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“TRIBUTE TO MR. DARRYL KEHRER” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E92 on Jan. 26, 2005.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO MR. DARRYL KEHRER
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HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON
of idaho
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Darryl Kehrer, Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Benefits of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, who is retiring after 37 years, 33 of which were devoted of public service to our nation's veterans.
Darryl's distinguished career in public service began with active duty in the United States Air Force from 1966-1970, after which he received an Honorable Discharge as Staff Sergeant. Since then, he has served with distinction at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the United States Senate, and as Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Benefits of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs at the United States House of Representatives. Furthermore, he served as Executive Director of the Congressional Veterans Claims Adjudication Commission, and Staff Director of the Panel on Veterans' Benefits for the Congressional Commission on Servicemembers and Veterans Transition Assistance.
Darryl has dedicated his career to improving the lives of our nation's veterans and to provide them with the very best with respect to benefits and services in their transition to civilian life. He has made significant contributions to the development and enactment of veterans' legislation to improve education, employment, and transition assistance, to name just a few of his accomplishments.
As the Chairman of the Veterans Benefits Subcommittee during the 107th Congress, Darryl's strong work ethic and commitment to the issues was unwavering. He worked tirelessly with me to enact the Jobs for Veterans Act (PL 107-288), and since then he has continued his work with the Department of Labor to ensure the legislation is reaching veterans and helping them make the transition from military service to civilian employment. His comments and insight into issues affecting veterans was invaluable to me when I served as the Chairman and continues to be today.
Darryl has been a guest instructor at the University of Missouri and the Harry S Truman Library, the John Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University, West Potomac and Annandale High Schools in Virginia, the United States Military Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy. Using the Montgomery GI Bill as an example of how legislation is made, he developed a case study on the enactment of this significant piece of veterans legislation, providing students with a hands-on approach to law-making. He has accompanied me to both West Point and the Air Force Academy, where we visited with instructors and spent time with the cadets. At the Air Force Academy, we did a joint presentation to students regarding the Member and staff perspectives of the U.S. Congress. His success as a guest instructor is clearly demonstrated by how frequently these renowned institutions ask him to return.
Darryl's passions are teaching, mentoring, and baseball. He has spent the past fifteen years volunteering for the Annandale Little League, and the League established an ongoing scholarship in his name. Called the ``Kehrer Cup,'' it is awarded to the youngster who personifies the values of Little League Baseball and includes a $550 scholarship to the Little League Baseball International Summer Camp. He also received the Ellie Doyle Award for his exemplary partnership with the Fairfax County government in youth sports activities. A self-proclaimed ``baseball fanatic,'' Darryl has used his passion to instill the love of the game and the ideals of sportsmanship in children and young adults.
Mr. Speaker, throughout his career as a public servant and volunteer in the community, Darryl has exemplified the highest ideals of family, community, and public service. With his retirement, we are losing an exemplary public servant and true friend of our nation's veterans. Thank you, Darryl, for your many years of dedicated service to our nation.
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