[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 35 (Monday, March 5, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1382-S1383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING PHELPS MEMORIAL HEALTH CENTER

 Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, today I wish to applaud the spirit 
of community betterment that led to a beautiful new wing of the Phelps 
Memorial Health Center in Holdrege, NE. As often occurs across our 
great State, citizens in the area saw a need and rose to meet it. They 
joined forces with officials at the hospital and set a determined 
course, without holding out their hands for taxpayer dollars to make it 
happen. They recognized that high quality medical care is part of the 
lifeblood of the community and knew the hospital would benefit from 
renovation and expansion. So, they rolled up their sleeves and came 
together to create the vision, raise the money and turn the dirt.
  Some doubted the community would accomplish a multimillion dollar 
expansion during a recession in a rural area without taxpayer dollars. 
Those doubters underestimated the motivation of Nebraskans who love 
their community. Citizens in the area have proven that there is no 
limit to what can be

[[Page S1383]]

accomplished when people come together. The new, state-of-the-art wing 
is truly impressive.
  I was honored to see it firsthand when I attended the ribbon-cutting 
ceremony and applauded the many people who poured their hearts into the 
project. The nearly 50,000 additional square feet; four cutting-edge 
operating suites; and patient rooms with maximum comfort and 
connectivity are remarkable, to say the least.
  The heart and soul of healthcare in Nebraska is a hospital like the 
Phelps Memorial Health Center, providing high-quality and compassionate 
care close to home. Today I celebrate their success in turning an aging 
institution into a state-of-the-art facility and highlight it as a 
shining example of what can be accomplished with determination and 
commitment.

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