Washington, D.C. -- Representative Lane Evans (D-IL) announced today he will be leaving the Congress after completion of his current term. As Ranking Member on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and a Vietnam-Era veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Congressman Evans has been a leading advocate for veterans and military personnel. Congressman Evans cited the increasing difficulty his battle with Parkinson's disease is presenting as a reason for his retirement.
Commenting on the news, Senator Daniel K. Akaka, Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, thanked Congressman Evans for his service. "Lane Evans is a champion for veterans," said Akaka. "I have long admired his unshakeable commitment to those who have served in our Nation's Armed Forces. I will miss serving with him but wish him much aloha in the future."
Congressman Evans championed the Millennium Act, which ensures that veterans will be provided with long-term care, something that those eligible for Medicare are not even provided. He also was a proponent for eligibility reform that allowed all veterans to enroll in the VA health care system.
