[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 9, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S5871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. MURRAY:
  S. 1344. A bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs 
outpatient clinic in Wenatchee, Washington, as the Elwood ``Bud'' Link 
Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic; to the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about legislation 
that my colleague from Washington, Congressman Doc Hastings, and I are 
introducing to name the soon-to-be-opened Community-Based Outpatient 
Clinic in Wenatchee, WA, after Elwood ``Bud'' Link. Bud provided both 
the inspiration and the energy necessary to make this project a 
reality, thereby fulfilling a longstanding and serious need for his 
community.
  Bud, a World War II veteran and an active member of Veterans of 
Foreign Wars Post 10445, recognized the need for better, more 
accessible veteran medical services for those veterans living in north 
central Washington. Like countless others, Bud suffered from health 
problems attributed to his service in the Navy, where he bravely served 
aboard the USS Tracy escorting convoys throughout the South Pacific and 
protecting medical personnel after the deployment of the atomic bomb.
  When Bud returned to the States, he, like so many other veterans, 
relied on the VA for health care. In order to receive the necessary 
treatment from the VA, however, Bud was forced to make a 3-hour drive 
in each direction to the VA medical center nearest to his home.
  Realizing that this was the case for veterans all over his community, 
Bud, his wife of over 50 years, Helen, and his fellow VFW Post 10445 
members, helped by the American Legion and other veteran service 
organizations, mobilized the community to work toward the creation of a 
new, more accessible outpatient veteran center.
  I was proud to contribute to this effort. After several years of hard 
work, I stood with Congressman Doc Hastings at the Cashmere VFW hall on 
March 20, 2006 to announce the VA's final decision to create the 
Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Wenatchee, WA.
  Although Bud sadly passed away before this exciting announcement was 
made, the creation of this facility in Wenatchee represents the 
culmination of Bud and his fellow veterans' efforts to make veterans' 
medical care more accessible and, in turn, to hold the Federal 
Government accountable for fulfilling its promises to the veteran 
community.
  Bud dedicated his time and energy to addressing this and other 
veteran needs as an advocate, a leader, and a concerned citizen. Due in 
large part to Bud's work, the new CBOC, set to serve six counties in 
north central Washington, is likely to make over 25,000 visits by 
veterans more accessible next year.
  Bud's life of service and activism, coupled with this final victory, 
reaffirms a valuable lesson for all Americans: even a single citizen 
can see a problem and fix it.
  Bud Link dedicated his time and energy to helping other veterans, and 
now that the clinic he fought for is going to open, we have a chance to 
honor his lifetime of service. My bill will ensure that Bud's efforts 
and good example will not be forgotten, but rather, that the new CBOC 
will carry on Bud's legacy.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the work that Bud Link and 
his fellow veterans have done to make this new CBOC a reality.
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