Senator Johnny Isakson VA Atlanta Regional Office Renaming Ceremony

Thank you, Tony Milons, for that kind introduction and for your outstanding leadership of the Atlanta Regional Office.

Before I get into my remarks, I’d like to give a shout-out to my teammates manning the One VA Experience at today’s event—a VA health care enrollment and benefits clinic. To any Vets in the audience, please go sign up for the care and benefits you’ve earned and that you deserve. They’re here for you. We all work for you.

Now, it’s a pleasure and a privilege to join you to honor the life and enduring legacy of Senator Johnny Isakson. Let me recognize Senator Saxby Chambliss, The Honorable Tom Bowman, Chris Carr, Josh Jacobs, Benita Miller, Representatives of Veterans Service Organizations, Senator Isakson’s Former Staffers, and state, local, and community leaders. Let me also thank Senators Ossoff and Warnock and Representatives Bishop, Scott, and McBath—whose bipartisan law made today’s ceremony possible.

Most importantly, I’d like to extend a special welcome to the members of Senator Isakson’s family who are here today, especially his wife, Dianne, as well as his children, John, Kevin, and Julie. Thank you for honoring us with your presence. Mrs. Isakson, I had the good fortune to work closely with Senator Isakson on several occasions. I was always struck by how kind, jovial, and good-natured Senator Isakson was every time I saw him. And over these months since the horrendous October 7th terrorist attacks against Israel, I am reminded that he was a great friend of Israel and the Jewish community—always working with his colleagues and presidents of both parties to strengthen our ally. He was an unwavering champion for fairness, unity, and progress, and as you know all too well, it was life-changing work that pulled him in many directions. Ma’am, you know better than anyone that his job was not an easy one. His responsibilities required a great deal of sacrifice, and a lot of support from you and your family. So for that, I want to say thank you for sharing such a good man with all of us.

The man who cared so deeply for you, his family, and the people of Georgia came to DC and fought every single day for the American people, and especially for his fellow Veterans. Senator Isakson’s life’s calling in public service was to serve his fellow Veterans. In fact, his highest aspiration was to lead the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. And having fulfilled that aspiration, he made maximum use of it.

Thanks to him:

• Veterans can access quality mental health care without stigma or shame—thanks to the passage of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, Senator Isakson’s first piece of legislation passed as the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman;
• Veterans can use their educational benefits beyond the initial 15-year time limit—thanks to the passage of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, or the Forever GI Bill;
• Veterans can receive timely responses to their appeals—as a result of the enactment of the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act; Veterans can access care in the community—when and where they need it—thanks to the passage of the MISSION Act;
• Veterans living with the effects of exposure to Agent Orange can now receive the benefits and care they’ve earned and deserve with the enactment of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.

And one of his lasting achievements—of which there are many—occurred after he retired, when his name was attached to the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020. This bill included the Deborah Samson Act—important because it strengthened programs and services for women Vets, including the establishment of the Office of Women’s Health.

These are just a few of his many legislative legacies that will endure and improve the lives of men and women who wore our nation’s uniform for years to come. He remained a champion for Vets until the very end.

As I was preparing my remarks for today, I recalled so many moments that showed how Senator Isakson helped to transform our nation for the better.  One story in particular comes to mind, from early in my time as President Obama’s Chief of Staff. It was April of 2013 when President Obama asked Senator Isakson to organize a dinner with him and 12 Republican Senators. They had a lot to talk about. March Madness had just ended a few days earlier—Louisville beat Michigan for the National Championship—right here at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

But Congress and the President faced a number of pressing challenges, with particular disagreement stemming from the President’s budget proposal. Breaking bread together allowed the group to, in Senator Isakson’s words, “find common ground … [and] solutions that [were] right for America—not just a win for the President or a win for Republicans.” It was in that moment that I got a glimpse of Senator Isakson’s thoughtfulness and integrity. By answering the President’s call, he used his influence to turn what had been obstacles into conversations of civility and productivity. A dinner became a series of meetings stretching over months. Now, that dinner and the subsequent meetings didn’t solve everything. But it brought different people together, and broke down some long-standing barriers to move our country one step forward in the right direction.

And that was one of his many great gifts—bringing people together, lifting them up—whether it was listening to his Johnnyisms on the Senate floor for a good laugh or attending his bipartisan barbeque luncheon, Senator Isakson took every opportunity to bring people together.

I’ll close with one last thought. I will remember Senator Isakson for many things. But maybe highest among them will be the strength of his friendships, especially with the late, great Georgia Statesman John Lewis. Senator Isakson had a motto: “There are two types of people in this world: friends and future friends.”

One of those beloved friendships was with Max Cleland—a US Army Veteran of the Vietnam War and Silver Star recipient, a triple amputee, a US Senator, and the tenth Administrator of Veterans Affairs. How fitting it is that the Johnny Isakson Regional Office will forever stand right next to the Max Cleland VA Medical Center. We honor the bond of brotherhood and camaraderie that exists among these servicemembers, both in life and death. Just as they stood shoulder to shoulder in Georgia and in Congress, so too shall they be honored and remembered together in this sacred space. I can’t imagine a more perfect lasting tribute.

So today and forevermore, Senator Isakson’s name will be synonymous with the Veteran community that he was a proud member of and a tireless fighter for. And his name will be synonymous with the vision of VA—a VA that’s accessible, available, and responsive to every Veteran, whenever that Vet needs us, just as Johnny Isakson was to generations of Georgia’s Veterans and to all of America’s Veterans. That is Jonny Isakson’s legacy.

So today, we’re here to rename a building. But we’re really here to honor a great man, a patriotic Veteran, and a model public servant. May God bless Senator Isakson’s soul. May God bless our Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. And may we always give them our very best.