[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 28, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3291-S3292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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            TRIBUTE TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE KATHY HOGANCAMP

 Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of an 
inspiring Kentucky leader--Kathy Hogancamp, State representative for 
Kentucky's Fourth District.
  Representative Hogancamp's resiliency determination, and strong sense 
of community service is clearly reflected in the course of her career 
prior to political service. She is a former teacher, and also served as 
an official of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and 
Department of Education from 1985 to 1991. Most recently, Kathy applied 
her master's degree in guidance and educational psychology in her work 
as a private tutor.
  As our Nation struggles to recapture the initiative and stamina 
essential to reviving the American Dream, Kathy Hogancamp exemplifies 
what self-empowerment and the courage to make a difference truly mean. 
Since age 17, Kathy has been wheel-chair bound. Yet, she has never 
allowed her physical limitations to deter her work in serving her 
community and fulfilling her Christian mission. Kathy believes that 
character and intellect are far more important than her physical 
condition. Her optimism and drive to achieve are the basis of her 
personal philosophy--if there are obstacles to overcome, then overcome 
them.
  In 1994, Kathy Hogancamp set out to win Kentucky's Fourth District 
House seat. Despite the odds in a predominately Democratic district, 
Hogancamp won the confidence of the voters and the title of State 
representative. Representative Hogancamp's campaign reflected the needs 
and interests of her district, not herself, as her platform focused on 
cutting taxes and revising the Kentucky Education Reform Act.
  In February, Representative Hogancamp encountered a challenge that 
tested her will and strength as a serious automobile accident left her 
battered and bruised in the hospital. I am pleased to tell the Chamber 
that Kathy is recovering quite well and is eager to return to her 
duties as State representative. Mr. President, I want to share with my 
colleagues her thoughts on public service and sense of responsibility 
in her role as a lawmaker and community leader. It is my hope that her 
words will serve to remind us what our role as Members of the U.S. 
Senate means to our constituents and the future of our Nation.
  Mr. President, I ask that the Paducah Sun's February 14, 1995, 
article on Representative Hogancamp be printed in the Record.
  The article follows:
                 [From the Paducah Sun, Feb. 14, 1995]

   Rep. Hogancamp Resolved, Upbeat Since Last Brutal Brush With Death

                        (By Donna Groves Haynes)

       Bruised, battered and lying in a hospital bed, state Rep. 
     Kathy Hogancamp still radiates strength and determination.
       ``That's the way God built me,'' said Hogancamp, who has 
     been paralyzed since a car wreck 23 years ago and is now 
     recovering from serious injuries sustained in a van wreck 
     Feb. 7 near Beaver Dam.
       ``I could have decided to be a couch potato when I was 17 
     and would have been justified in doing so,'' Hogancamp said 
     in an interview from her hospital room Monday. ``I made the 
     decision to make something of my life because I do believe I 
     have something to give back to our culture.''
       Now after a second serious car crash, Hogancamp is 
     displaying the same resilience. ``I've learned that accidents 
     do strike twice, and God still has His hand on my head,'' she 
     said.
       Doctors do not expect Hogancamp's mobility to be any more 
     impaired than it was before the wreck. ``It's just all the 
     logistics--getting a new (wheel) chair, a new car . . . new 
     makeup,'' she said jokingly, referring to the fact that her 
     personal belongings were strewn over about a 30-foot area in 
     the wreck.
       Over the weekend, Hogancamp was moved out of intensive care 
     and into a private room. Although she has been told she could 
     be released Thursday, Hogancamp added, ``but I don't trust 
     doctors.''
       Even in the hospital, Hogancamp was beginning to talk about 
     business again. When U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell called Monday 
     to ask her how she was feeling, she volunteered to speak at 
     the upcoming Lincoln Day festivities ``if at all possible.''
       Hogancamp views her latest ordeal as a ``wake-up call from 
     God,'' an attempt on His part to ensure she is properly 
     motivated in her legislative endeavors. ``God had to get my 
     attention again, a
      second time, telling me to stay on the track. When you reach 
     adulthood, it's easy to slip into lifeless faith, I had 
     not escaped that.
       ``He was saying to me; `I put you in this position of 
     responsibility. Don't blow it.'''
       Asked if she ever wanted to question, ``Why me?'' Hogancamp 
     explained that she learned from the Biblical character Job 
     that that would be futile. ``Job never got his question 
     answered. He just saw God, and his question paled in 
     comparison.
       [[Page S3292]] ``It's an insignificant question. You can 
     waste your life on it. You just need to take what you can 
     from your past and move on. A lot of the things I learned 
     when I was walking are helpful to me now. I used to be in 
     speech and drama. That helped me learn to write a heck of a 
     speech.''
       Although Hogancamp is alert and making jokes, she realizes 
     she has a long road of recovery ahead of her. ``I'm a lot 
     more recovered upstairs than my body is,'' she said. ``My 
     whole body is one big bruise.''
       Among her more serious injuries are a few cracked ribs and 
     a compound fractured wrist. But because it's her left wrist, 
     Hogancamp made light of that. ``It's not my major make-up 
     hand anyway,'' she said.
       Hogancamp is optimistic that the wrist injury will not 
     prevent her from using an adaptive device to write on her 
     computer.
       And she believes her injuries could even result in some 
     benefits. ``It banged up my legs pretty good, so much so that 
     I may end up sitting straighter. It banged me around so much, 
     I may end up with better posture. Isn't that ironic?''
       Hogancamp said she remained conscious as the van tumbled 
     out of control Tuesday night. ``Bright lights, going round 
     and round and wondering, `When is this going to end?' I've 
     never done drugs, but that's got to be close to what a drug 
     experience would be.''
       When the van finally came to rest, Hogancamp found herself 
     face down in the mud with her body twisted. She could see 
     that her left wrist was severely mangled, but, being 
     paralyzed, had no idea what her other injuries might be.
       Still, she said, her faith helped her to remain calm. ``I 
     knew if God had brought me that far, it wasn't going to be 
     the end.''
     

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