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Congress Might Honor Lane Evans

T.J. Carson

The late Lane Evans might end up with his name on a building in Galesburg.

Members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation introduced bills that would rename the VA clinic after Evans. The Senate version was introduced by Illinois' two senators, Democrat Dick Durbin and Republican Mark Kirk.  Democrat Cheri Bustos introduced the House bill.  She represents the district Evans served for more than two decades.

They said every member of Illinois’ delegation supports the bill.

Bustos said Evans was a beloved figure in Galesburg and it made sense to name the clinic in his honor.

“The community’s so proud of it.  It’s done a great job of serving our veterans.  And we thought it was the most appropriate to rename that outpatient clinic in Lane Evans’ honor,” Bustos said.

Evans served in the Marines and he made veterans' issues a priority during his time in Congress.

Bustos said the issue was ‘very personal’ for him.

“He enlisted with the Marines when he was only 17 years old.  He served the Marines proudly.  And used the GI Bill to make sure that he could get a college education,” Bustos said.

“From the time he was in his very early 30’s serving in Congress, he worked hard every single day in Washington D.C. and then back home in the 17th Congressional District fighting on the behalf of veterans.”

Evans passed away last week at the age of 63 after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease.

If the bill is approved, the official name of the clinic will become the Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic.