[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 102 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING PADMA VELIGATI

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                            HON. SAM GRAVES

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 19, 2008

  Mr. GRAVES. Madam Speaker, I proudly pause to recognize Padma 
Veligati of St. Joseph, Missouri. Padma is active in the community 
through work and in her spare time and she has been chosen to receive 
the YWCA Women of Excellence Award for Woman in Volunteerism.
   When asked what Padma Veligati gives back to her community through 
volunteerism, answers vary, but the themes are the same. She is 
compassionate, committed, and her focus is always on those she serves. 
Padma has spent one day off each month for the past three years 
volunteering at the city's Social Service Board whose mission is to 
serve the health needs of those in poverty, lacking health insurance 
and not covered by Medicare or Medicaid. She takes on the most 
difficult gynecological cases, and her colleagues say that she has 
saved the lives of many women. Having grown up in a third-world 
country, Padma feels strongly about the lack of availability of medical 
services to certain segments of the population, especially considering 
how wealthy our nation is compared to the rest of the world.
   Padma was recently admitted into the Masters in Public Health 
program at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. While Padma will 
have to give up volunteering in the short-term in order to balance her 
studies and a busy OB/GYN practice, her new degree will help her 
achieve her goal of working in international public health and 
impacting even more women in need.
   Madam Speaker, I proudly ask you to join me in recognizing Padma 
Veligati. She has made an amazing impact on countless individuals in 
the St. Joseph Community. I am honored to represent her in the United 
States Congress.

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