[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 22080]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               COMMENDING DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to 
consideration of S. Res. 263, which was submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. Res. 263) commending the efforts of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs in responding to Hurricane 
     Katrina.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 263) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 263

       Whereas Hurricane Katrina physically devastated many areas 
     in the States of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana;
       Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs operates 11 
     medical centers, 18 community-based outpatient clinics, 3 
     regional offices, and 8 national cemeteries in the States of 
     Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana;
       Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs evacuated over 
     1,000 patients, employees, and their families from facilities 
     in the affected areas without any loss of life due to the 
     evacuations;
       Whereas over 1,000 employees of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs are volunteering to assist veterans and their 
     families affected by Hurricane Katrina throughout the United 
     States;
       Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs is providing 
     shelter to over 550 staff and their families who have been 
     displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina;
       Whereas patients and employees of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs in Texas provided extraordinary support and 
     medical assistance to veterans, staff, and families affected 
     by Hurricane Katrina and coordinated numerous medical efforts 
     as part of the overall Federal Government response and 
     recovery efforts in the Gulf Region; and
       Whereas heroic actions and efforts on the part of numerous 
     employees and volunteers of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs saved countless lives and provided immeasurable 
     comfort to the victims of Hurricane Katrina: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate commends the employees and 
     volunteers of the Department of Veterans Affairs, who risked 
     life and limb to assist veterans, staff, and their respective 
     families who were affected by Hurricane Katrina.

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