[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 20545]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF SECRETARY NICHOLSON OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                            VETERANS AFFAIRS

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday, Secretary Jim Nicholson 
resigned from his position at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  As a highly decorated combat veteran, his experience in the Army for 
over 22 years gave him insight into the needs of veterans. He has 
implemented many reforms since assuming the leadership of the VA in 
February 2005. He established electronic medical records for the nearly 
8 million people in the VA health care program. This enabled the 
successful transition of veterans from hospitals damaged by Hurricane 
Katrina and Rita.
  In addition, Mr. Nicholson improved care for veterans with brain 
injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder, mandating screening of all 
returning veterans for signs of PTSD, and adding mental health services 
at more than 100 medical centers.
  Secretary Nicholson also hired suicide prevention counselors at each 
of the VA's 153 facilities and established a 24-hour national suicide 
prevention hotline.
  I want to thank Secretary Nicholson for his commitment and 
leadership, and wish him well in his future endeavors. God bless him.

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