[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20969]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    PAUL WELLSTONE VETERANS HOSPITAL

  Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, I am pleased to cosponsor legislation to 
name the Veterans Administration hospital in Minneapolis, MN, after the 
late Senator Paul Wellstone. It would be a great tribute to my departed 
friend and colleague, who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of 
veterans throughout Minnesota and across our Nation.
  During the August recess, I met with the leaders of major veterans' 
organizations in Minnesota. Several have formally expressed their 
support for bestowing this honor on Senator Wellstone. Others, while 
not taking official positions, are now aware of the legislation and our 
intentions to proceed with it. So, I believe that the path is clear in 
Minnesota for this legislation to be enacted with very broad support.
  Senator Wellstone served for seven years on the Senate Veterans' 
Affairs Committee, where he fought tirelessly for more generous 
benefits and expanded services, including health care, for the men and 
women who served our Nation with great courage and dedication, and who 
now deserve far better than many are receiving or not receiving. In 
addition, he and his dedicated staff enabled countless veterans 
individually to receive benefits, medical care, and other services 
which were wrongly denied them. While living, and after his tragic 
death last year, Senator Wellstone has been a hero to many thousands of 
veterans throughout Minnesota and across our Nation. Many of them have 
provided the impetus and support for this legislation.
  It is my hope that this measure might receive swift and favorable 
consideration by the Senate, and that it then be sent to the House for 
its concurrence and to the President for his signature, prior to the 
first anniversary of Senator Wellstone's death.

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