September 25, 2019

Duckworth Receives the 2019 Gordon H. Mansfield Congressional Leadership Award from the Paralyzed Veterans of America

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Last night during the Annual Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Gala, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) accepted the prestigious 2019 Gordon H. Mansfield Congressional Leadership Award for her tireless advocacy for the civil rights of Veterans and all individuals with disabilities. Duckworth was deployed to Iraq and lost both of her legs when the Blackhawk helicopter she was piloting was shot down by an RPG attack.

“I’m so grateful to be receiving this honor as we celebrate the strengths of the disability community and how far we’ve come,” said Duckworth. “I’ll never take for granted the basic rights guaranteed to me in part due to the efforts of PVA’s founders in the wake of World War II. Whether it’s leading the effort to stop H.R. 620 or making air travel more accessible, I’ll continue working to protect and expand these hard-earned rights so that our nation is fully accessible to all Americans.”

Paralyzed Veterans of America is dedicated solely to represent Veterans with spinal cord injury or disease and is the only congressionally chartered Veterans service organization with such a mission. For more than 70 years, PVA has ensured that Veterans receive the benefits earned through service to our nation, monitored their care, and funded research and education. With more than 70 offices and 33 chapters, PVA serves Veterans, their families and their caregivers in all 50 states.

“We were thrilled to recognize Senator Duckworth with our prestigious Gordon Mansfield Congressional Leadership Award at the 2019 PVA Gala,” said David Zurfluh, national president of Paralyzed Veterans of America. “Senator Duckworth has done a tremendous job protecting and strengthening the civil rights of our veterans and their families, and all individuals with disabilities. We look forward to continue working closely with Senator Duckworth to achieve further legislation benefiting veterans and people with disabilities across the country.”

Established in 2015, PVA’s Gordon H. Mansfield Congressional Leadership Award was first presented to former U.S. Senator Bob Dole to recognize strong leadership and support for Veterans’ health care, benefits or disability civil rights. The award is named after the Honorable Gordon Mansfield, a combat-injured Vietnam War Veteran who was bestowed the Distinguished Service Cross, and served as a former acting secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and executive director of Paralyzed Veterans of America.

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