NEWS FROM….

CONGRESSMAN LANE EVANS

RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

    U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FOR RELEASE: January 31, 2000

 Washington, DC – Lane Evans of Illinois, Democratic Leader of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, has been given top honors once again by veterans for his legislative leadership. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) has selected Congressman Evans as its 2000 VFW Congressional Award recipient in recognition of Evans’ "outstanding service to the nation." This award is the highest honor VFW can bestow upon a member of Congress.

"I wholeheartedly accept this distinguished honor," Evans told the organization’s leaders. "The VFW has always been at the center of the fight to protect the hard earned benefits of our veterans. To be named as the recipient of the VFW Congressional Award for the year 2000 is a great honor. Your advocacy and patriotism have been an inspiration to me in my work on the Veteran’s Affairs Committee. I look forward to our continued efforts together on behalf of our veterans and our nation."

A $2,500 scholarship accompanies the Congressional Award. "I am also very pleased that the VFW has coupled this award with a scholarship fund aimed at assisting graduate students in the field of political science or government," Evans said. "I hope this scholarship support can be used to encourage more young people to enter public service and make them more aware of the role of veterans in the history of our nation." The Veterans of Foreign Wars will fund the scholarship in Evans’ name.

Commander-in-Chief John W. Smart of Nashua, New Hampshire, will present the award in recognition of Evans’ outstanding legislative service to veterans during its initial VFW Legislative Reception honoring Members of Congress. This reception, part of the VFW’s annual mid-winter legislative conference, is scheduled for Wednesday, March 15, 2000, in the Regency Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Capitol Hill.