WASHINGTON — Joan M. Evans was sworn in Aug. 10 as Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“I am humbled and honored to be chosen for this position and look forward to joining President Obama and Secretary Shinseki in their effort to transform VA into a 21st century organization that is Veteran-centric, results-driven, and forward looking,” Evans said.
In her new role, Evans brings a wealth of experience after serving over the last two decades as a top staffer to members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
For the last 12 years, Evans served as Chief of Staff for Rep. Darlene Hooley, the first Oregon Democrat in history to serve on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of its Oversight and Investigations panel. Following Hooley’s retirement from Congress, Evans worked in the Presidential Inaugural Committee’s Office of Congressional Relations as Director, House of Representatives.
“My mission will be to ensure the Secretary and VA leadership as well as members of the Senate and House of Representatives and the authorizing and appropriating Committees have what they need to perform their respective roles efficiently and effectively,” Evans said.
In her new role, Ms. Evans will help manage and create Department-wide policies, plans, and operations related to all congressional and legislative matters affecting the Department of Veterans Affairs. She will also assist in assessing attitudes and environment on Capitol Hill related to veterans’ issues.
Evans is a 1986 graduate of George Mason University with a B.A. in government and politics.
She is married to Paul L. Evans, an Oregon National Guard officer and three-time Veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, who also serves as Oregon Governor Theodore Kulongoski’s policy advisor and Chairman of the Governor’s Veterans Services Task Force. With daughter Katherine Mooney, they share homes in Monmouth, Ore., and Alexandria, Va.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
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