[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS STUDENTS OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. E. CLAY SHAW, JR.

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 23, 2006

  Mr. SHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 30th anniversary 
of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA).
  HOSA is a national career and technical student organization endorsed 
by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Occupations 
Education Division of the Association for Career and Technical 
Education. HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, 
motivation, and recognition exclusively for middle school, secondary, 
postsecondary, adult and collegiate students.
  HOSA is not a club to which a few students in school join. Rather, 
HOSA is a powerful instructional tool that works best when it is 
integrated into the health science curriculum and classroom. Health 
Occupations instructors are committed to the development of the total 
person. Those who join the Health Science-HOSA Partnership recognize 
the importance of providing students with training far beyond the basic 
technical skills needed for entry into the health care field. The 
rapidly changing health care system needs dedicated workers who, in 
addition to their technical skills, are people-oriented and capable of 
playing a leadership role as a member of a health care team.
  Nationally, HOSA has grown to over 78,000 members in almost every 
state, and soon, over 5,000 HOSA members will gather in Anaheim, 
California, for their annual leadership conference. This opportunity 
provides tours of health care facilities, exhibits presented by 
professional health care associates, as well as an Educational 
Symposium--workshops presented by professional partners that provide 
information about current health care issues.
  The members of HOSA, through a student-led pipeline, are making a 
significant contribution to overcoming the shortage of health care 
workers in our country, guiding more than 1 million students into 
health professions. I am proud to say that the Florida HOSA has the 
fourth largest membership at more than 6,700 members.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Health Occupations 
Students of America on celebrating their 30th anniversary, and I wish 
them luck on their continued success.

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