[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 69 (Wednesday, May 6, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1069-E1070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING NURSING STAFF AT EL RIO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 6, 2009

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madame Speaker, I rise today to recognize the nursing 
staff at El Rio Community Health Center in Tucson, AZ.

[[Page E1070]]

  This week, we celebrate National Nurses Week, to honor the men and 
women that care for us in some of our hardest moments. I am humbled to 
recognize the nurses of El Rio who endure so much for the health of our 
community.
  From its beginning, El Rio has had a strong community base which 
comes from advocating and working to ensure that quality and affordable 
health care were provided to underrepresented communities in the late 
1960s. Today, it is among the largest community health centers in 
Southern Arizona.
  The legacy of quality and affordable health care continues at El Rio, 
because of the sacrifice and commitment of its nurses.
  El Rio nurses are often the unsung heroes; they are protective of 
their patients, are selfless in the care they provide, and are in tune 
with the needs of the patient. This is just what we see as patients or 
family of loved ones.
  Behind the scenes and off the clock, El Rio nurses are constantly 
training or researching the newest techniques, health trends, nurse 
education, or how to provide culturally and ethnically competent care. 
They do this so that their patients can have the most up-to-date and 
personal care.
  This year, Congress is preparing to undertake health care reform, a 
debate that is decades old to which we will hopefully find solutions. 
The work by El Rio nurses are actions and principles that my colleagues 
and I should embrace as we move forward on this important debate. El 
Rio nurses are committed to the idea that each patient deserves 
respect, receives quality care, and is part of the community. If we 
could replicate their concern, passion, energy, and success, our 
country's system would provide the quality health care we all hope to 
attain.
  Words are not strong enough to thank the nurses at El Rio on behalf 
of their dedication, sacrifice, and work for a better future.

                          ____________________