[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 208 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 208

 Honoring Operation Smile in the 25th Anniversary year of its founding.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 1, 2007

   Mrs. Drake (for herself and Mr. Scott of Virginia) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring Operation Smile in the 25th Anniversary year of its founding.

Whereas Operation Smile is a private, not-for-profit volunteer medical services 
        organization providing reconstructive surgery and related health care to 
        indigent children and young adults in developing countries and the 
        United States;
Whereas in 1982, Dr. William P. Magee Jr., a plastic surgeon, and his wife, 
        Kathleen S. Magee, a nurse and clinical social worker, traveled to the 
        Philippines with a group of medical volunteers to repair children's 
        cleft lips and cleft palates;
Whereas there they discovered hundreds of children ravaged by deformities, and 
        although they helped many children, the volunteers were forced to turn 
        away the majority of those who sought help;
Whereas Operation Smile headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, was founded in 1982 
        by Dr. William Magee Jr. and his wife Kathleen S. Magee to address this 
        need;
Whereas since 1982, Operation Smile's volunteers have provided free 
        reconstructive surgery to more than 100,000 children and young adults 
        with facial deformities in 25 countries and currently work in Bolivia, 
        Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gaza Strip/
        West Bank, Honduras, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, 
        Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, 
        Venezuela, and Vietnam;
Whereas Operation Smile provides education and training to thousands of 
        healthcare professionals globally, and is implementing a plan for a 
        Global Standard of Care to ensure that every child treated will receive 
        the same high standard of care every time;
Whereas Operation Smile provides a network of resources to assist families in 
        the United States with children born with facial deformities;
Whereas more than 450 Operation Smile Student Associations in the United States 
        and around the world build awareness, raise funds, and educate students 
        about values of commitment, leadership, and volunteerism;
Whereas Operation Smile has been distinguished by many prestigious awards, 
        including the first $1,000,000 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to 
        recognize outstanding contributions made to alleviate human suffering;
Whereas Operation Smile helps raise the standard of healthcare around the world 
        and through its international partnerships builds trust, bridges 
        cultures, and bestows dignity at home and abroad; and
Whereas in 2007, in celebration of its 25th Anniversary, Operation Smile has 
        announced a year-long series of initiatives to include implementing 
        global standards of care for all its medical programs, opening 
        comprehensive care centers in seven countries, hosting international 
        forums on medical diplomacy, and launching the World Journey of Smiles, 
        which consists of 40 simultaneous missions in 25 countries with the goal 
        of treating an estimated 5,000 children living with facial deformities: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives honors Operation Smile 
on its 25th Anniversary year as its volunteer medical professionals 
continue their noble work to travel around the world to treat children 
suffering from facial deformities.
                                 <all>