On the recordJuly 30, 2020
Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate Deacon William Francis Xavier Kane. Deacon Kane served as an Army intelligence officer in Vietnam. He received a Bronze Star and the Soldier's Medal for Heroism in the war. When he came home, he became an FBI special agent; and after a long career, he went to seminary school and became a deacon for the Archdiocese of Boston. He ministered to inmates and learned Spanish to reach more people. Later in life, he organized mission trips abroad. Deacon William Kane served us, but we failed him. On May 10, he died from the coronavirus while under the care of the Veterans Administration. He is among the 2,083 veterans in the VA's care that this virus has killed. It is on us to use the powers of this body to protect veterans, and everyone, from this virus. We must get to the bottom of the mistakes at the VA that allowed the virus to spread. It is the least we can do for the memory of Deacon William Francis Xavier Kane. ____________________
