[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 9, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING MR. OSCAR D. CANAS FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LOUISVILLE, 
                           KENTUCKY COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ANNE M. NORTHUP

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 9, 1998

  Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with respect and admiration 
for a man of great fortitude and commitment to his community. As a 
resident of Louisville, Kentucky, Oscar Canas has blessed the city and 
the surrounding area with his good will and determination to provide 
health services to those who need it most--those who are unable to 
afford health services. Oscar has made the Family Health Centers in 
Louisville, and the 40,000 patients which have been served, his second 
family.
  Starting from humble beginnings, Oscar and his wife Hilda came to the 
United States in 1962 shortly after Cuba was consumed by Castro and his 
militants. Leaving their country with no money and only the clothes on 
their backs, Mr. Canas and his wife came to Louisville to make a new 
home--and we are so glad that they did. Five years later, Oscar and his 
wife became proud citizens of the United States. At the same time he 
was trying to master the English language, Oscar Canas attended school 
and held full time employment. In 1972 he received a Master's Degree 
from the University of Louisville and four years later established the 
Family Health Centers, a network of community health centers to meet 
the needs of the underserved.
  Family Health Centers has five locations to meet the needs of 
residents in Louisville. I believe Oscar's hard work and dedication to 
providing health care to underserved is a constant reminder to the 
local community and to Congress that these services are truly 
essential. Since I have come to know him, Mr. Canas has been forthright 
with his concerns about health care policy and he has been an asset to 
me in providing pertinent local information relevant to federal 
decision-making. I consider him a colleague and a friend.
  Louisville is sad to see a member of our community move away, and I 
share the sorrow as Oscar make plans for retirement. Always thinking of 
family, Oscar is leaving his Family Health Centers family to be with 
his own in Florida. While he may not stay in Louisville forever, his 
legacy will. I wish him the very best and hope he will always think of 
Louisville as his home.

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