[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1004]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING REVEREND MICHEAL ELLIOTT

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                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 14, 2000

  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Reverend Micheal 
Elliott, President of Union Mission, Inc. and a recipient of this 
year's Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Community Health Leadership 
Program award. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranks as one of the 
largest philanthropies in the country and their mission is devoted to 
improving the health and health care of all Americans. Let me take a 
moment to applaud the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's efforts to fund 
projects that seek diversified solutions to the challenges of health 
care. This national foundation invests in our futures by supporting 
training, education, research and projects that demonstrate the 
effective delivery of health care services. All of us benefit from 
their commitment to improving health and health care. The Robert Wood 
Johnson Foundation honors ten individuals each year who have found 
creative solutions to bring health care to communities whose needs have 
been ignored or unmet. This award is considered the nation's highest 
honor for community health leadership and includes a $100,000 program 
grant. I am pleased that they have recognized Reverend Micheal Elliott.
  Recognizing that poor health care prolongs homelessness, Reverend 
Elliott developed partnerships among the diverse private and public 
organizations serving the homeless to create a shelter based clinic. 
Reverend Elliott established the J.C. Lewis Health Center of Union 
Mission, a 32-bed respite center which provides care to the homeless 
who are too sick to recover in shelters, but not sick enough to remain 
in hospitals. This well-conceived project provides much needed care to 
the homeless as well as saves the country's three major hospitals 
millions of dollars annually in the costs of unnecessary 
hospitalizations. By integrating services for this vulnerable 
population, Reverend Elliott and his organization bridged the gap in 
service and helped to reduce homelessness in Savannah.
  Reverend Elliott's efforts confirm that innovative approaches and 
collaborative efforts are very effective tools in resolving the health 
care challenges that many communities face. Finally, the real strength 
of these creative programs is the compassion of Reverend Elliott. I've 
known Mike for years--he is energetic, dedicated and bold. He mixes 
idealism with practicality, and assembles a group of personalities and 
talents together to make things happen. I believe it is his ``outside 
of the box'' thinking that makes the difference.

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