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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release March 30, 1999

PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES JOHN HANSON AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

The President today announced his intent to nominate John Hanson as Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. Hanson, a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is a Vietnam-era Air Force veteran. He has served as VA's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs, directing the Department's Liaison with State and Local Government Representatives, as well as those of other Federal Agencies. Mr. Hanson also oversees VA's homeless veterans assistance programs and its consumer affairs activities.

Prior to coming to VA, Mr. Hanson served for 10 years in the Washington, D.C. national headquarters office of The American Legion, the nation's largest veterans' service organization. As director of the Legion's Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division, he was responsible for coordinating the programs that help veterans and their families secure VA-administrative benefits. He also served as the organization's deputy director for public relations. From 1979 to 1983, Mr. Hanson was Deputy Director for State Services with the National Governors Association, and prior to that, he served on the staff of Georgia Governor George Busbee. Mr. Hanson earned a B.A. in journalism from Georgia State University in Atlanta. He also attended the University of Alabama.

The Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs leads VA's centralized communications organization, the Office of Public Affairs. That office develops and disseminates a wide range of public information products to help broaden understanding and awareness of the media and provides public affairs counsel to VA management and field facilities. The Assistant Secretary also oversees matters regarding the Department's liaison with Federal, State and Local government officials and the coordination of VA's homeless assistance programs with other government agencies, as well as community-based, non-profit and veterans service organizations.

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