you have 
     helped save the lives of hapless public spirited young 
     Americans. Thus, you have done God's work most nobly.
       For the young Americans who have been forced into 
     unnecessary permanent combat disability, you have been a 
     major national factor in achieving justice in terms of 
     veterans' benefits.
       You have also given our Nation bright lessons of prudence 
     with the public purse. Thank you for being my friend and 
     friend to all peace-loving freedom-loving Americans.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Andy Jacobs, Jr.

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my 
colleague and treasured friend, Lane Evans. As the 109th Congress comes 
to an end so, too, does the remarkable 24-year tenure in the House of 
Representatives of one of the bravest and most decent members to have 
served in this body.
  I had the privilege of working in Lane Evans' first campaign in 1982. 
At the time Lane declared his candidacy, he was considered a 
sacrificial lamb running against a well-entrenched Republican 
incumbent. His was a pipe dream--except to the many labor union 
workers, consumer and civil rights activists, and ordinary residents of 
this western Illinois district who saw something special in this young, 
legal assistance attorney.
  When the incumbent lost his primary election to a State 
Representative from the far right wing of the party, Lane Evans' 
campaign gained momentum and this young Democrat become the 
Congressman, the first Democrat to do so since the Civil War.
  In the first campaign, Lane spent lots of time with his young 
volunteers. After all, he wasn't much older than they. He sported a 
Beatle-like bowl hair cut that he maintained until rather recently, 
resisting all good-natured recommendations for a style update. He was 
modest, unassuming, friendly, and also inspiring. He showed a humble 
respect for each and every voter, addressing them in the soft-spoken, 
sincere manner that he never lost. The quiet strength that came from 
being a United States Marine during the Vietnam era always shone 
through.
  From the first day and throughout his career in the House, Lane Evans 
remained true to his core progressive beliefs. The working and retired 
men and women of his district and the veterans throughout the nation 
could always count on Lane Evans being there for them--no excuses, no 
exceptions. Environmentalists named him an ``Environmental Hero.''
  There were those who encouraged Lane to trim his positions in order 
to ensure his reelection. In the end, his consistency proved to be a 
great asset, appreciated by his constituents who always knew exactly 
where he stood and who trusted that Lane would not bend with the 
changes in the polls.
  As the Ranking Democrat of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, 
Lane Evans is recognized as the leading advocate of veterans in 
Congress, responsible for legislation to compensate veterans and their 
families for the effects of Agent Orange, help Persian Gulf and women 
veterans, and those now returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The 
veterans' service organizations have honored Lane with their highest 
awards.
  Lane Evans has always been a leader in the fight for universal health 
care. Parkinson's disease has forced him to end his productive service 
in the House. Even now, however, he acknowledges how fortunate he is to 
be able to afford the best care, while so many Americans are not. He 
has become an advocate for expanding funding for research into the cure 
for Parkinson's and many other diseases that might benefit from 
government-funded embryonic stem cell research. As in all things at all 
times, Lane Evans is handling this newest challenge with courage and 
dignity.
  On a personal note, Lane Evans has been a close and dear friend to me 
and my husband, Bob Creamer, since that very first campaign in 1982. 
That friendship, through thick and thin, has been and will always be so 
precious to us. We are grateful to Lane for being such an important 
part of our lives. We love him very much.
  Lane Evans will be sorely missed on a day-to-day basis in this House 
of Representatives, but his legacy will ever be reflected in the 
improved lives of the veterans of the United States and all the working 
families who will continue to benefit from his outstanding service.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I join the people of Illinois and 
the people of this country in celebrating the tremendous service of my 
dear colleague and friend Congressman Lane Evans.
  Congressman Evans was a native of Rock Island, IL. Drawing on his 
first-hand experience a U.S. Marine Veteran in Vietnam, Congressman 
Evans has fought hard to bring to light the experience for our veterans 
in the Persian Gulf War. His experience served him well on the Armed 
Services Committee. He worked to increase funding and to expand and 
build new veteran clinics across America. Before coming to Congress, 
Evans fought as a lawyer for working families and the poor in Rock 
Island. In Congress, in addition to fighting for veterans he also 
fought for the Environment. In fact, he was named an ``Environmental 
Hero'' by the League of Conservation Voters and he was awarded the 
Conservationist of the Year in 1995 by the Illinois Sierra Club.
  My most fond memories of Rep. Evans were when Lane invited me to 
participate in the Homecourt Basketball Tournament. Homecourt Charity 
Basketball Game features members of Congress playing against the 
Georgetown Law School Faculty to raise money for the Homeless Legal 
Center. In 2000, Mervyn L. Jones II, my son, age 16, began playing on 
our team. He has played in every game since 2000. Mervyn and Lane have 
gotten to know each other well and he and I will miss our annual games 
under the leadership of Lane Evans. Lane was the manager and former 
Rep. Carrie Meek and I were the coaches. Upon Rep. Meek's retirement I 
took on the coaching responsibilities. I am committed to keeping the 
Lane Evans Homecourt Basketball tradition alive.
  I will truly miss my friend and colleague, Lane Evans' presence on 
the hill and on the Basketball Court. I pray that God will continue to 
bless Lane Evans and his family.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________