[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16477]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF DELORIS ROACH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2008

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Deloris Roach 
for 40 years of public service as she retires from the Louis Stokes 
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cleveland, and in 
recognition of her advocacy and dedication to helping our nation's 
veterans.
   Deloris began her career in public service with the Internal Revenue 
Service until moving to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical 
Center 32 years ago. Through her dedication to the minority veterans 
program, she has helped to enroll over 1,000 veterans in the VA Health 
Care System of Ohio. Deloris has served as the Program Coordinator for 
the Minority Veterans Affairs Program for ten years, and also served as 
the Cleveland VA Medical Center's Loaned Executive to the Combined 
Federal Campaign. As Co-Chair for VA's Combined Federal Campaign, she 
inspired and encouraged fellow employees to donate, raising a record 
setting $267,000. Deloris also helped to raise over $8,000 in the 
``Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk'' for the American Cancer 
Society. Her activism and community involvement reach beyond her work 
on veteran's issues; she is a lifetime member of Blacks in Government, 
Co-Chair of the EEO Diversity Action Committee, a member of the 
American Red Cross Donor Committee, Minority Health Alliance, and the 
NAACP Minority Health Committee.
  Deloris has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the 
National Minority Veterans Programs Coordinator of the Year in 2001, 
the Cleveland Federal Executive Board ``Wings of Excellence Award'' in 
2002, and certificates of Special Congressional Recognition for 
Outstanding Contributions to Veterans and of Appreciation from the 
State of Ohio. While serving as the Cleveland VA Medical Center's 
Loaned Executive to the Combined Federal Campaign, she received the 
Outstanding Leadership and Performance Award. She has also received 
recognition from various veteran service organizations such as the 
American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Blind Veterans Association, 
and AMVETS. In 2005, the Department of Veterans Affairs Annual 
Performance and Accountability Report to the President of the United 
States, Deloris was recognized for her outstanding work on veteran's 
affairs.
   Madam Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor of Deloris 
Roach, and in recognition of her leadership and inspirational work on 
veteran's issues and for her commitment to the Greater Cleveland 
Community.

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