[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 65 (Friday, May 10, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       LINDA BURDICK AND CAROL BONNONO: TWO SPECIAL OREGON NURSES

                                 ______


                          HON. ELIZABETH FURSE

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 10, 1996

  Ms. FURSE. Mr. Speaker, this week is National Nurses Week when we 
recognize the good work of nurses all across America. I rise before the 
House today to honor two nurses who have made special contributions in 
Oregon. Their hard work and dedication deserves national attention.
  Linda Burdick is one of these special nurses. Linda has served the 
community as a public health nurse for 20 years. Linda recognized that 
Oregon's low immunization rates were a barrier for healthy childhood 
development and wellness. In response, Linda helped to obtain grant 
funding and recruited nurse volunteers to begin a monthly clinic in a 
Portland neighborhood where many children are at risk. With the help of 
the Oregon Nurse Association, Linda has taught over 500 registered 
nurses how to immunize.
  Thanks to her work, the number of providers who may now administer 
vaccinations has risen dramatically--and so has the number of children 
who have been immunized. Under her leadership, over 800 children have 
been immunized over the last 15 months. In December 1995, Linda 
received the ``Every Child By Two Award'' in recognition of her work--
the only registered nurse to have received it.
  I would also like to commend the work of another nurse in Oregon, 
Carol Bonnono. In 1993, Carol came into my office in Washington, DC, to 
talk about health care. After 20 minutes, we began talking about her 
other passion: helping stop drunk drivers. Carol told me how she was 
actually prohibited by law from releasing to the police the blood 
alcohol levels of crash victims. In fact, a study conducted in my 
district showed that 86 percent of drunk drivers who go through 
emergency rooms are released without being charged for their offense. I 
was instantly impressed by her passion and her dedication to making a 
difference.
  For 5 years, Carol doggedly pursued her goal of changing the law in 
Oregon. Last year, her efforts paid off and Carol's bill was signed 
into law by Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. I was proud when the 
television program ``Dateline NBC'' told her story this March. In 
Carol's honor, I was proud to introduce in Congress the ``Carol Bonnono 
Act,'' H.R. 1982, which would help make the Oregon initiative the law 
of the land all across America.
  Carol and Linda are both dedicated professional nurses who, like the 
thousands of nurses across America, serve their communities everyday. 
Their extraordinary efforts, however, are worthy of national 
recognition during National Nurses Week. I commend them for their good 
work, and all Oregonians should be proud of their success.

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