(Washington, D.C.)—Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced Ernie Butler, originally from Washington state, will be her guest to tomorrow’s State of the Union address, which will be the last in President Obama’s eight year term. Butler is currently the Director of Sports and Recreation for Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), and manages all of PVA’s adaptive sports and recreation programs and the annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games.
“I am honored to have Ernie Butler join me at the State of the Union. Ernie is the epitome of what we should be focused on in the new year as we gather to hear the President address the nation,” said Senator Murray. “His selfless leadership and impressive accomplishments advocating for paralyzed veterans and veterans benefits inspire me to keep fighting for veterans and families in Washington state and across the country.”
Butler has advocated to improve veterans benefits on the state and federal level for years and was a key player in getting several important pieces of legislation passed. Butler also founded the Camp ACCESS Foundation, an adaptive sport and recreation program for children with spinal cord injury and/or disease.