[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 26, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS OF PROJECT C.U.R.E.

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I wish to speak in recognition of 
PROJECT C.U.R.E. and its efforts to improve health care infrastructure 
in developing countries. PROJECT C.U.R.E. has been bringing customized 
medical relief to those in the developing world since its inception in 
1987. In 2008 alone, PROJECT C.U.R.E. delivered nearly $40 million 
worth of supplies to more than 100 health care facilities throughout 
the world.
  PROJECT C.U.R.E. representatives conduct needs assessments at 
prospective sites to determine unique, appropriate medical supply and 
equipment needs. Follow-up accountability assessments provide necessary 
training and ensure that donated medical supplies and equipment are 
operating and being used properly. The organization focuses more than 
98 percent of funds on program delivery. For every nickel given to 
PROJECT C.U.R.E., they provide a dollar's worth of services; that is an 
impressive 20-to-1 return on investment.
  PROJECT C.U.R.E. would not be successful if it were not for the 
grassroots efforts of volunteers throughout the United States, 
including participants in my home State of South Dakota. Doctors, 
medical professionals, housewives, businessmen, and average citizens in 
the Black Hills have come together to donate supplies and used medical 
equipment to be reprocessed, re-sterilized, and sent to where there is 
the greatest need. The local Wal-Mart facilitated these efforts by 
donating the transportation of the goods from Rapid City, SD, to the 
PROJECT C.U.R.E. warehouse in Centennial, CO.
  In 2004, the Rapid City Regional Hospital had an ultrasound machine 
that was 1 year past meeting U.S. standards but was still perfectly 
functioning. The hospital was weeks away from sending it to the 
landfill when they heard about PROJECT C.U.R.E. Rather than waste away 
in the landfill, this $75,000 machine was sent to Malawi where it is 
still being used today. There are many similar success stories and 
countless individuals that have benefited from these efforts.
  Once again, I commend the volunteers and staff of PROJECT C.U.R.E. 
for their generosity, dedication, and hard work. I wish them well as 
they continue their mission ``to identify, solicit, collect, sort and 
deliver medical supplies and services according to the imperative needs 
of the world.''

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