[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14706-14707]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MARY BEHRENS

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, the Wyoming Nurses Association is 
honoring Casper nurse practitioner Mary Behrens with the 2015 Lifetime 
Achievement award. I am delighted to congratulate Mary on this 
tremendous honor.
  Following in the footsteps of her mother, Mary pursued her passion 
for service by completing her RN at the University of Wisconsin-Madison 
in 1964. She practiced as a nurse in Madison while her husband Jerry 
finished his medical degree and residency. She remained in Madison as 
Jerry served our Nation as a physician treating wounded soldiers in 
Vietnam. In 1973, the couple moved to Casper, WY. Folks in Wyoming are 
fortunate that Mary chose to dedicate her career helping others in our 
State. She is truly an innovator, leader, and mentor for many nurses in 
Wyoming across the Nation and around the world.
  The list of Mary's accomplishments and awards is long. She was active 
on the American Nurses Association board and is a board member of the 
University of Wyoming's Friends of the Fay W. Whitney School of 
Nursing. She is one of only three Wyoming nurses to be nationally 
recognized as a fellow of the American Association of Nurse 
Practitioners, FAANP. Her leadership in this area is incredible.
  In 2005 she was a member of the American delegation to the World 
Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, where she testified on the 
national nursing shortage. In addition, through her involvement with 
the Friendship Bridge program, Mary is credited with helping to 
establish an education pathway for nurses in Vietnam. Her efforts to 
develop a modern baccalaureate curriculum have had a tremendous impact 
on the global scope of nursing, particularly in Vietnam and neighboring 
countries.
  Mary's civic service is not at all limited to her profession. In 
fact, she has an established history as a public servant for both 
Casper and Wyoming. Mary served on the Casper city council and as mayor 
of Casper. She was also a Natrona county commissioner and a 
representative in the Wyoming State Legislature. This experience, and 
her intense desire to make change, has made a profound impact on our 
State. Mary's extensive activity in shaping public policy truly stands 
alone, as few people possess such a wide breadth of policy knowledge, 
leadership skills, and passion for the nursing profession.
  It is fitting that the Wyoming Nurses Association is honoring Mary 
Behrens with their most prestigious award. Countless patients and 
nursing students have benefitted from her leadership and care. The 
nursing profession is

[[Page 14707]]

stronger because of Mary's enthusiastic advocacy.
  Please join me in thanking Mary Behrens for her lifetime investment 
in nursing. Bobbi and I are truly fortunate to call her our friend.
  

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