[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 175 (Thursday, December 3, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8374-S8375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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 Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I want to recognize Rick Young, a 
proud veteran from Forsyth, MT. Montana is blessed with a rich legacy 
of service, and it is my honor to recognize not only Rick's service to 
our country, but

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his work to make quality health care accessible for all Montana 
veterans.
  Rick proudly served our country as a marine from January 1971 to 
January 1975. Unfortunately, his current illness requires constant care 
and attention. His wife, Sharon, long served as his primary round-the-
clock caretaker and was confined to their home due to Rick's condition, 
which required an external ventilator to breathe at all times. 
Eventually his needs surpassed his ability to stay home, and he had to 
move into a long-term care facility.
  While Rick was still at home, the Rosebud Health Care Center, RHCC, 
facility initiated a contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
VA, to be able to provide care and services to veterans in its long-
term care unit. The previous aging and resource center for Rosebud 
County was in Glendive, MT, about 1 hour and 40 minutes away from 
Rick's home in Forsyth, MT. Thankfully, RHCC received approval from the 
VA to provide care services close to home for Rick on November 1, 2015.
  Rick's persistence and advocacy throughout his illness helped serve 
as the catalyst for RHCC establishing a contract with the VA that 
allows for veterans to receive long-term care in Forsyth. Our State has 
one of the largest populations of veterans per capita, and Rick's 
efforts have led the VA to create additional resources to help to 
provide health care services to Montana's extensive veteran population.
  I am so proud to have advocates like Rick and Sharon fighting for 
veterans in Montana. Through his inspiring work to increase veterans' 
access to care, Rick Young has created an unmatchable legacy that will 
leave a lasting mark on our State. Keep fighting, Rick. I am rooting 
for you.

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