[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11192]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATIONS TO EAST TEXAS AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER (AHEC)

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 3, 2008

  Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate the East Texas 
Area Health Education Center (AHEC) on its receipt of the National AHEC 
Organization (NAO)'s 2008 Eugene S. Mayer Program of Excellence Award. 
The Eugene Mayer Award is one of the NAO's most precious awards since, 
in order to even be considered for the award, an AHEC program must 
demonstrate excellence in all areas of operation.
  East Texas AHEC is certainly deserving of this prestigious award. 
Founded in 1991, East Texas AHEC is headquartered at the University of 
Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), which provides it access to some of the 
top medical talent in the Nation. East Texas AHEC operates nine other 
community health centers across the Gulf Coast. These centers offer a 
wide variety of health care services to over 14.9 million low-income 
Texans in 111 counties. Many low-income Texas would have a much more 
difficult time obtaining quality health care if it were not for the 
efforts of East Texas AHEC.
  It is not just Texans who have benefited from the East Texas AHEC. By 
assuming a leadership role in advocacy for AHEC's nationwide, as well 
as providing an example to AHEC across the country of how they could 
expand their services to help met the health care needs of more low-
income Americans, East Texas AHEC has benefited the entire American 
health care system.
  Madam Speaker, I have always been impressed with how dedication with 
shown by the staff of East Texas AHEC to their mission of developing a 
quality health care workforce and addressing the unmet health needs of 
the people of Texas. I am therefore pleased once again extend my 
congratulations to my friends at East Texas AHEC for their well-
deserved receipt of the 2008 Eugene S. Mayer award.

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