[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11269]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF JOE VIOLANTE TO OUR GREAT NATION 
                            AND HER WARRIORS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 9, 2015

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on July 31, our Nation's veterans 
will lose one of their strongest advocates when Joe Violante retires as 
the National Legislative Director for the Disabled American Veterans at 
DAV's National Service and Legislative Headquarters here in Washington, 
DC.
  A New Jersey native, Mr. Violante joined the Marine Corps in 1969. He 
served with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines and Battalion Landing Team 
2/4 in Southeast Asia where he was injured. After being discharged in 
1972 with the rank of sergeant, Mr. Violante received a bachelor's 
degree in history and political science from the University of New 
Mexico, and eventually earned his law degree from San Fernando Valley 
College of Law, in California. Following private practice in 
California, Mr. Violante began working as a VA Staff Attorney at the 
Board of Veterans' Appeals in 1985. But Joe felt he could better-serve 
veterans by working for an organization that advocates for veterans.
  Leaving the VA, Mr. Violante joined DAV's professional staff as Staff 
Counsel/Judicial Appeals Representative at the United States Court of 
Appeals for Veterans Claims in 1990. Following his time at the Board, 
Mr. Violante was appointed Legislative Counsel for DAV in 1992 and was 
later promoted to Deputy National Legislative Director in 1996 and 
Legislative Director in 1997. In addition to his work at DAV, Mr. 
Violante has served on numerous boards and committees.
  Mr. Violante served as a member of the Board of the National 
Foundation for Women Legislators from 2001 to 2009 and a member of the 
Board of Governors of the Federal Circuit Bar Association from 2001 to 
2004. Additionally, Mr. Violante co-hosted ``Veterans' Forum,'' a local 
cable television program dedicated to veterans' issues from 1991 to 
1994; chaired the Veterans Appeals' Committee and Legislative Committee 
of the Federal Circuit Bar Association from 1992 to 1996 and 1997 to 
2001, respectively; was vice-chair of the American Bar Association 
Coordinating Committee on Veterans Benefits and Services from 1991 to 
1994; and at-large member of the Board of Governors of the Veterans' 
Law Committee of the Federal Bar Association from 1992 to 1993.
  Mr. Speaker, it would be a challenge to find someone who has done 
more as an advocate for veterans than Mr. Joe Violante. So, in the 
long-standing tradition of the Navy and Marine Corps, I wish Joe and 
his family fair winds and following seas. Bravo Zulu Marine.

                          ____________________