[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING SISTER ELIZABETH VAN STRATEN

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2012

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sister Elizabeth Van 
Straten, who is a highly esteemed member of the Chicago area and a 
resident of the Englewood community in the City of Chicago.
  At the end of this year, Sister Van Straten will be retiring from her 
position as the President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Bernard 
Hospital, which is located in the Englewood community of the City of 
Chicago.
  An alumnus of DePaul University, Sister Van Straten is a member of 
the religious congregation of women known as the Religious Hospitallers 
of Saint Joseph (R.H.S.J.), which founded St. Bernard Hospital in 1904. 
She is the last member of the religious sisters serving at St. Bernard. 
In following a line of women dedicated to serving the poor, Sister Van 
Straten has committed herself and her talents for more than 34 years in 
service of and promoting the health and well-being of the Englewood 
community.
  Sister Van Straten has met and overcome major challenges in keeping 
St. Bernard Hospital open, even as three other neighborhood hospitals 
have closed. In addition to keeping open its doors, under Sister Van 
Straten's leadership St. Bernard has become the largest employer in the 
Englewood community and a leading national provider of emergency 
medical services, dental services and prenatal care services, just to 
name a few.
  Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
Sister Elizabeth Van Straten. She is truly worthy of recognition today 
and onward by this august body--the U.S. House of Representatives.

                          ____________________