NEWS FROM….

CONGRESSMAN LANE EVANS

RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

    U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FOR RELEASE: March 16, 2000

Washington, DC – Lane Evans of Illinois has been given top honors once again by veterans for his legislative leadership. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) presented Congressman Evans its 2000 VFW Congressional Award in recognition of his "outstanding service to the nation." The award is the VFW’s highest recognition of a Member of Congress.

For Evans, Democratic Leader of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, it was his third major leadership award from veterans this week. Last Thursday he accepted a Legislative Leadership Award from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) for influencing public policy for the benefit of homeless veterans. On Friday, the Gold Star Wives, the national military widows’ organization, honored Evans for his leadership in Congress on behalf of the survivors of American servicemen.

"I wholeheartedly accept this distinguished honor," Evans told the Veterans of Foreign Wars. "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, presented the VFW award in recognition of Evans’ outstanding legislative service to veterans during its Legislative Reception honoring Members of Congress. The reception, part of the VFW’s annual mid-winter legislative conference, was held in the Regency Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Capitol Hill.

"The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans selected Lane Evans as a winner of the Legislative Leadership Award for influencing public policy for the benefit of homeless veterans," according to Linda Boone, executive director. "His leadership in obtaining reauthorization and appropriation, in the highest amount ever, for the Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, will enable an estimated 7000 veterans to receive employment services that will aid them in transitioning out of homelessness."

Gold Star Wives recognized Evans, according to Rose Lee, board chair of the group, for his "leadership role in assisting Gold Star Wives obtain DIC [Disability and Indemnity Compensation] reinstatement for remarried widows whose marriage ended, thus assisting desperate widows in improving their quality of life." The legislation capped a long struggle for military widows.

"Freedom has always had a price," Evans said. "We need to look after the veterans who served this Nation when they were needed, along with the widows of those who gave our Nation the last full measure of devotion, if we want the Republic’s commitments to be respected. I am deeply honored to be given these awards."