WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Walter B. Jones (R-NC) has been selected as the 2009 “Legislator of the Year” by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of North Carolina. Department Commander W. R. “Bill” Dowe presented the award to Congressman Jones during the Veterans Service Organization’s 87th Annual Convention held at the Hilton North Raleigh Hotel this past weekend, with approximately 300 members in attendance. Jones was nominated for the award by DAV members residing in the 3rd congressional district for his work on behalf of our nation’s veterans, especially disabled veterans and their families.

According to Wally Tyson, the North Carolina DAV State Adjutant and DAV National First Junior Vice Commander, “His compassion for the men and women who have been wounded in defense of our great nation and those who continue in harm's way at this time is absolute and without question. He is a true champion for the rights and benefits earned by disabled veterans and their families."

"Representative Jones was the initial co-sponsor of H.R. 1016 introduced by House Veterans Committee Chairman Robert Filner, a bill that would provide funding for VA health care a year in advance,” Tyson continued. “This bill would eliminate unnecessary delays in veterans health care treatment and provide greater transparency of federal funds and, best of all, it would not add one dime to the federal deficit."

The 1.2 million-member (38,000 in North Carolina) Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by Congress in 1932, is dedicated to one single purpose: building better lives for all of our nation's disabled veterans and their families.

For additional information, or to schedule an interview with Congressman Walter B. Jones, please contact Kathleen Joyce at (202) 225-3415.