[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2195-2196]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        TRIBUTE TO DONNA MILLER

 Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize an 
individual who has gone above and beyond to save lives in the State of 
Nevada, Donna Miller. Ms. Miller's drive to provide a dependable health 
care option to the people of Tonopah is commendable. Her actions 
warrant only the greatest gratitude and recognition, and I am proud to 
honor her for her invaluable work for people across the Silver State.
  Ms. Miller was born in Romania and immigrated to the United States in 
1991. In 1996, she graduated from nursing school and moved to Las Vegas 
3 years later. She obtained her flight nurse wings in 2001, beginning 
her career caring for others. In 2002, she helped found Life Guard 
International Air Ambulance, and in 2007, she reorganized it into Life 
Guard International--Flying ICU, Flying ICU. This incredible 
organization serves as a flying intensive care unit, transporting 
critically ill and injured patients from one hospital to another that 
offers more resources in a different location.
  Beginning in 2009, Flying ICU served as a necessary resource to the 
Tonopah community, transporting all ill and injured patients from the 
Nye Regional Medical Center to facilities in Las Vegas and Reno. 
Unfortunately, last fall, the Nye Regional Medical Center closed its 
doors, leaving this rural community with a devastating lack of access 
to health care. After the medical center's closing, Ms. Miller 
courageously decided to keep Flying ICU's Tonopah location, changing 
the organization to an emergency medical service, which treats and 
transports patients by plane while traveling to the closest hospital in 
Las Vegas or Reno. This service currently is the only resource in the 
region for the critically ill and injured to receive lifesaving care.

[[Page 2196]]

  Ms. Miller also took the initiative to relocate a second plane to 
Tonopah and increase staff with additional critical care nurses, 
paramedics, and pilots to provide greater services to the local 
community. In order to minimize the amount of time that Tonopah's 
flight crews were away from the Tonopah station, Ms. Miller organized 
additional Flying ICU flight crews on standby at Nevada airports to 
allow patients to be further transported by the standby crew, allowing 
the flight crew to return to the station in a timely manner. Ms. 
Miller's work on this organization is one of a kind, and I am thankful 
for her work in saving the lives of Nevadans. Her decision to step up 
to the plate and provide the Tonopah community many medical resources 
it would otherwise be without remains invaluable for our State.
  Today Flying ICU's services reach across the State, saving lives with 
four aircraft, a hangar at McCarran International Airport, and 
operation bases in Las Vegas and Tonopah. The organization employs over 
50 medical and aviation professionals to help those in need. Flying 
ICU's reputation of safe and quality care is well deserved.
  In 2014, Ms. Miller was elected as the president of the Nevada Nurses 
Association, district Three. She has received many awards for her 
actions, including being recognized as Ambassador for Peace by the 
International Women's Federation for World Peace in 2014, SBA's Nevada 
Woman-Owned Business of the Year Award in 2014, the 2014 Women of 
Distinction Awards--Entrepreneur of the Year, and as one of Las Vegas's 
2015 Top 100 Women of Influence. These accolades are given only to 
those who have done extraordinary acts to earn them, and Ms. Miller 
without a doubt deserves each one. Nevada is fortunate to have someone 
like Ms. Miller representing our State. She is a shining example of 
selflessness for myself and others.
  Ms. Miller has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our State, 
saving lives and providing care to Nevadans in need. Her drive to help 
those around her is inspiring, and I thank her for all of her hard 
work. I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in thanking Ms. 
Miller for her many contributions to our State. I wish her well as she 
continues her efforts to help those in need and in servicing the city 
of Tonopah and those across central Nevada.

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