[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 79 (Wednesday, June 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING KATHY SPOOR, DIRECTOR OF PACIFIC COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND 
                       HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BRIAN BAIRD

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 15, 2005

  Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Kathy Marie Spoor, 
Director of Pacific County Public Health and Human Services Department, 
for her service in promoting the health of her community. Ms. Spoor was 
recently recognized as a 2005 Robert Wood Johnson Community Health 
Leader. This prestigious award goes to only 10 recipients annually, and 
includes with if a grant of $105,000 to continue her work.
  Seeing her grandmother struggle with the effects of childhood polio 
and losing her mother to a smoking-related illness inspired Ms. Spoor 
to dedicate her life to preventing and treating illness.
  This dedication has led her to serve those who need help the most. 
Rural Pacific County is one of the poorest regions in the State of 
Washington. Of its 21,000 residents, close to 10,000 have incomes that 
are below 250 percent of the federal poverty level. More than 2,000 
have no health insurance, and many more are underinsured and have no 
dental insurance or dental care.
  The Health Department offers all of the traditional public health 
services, from disease surveillance to tracking pregnancy outcomes, but 
under Spoor's leadership it has extended its work to include HIV and 
STD testing, family planning, low-cost or free a pharmaceuticals, a 
host of youth development programs, and even dental care.
  Ms. Spoor relies on her background as a registered nurse, a talent 
for raising funds when budgets are tight, and no small amount on 
ingenuity to serve the area's residents.
  In one instance, Ms. Spoor called in the National Guard to increase 
access to dental services for local residents. She then convinced one 
of the National Guard dentists to relocate by finding low-rent space 
for his practice in a local hospital.
  Mr. Speaker, it is for her dedication and indomitable spirit that Ms. 
Spoor is so deserving of this national award as a Robert Wood Johnson 
Community Health Leader. It is my honor to recognize her today.

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