[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2959]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF DOUG VOLLMER, ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE 
    DIRECTOR FOR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 14, 2014

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, March 14 will mark the end of the 
long and distinguished career of Douglas K. Vollmer, Associate 
Executive Director for Government Relations, for Paralyzed Veterans of 
America (PVA). Doug has spent nearly 35 years overseeing the 
congressional relations activities of PVA. His uncompromising 
leadership has advanced the cause of America's paralyzed veterans. In 
addition, his work on disability civil rights for all Americans 
highlighted a career which reflected the mission of his organization to 
provide opportunities that maximize the independence of its members.
  Doug is a native of Toledo, Ohio. He attended Northwestern University 
and received his undergraduate degree in 1967. Upon graduation, Doug 
entered the U.S. Navy and was commissioned in May 1968. Doug went on to 
serve with the River Patrol Forces and as a liaison officer with 
elements of the 5th Special Forces in the Republic of Vietnam from 
November 1968 to October 1969. He then spent 20 months serving on the 
staff of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence for the Pacific 
Fleet (CINCPACFLT). Following his service in the U.S. Navy, Doug 
received his Masters Degree from the University of Hawaii and pursued 
post-graduate studies at the University of Maryland.
  During his career at PVA, Doug has been involved with a broad range 
of issues affecting both the veterans' community and the larger 
community of people with disabilities. Since being named the PVA's 
Associate Executive Director for Government Relations in 1989, he has 
been involved in the passage of some of the most monumental legislation 
to be considered by the United States Congress including passage of the 
Americans with Disabilities Act and healthcare eligibility reform for 
the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He was instrumental in the 
battle to make Washington's Metro system accessible to wheelchair 
users; the fight to ensure access to commercial aircraft for people 
with disabilities; efforts to ensure fair housing policy became a 
reality for those in need; and he always played a leadership role in 
defining the VA's budgetary needs for America's disabled veterans every 
year. Doug's involvement in legislative issues for veterans with spinal 
cord injury and dysfunction resulted in numerous advancements in the 
areas of health care, benefits, and vocational rehabilitation. His 
unwavering commitment to assist both service connected and non-service 
connected PVA members was the hallmark of Doug's service to the PVA, 
and it reflected his belief that ``a veteran is a veteran.'' As a 
result, thousands of veterans--disabled and non-disabled--and their 
families benefited from his work.
  Since he began working for PVA, he has seen the VA grow from a 
regular federal agency to a cabinet-level department which enabled his 
advocacy for veterans to be recognized at the highest level of 
government. His close relationships with other leaders in the veterans 
and disability communities have been well established over the years 
and he has been a highly valued resource for policy makers at the 
executive level across the government and non-profit world.
  His long career of dedicated service is truly worthy of praise. As an 
executive at PVA, he created an environment for his subordinates that 
encouraged creative thinking, individualism, and productive team work. 
As the longest serving staff member at PVA, Doug has been the anchor 
for 15 PVA Presidents. He wrote hundreds of congressional testimonies 
and represented the organization at the White House, on Capitol Hill, 
and across the country. Notably, it was Doug who mentored his late 
friend Gordon Mansfield as PVA's Executive Director. Gordon went on to 
become the Deputy Secretary and Acting Secretary of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, following service as the Assistant Secretary for 
Congressional and Legislative Affairs, as well as the Assistant 
Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development. Doug's impact on veterans--particularly 
those who have experienced spinal cord injury or disorder--and their 
families cannot truly be measured.
  Doug and Scottie, his wife of nearly 44 years, live in Washington, 
DC. They have one son, Zachary, who also lives and works in Washington, 
DC.
  The legacy that he leaves can be seen in the vast advancements in 
medical care provided by the VA and the fact that the United States is 
the world leader in access for all people with disabilities. Doug 
Vollmer has lived a life that truly has made a difference. For that, we 
are sincerely grateful.