[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5302]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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  THE GRAND OPENING OF THE ABERDEEN COMMUNITY BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I would like to congratulate the 
veterans community of Aberdeen on the opening, on April 11, 2001, of 
their new Aberdeen Community Based Outpatient Clinic. This important 
event brings the health benefits that our veterans so richly deserve 
closer to home.
  I would like to commend Ron Porzio, the chief operating officer of 
the Veterans Administration Medical and Regional Office Center in Sioux 
Falls, the area veterans service officers, Brown County Veterans 
Service Officer Tom Gohn, veterans service organizations and the 
Aberdeen area veterans who have done such an outstanding job of making 
this project a reality.
  I was pleased to hear that Avera United Clinic was named the provider 
for the new VA outpatient clinic in Aberdeen. Avera has made a solid 
investment in the community and the state, and it was only logical that 
the clinic should provide quality health care services to our veterans 
in the Aberdeen area. This is good news for veterans in northeastern 
South Dakota because they will be able to receive many medical services 
at the clinic without having to drive several hours to the Sioux Falls 
veterans hospital.
  Congratulations also need to go to Avera St. Luke's Hospital, Dr. 
Steve Redmond, Physician's Assistant Kevin Vaughan, Clinic 
Administrator Leonard Severson, the clinic's support staff, and CR 
Associates on their new partnership with the VA.
  Veterans are our country's heroes, and their selfless actions will 
inspire generations of Americans yet to come. Our country must honor 
its commitments to veterans, not only because it is the right thing to 
do, but also because it is the smart thing to do.
  I will continue to lead efforts to ensure that our nation's military 
retirees and veterans receive the benefits they were promised years 
ago. While I am pleased with some improvements in military health care 
funding passed into law last year, I am concerned that more needs to be 
done. Assuredly, I will continue to fight for military retirees and 
veterans programs throughout this session of Congress.

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