Tribute To Major Benjamin Venning

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Major Benjamin Venning, U.S. Marine Corps, for his 3 years of service to the U.S. Senate and for his continued service to our Nation and its Corps.

From December 2005 to December 2006, Major Venning served in my office as a military fellow. He came to my office soon after a tour in Fallujah, where his actions in service to the United States earned him a Bronze Star. Major Venning had experienced first-hand the rising violence in Iraq. His on-the-ground experience in Iraq gave him tremendous insight on issues affecting service members and veterans.

Many who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have returned with serious physical injuries or have even paid the ultimate price. Others have returned with more invisible wounds, injuries that are not immediately apparent but that bring pain and suffering to a returning veteran and his or her family. Today, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress syndrome are recognized as signature injuries of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. While Major Venning served on my staff he helped draw attention to these invisible wounds. With his relationships at Bethesda Naval, he helped me understand the impact of traumatic brain injuries on returning soldiers and marines. With Major Venning on my team, I was able to ask hard questions about how our government was responding to the growing number of veterans needing help for these serious injuries.

In April 2006, I sent a letter that Major Venning worked on, which was one of the first to ask the Department of Veterans Affairs to closely review its ability to provide proper mental health care to returning veterans. Another Senator from the State of Illinois signed that letter: Barack Obama. Today, as the world awaits his inauguration, the President-elect has promised he will continue to improve mental health treatment for troops and veterans suffering from combat-related psychological injuries.

After his service as a military fellow, Major Venning was named the Deputy Director of the Marine Corps Senate Liaison Office. It is no surprise that he was as loved in that office as he was in mine. It was my pleasure to host his promotion to major, with his friends and family in attendance, in my office in the Capitol. His commanding physical presence is matched only by his compassion and understanding of the issues facing our returning service members, which was never on better display than when he helped shepherd wounded veterans as my guests at the State of the Union.

Major Ben Venning is a marine in the best tradition of the Corps. His efforts have informed the Congress and have represented the Corps' values and capabilities. His performance here will leave a lasting mark on my office, the U.S. Senate and the Marine Corps long after he has departed.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source