[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12036-12037]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROBERT J. DOLE VA MEDICAL 
                       CENTER IN WICHITA, KANSAS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to 
congratulate and to pay tribute to the Robert J. Dole Department of 
Veterans Affairs Medical Center in my home

[[Page 12037]]

State in Wichita, Kansas, for 75 years providing outstanding services 
and care to our Nation's heroes, our veterans.
  Caring for those who have borne the battle is our Nation's utmost 
responsibility. And for 75 years, the Dole VA Hospital has helped our 
Nation honor this commitment. Let us take time today to pay tribute to 
the work of the Dole VA leadership staff and volunteers and the Kansas 
veterans they serve each day. Veterans are the people I hold in highest 
regard only to be exceeded by those individuals who serve those 
veterans.
  Under the skillful leadership of the VA Network 15 Director Dr. Peter 
Almenoff and hospital director Tom Sanders, the Dole VA Hospital has 
worked to fulfill its mission: ``To improve the health and wellbeing of 
veterans we are honored to serve.'' In fact, the Dole VA has received 
national acclaim in its service to veterans. On a recent rating of VA 
hospitals for quality of veterans' care, the Dole VA hospital ranked 
third in the Nation. Our country is fortunate to have these individuals 
who made the commitment to serve these veterans. What we do in 
Washington, D.C., pales in comparison to what these individuals do each 
and every day for our veterans.
  On November 16, 1933, the first patient, a veteran of the Spanish-
American War, was admitted to the hospital. At that time, there were 
150 beds. By the end of 1933, all beds had been filled. In 2008 over 
2,000 admissions were recorded at the hospital. The Center now provides 
a full range of primary, acute and extended care services to veterans 
from 59 counties in Kansas. Many of these counties make up the First 
Congressional District that I represent. And despite covering more than 
57,000 square miles, the First District is without a VA hospital of its 
own. Veterans in central and western Kansas rely on the care and 
services provided by the Dole VA. We are blessed to have such an 
outstanding facility in Kansas available to those who have given so 
much on our behalf.
  Last month, I had the opportunity to participate in the 75th 
anniversary jubilee in Wichita attended by the hospital's namesake, 
former United States Senator Bob Dole, a member of the country's 
greatest generation and an unending advocate for veterans. Also 
attending the celebration was the Veterans Department Secretary James 
Peake, Kansas Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback, Kansas 
Congressman Todd Tiahrt, and Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer.
  We listened to Dole speak of his own military service and recovery 
from wounds he received in World War II in a VA hospital, as well as 
his leadership in building the World War II Memorial, as co-chair of 
the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded 
Warriors. With his legacy of service and sacrifice to our country and 
its veterans, Senator Dole is an appropriate namesake and inspiration 
for the hard work and dedication of the leadership, staff and 
volunteers at the Dole VA.
  Again, I wish to congratulate the Dole VA Medical Center for 75 years 
of care to our country's veterans. On behalf of veterans in Kansas, I 
thank them for their service.

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