[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25624]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE FISHER HOUSE & THE REPUBLICAN CLUB OF WEST PASCO COUNTY, 
                                FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 23, 2009

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
honor the Republican Club of West Pasco County for their support of the 
Fisher House at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa, 
Florida.
  Military families are the first line of support for our servicemen 
and women: They sit up at night waiting for their phone call and they 
send them comforts from home to sustain them while they fight for our 
freedom a half a world away.
  Some families are called on to support and encourage their loved ones 
long after they've returned from the battles of war. For them, the 
Fisher House often becomes their ``home away from home''.
  Since it opened its doors in 2007, the Fisher House in Tampa has 
hosted more than 1,200 people. The 16,000-square-foot house can 
accommodate up to 21 families at a time, and averages 35 guests per 
night. The average length of stay is two months, but two families have 
been there since the house opened.
  Nationwide, the Fisher House program has made available nearly three 
million days of lodging since the program originated in 1990. They are 
operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and rely on donations to 
the Fisher House Foundation so that no family has to pay to stay at any 
Fisher House.
  The Republican Club of West Pasco County continually supports the 
Fisher House Foundation and our military men and women. This weekend, 
they will host the 2nd biennial event, ``A Night For Heroes'' in 
support of the Fisher House Foundation.
  Madam Speaker, just as our military men and women believe it is their 
duty to serve our nation; it is our duty to support them. The 
Republican Club of West Pasco County has truly answered the call. On 
behalf of this Congress, I thank them for their unyielding commitment 
to this most important cause.

                          ____________________