[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 26, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            TRIBUTE TO UTMB

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 26, 2006

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend the University of Texas 
Medical Branch of Galveston (UTMB), Texas, which is in my congressional 
district, on being named by the Environmental Protection Agency and the 
Department of Transportation one of the best workplaces for commuters 
among colleges and universities. UTMB earned this recognition because 
of its efforts to improve both the environment and the quality of life 
for commuters. UTMB has also recently received Graduate Assistance in 
Areas of National Need grant to support seven fellowships for nursing 
students who intend to teach nursing at the university level. UTMB only 
applied for funding for three nursing fellowships, but the Department 
of Education awarded UTMB funding for seven fellowships. I am sure I do 
not have to tell my colleagues how unusual it is for a college to be 
awarded more funding than they requested.
  Working closely with UTMB as I do, I am not surprised that it is in 
the forefront of both nursing education and efforts to improve the 
lives of commuters. The people of UTMB are consistently working to 
improve the lives and health of Texans and all Americans.
  UTMB is one of the major centers of medical research in Texas and in 
the Nation. UTMB features a multidisciplinary environment that enables 
scientists and clinicians to work on projects that often have immediate 
application to patient care. Among UTMB's areas of strength are 
neuroscience; pain management and stroke treatment; gastrointestinal 
health; environmental health and asthma; infectious diseases; vaccine 
development; cancer; molecular medicine; aging; and diabetes. Among its 
numerous activities, UTMB hosts summer science programs for middle 
school, high school, and undergraduate students to help encourage and 
develop the research work force of tomorrow.
  A recent, and particularly noteworthy, UTMB program is Center for 
Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, a key component in the 
efforts to protect the American people from the threat of bioterroism. 
Established in 2002, the center has two main objectives: (1) To reduce 
the vulnerability of the U.S. and other nations to the use of 
biological weapons for warfare and terrorism, and (2) to alleviate 
suffering from emerging and tropical infectious diseases through 
application of basic, applied, and field research, and education.
  While UTMB's research program is impressive, many Texans primarily 
think of UTMB as a leading provider of quality health care. This is 
because UTMB offers services ranging from primary to specialized 
diagnostic care. Particularly impressive is UTMB's pioneering 
telemedicine programs. For example, UTMB has recently begun a new 
telemedicine program to bring medical services to the residents of 
Jamaica Beach, Texas. UTMB has established telemedicine connections for 
special-needs children in east Texas, for workers on offshore oil rigs 
in the Gulf of Mexico, for employees of a Galveston-based insurance 
company, and for passengers of a cruise ship that will travel 
worldwide.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the University of Texas 
Medical Branch at Galveston being named one of the best workplaces for 
commuters and for receiving funding for seven nursing fellowships from 
the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need grant program. I also 
extend my gratitude, on behalf of all the people of my district, for 
all that the people of UTMB are doing in both the field of medical 
research and in delivering quality health care to the people of Texas.

                          ____________________