[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17893]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO OUR NATION'S VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 12, 2006

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, as a veteran myself and an avid advocate 
for veterans in the United States House of Representatives, I believe 
it is important to recognize individuals who go above and beyond the 
call of duty to serve the men and women who bravely wore our nation's 
military uniform. The James Haley VA Medical Center, VAMC, in Tampa, FL 
is one of the busiest veterans' medical facilities in the country and 
provides care to approximately 142,000 veterans in Central Florida.
  All employees, excluding service chiefs, who have been employed at 
the Tampa VAMC for at least 1 year, are eligible to receive the 
``Hospital Ambassador Award.'' I am pleased to be able to recognize 
recent recipients of this award: Geraldine Penia, pharmacy technician; 
Michele Overland, social worker; Douglas Covey, pharmacist; Jerome 
Sipes, police officer; Charles Gutierrez, registered respiratory 
therapist; Ruthe Hunter, supervisor program specialist; Nenita Auza, 
staff nurse; Betty Thomas, program supply assistant.
  I am also pleased to be able to recognize several employees at the 
Port Richey Outpatient Clinic for their outstanding work. These 
individuals have received ``Employee of the Quarter Awards'': Virginia 
Osmar, program supply clerk; Evelyn Gines-Dasilva, nurse.
  I want to extend my sincere appreciation to these outstanding 
employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs and commend each of 
them for the tremendous service they provide to our Nation's veterans.

                          ____________________