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End of an Era:
Lane Evans Retires

U.S. Rep. Lane Evans (D-Ill.), one of VVA's strongest and most influential supporters on Capitol Hill, announced in March that he would not seek re-election for what would have been his 12th term representing Illinois' 17th Congressional District. Evans, 55, who was first elected to the House in 1982, is suffering from Parkinson's Disease.

As the ranking Democratic member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Lane Evans is widely recognized as one of the leading advocates for veterans in Congress. His legislative accomplishments include many hard-fought battles on behalf of Vietnam veterans. Evans, for one thing, spearheaded the long, successful effort to enact Agent Orange compensation. A Marine during the Vietnam War era, he was one of the first members of Congress to speak out about
problems experienced by Persian Gulf veterans.

In 1990, VVA presented Lane Evans the first President's Award for Outstanding Achievement.

"Lane's compassion for his fellow veterans and his commitment to do right by them has come from the heart," said VVA President John Rowan. "The legacy he leaves can be found in the legislation he crafted during his long tenure on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. To say that he will be missed is an understatement of grand proportions."