MR. AKAKA: Mr. President, today I celebrate the hard work and dedication of all nurses that serve the veterans of our great nation. In particular, I would like to congratulate the recipients of the Secretary's Award for Excellence in Nursing and Advancement of Nursing Programs. These recipients were nominated for dedication to their profession and for outstanding service to our veterans and to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The honor bestowed on these individuals is greatly deserved.

The 2005 Nursing Award Recipients for Excellence in Nursing include: Marthe Moseley, Kim Pyatt, Ferris Jones, and John Cheng. The recipients of the 2005 Award for the Advancement of Nursing Programs are Timothy B. Williams and Rebecca Newson Williams. All these individuals have demonstrated high levels of achievement and dedication through their service with VA.

Marthe Moseley, PhD, RN, CCRN, CCNS, is an award recipient from the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. Dr. Mosely coordinates and evaluates integrated programs that demonstrate clinical excellence in the field of orientation, competency development and implementation. She has been a key consultant to entities such as the National Dialysis Conference, Brook Army Medical Center, and Wilford Hall Medical Center (Air Force). Dr. Moseley has been a leader in improving the quality and effectiveness of care for critically ill patients.

Kim Pyatt, RN, BSN, of the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, has been an outstanding and positive nurse for the past five years. She served as a staff nurse and a night charge nurse in the Nursing Home Care Unit (NHCU), before being selected as the Geriatrics and Extended Care Wound Coordinator in 2002. Ms. Pyatt has a great passion for veterans and for providing excellent nursing care in the NHCU.

Ferris Jones, LPN, works in the Puget Sound Health Care System with the Mental Health Service in the Homeless Care Line, Domiciliary Care Program, and also through a residential program that treats veterans for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. His strong medical background, training in the United States Army, and experience in mental health have worked together to set a standard of excellence. He has contributed to quality of care through evaluations of procedures for the Domiciliary Care Program and the development of an educational orientation video for those newly admitted to the program.

John Cheng, from the Northport VA Medical Center, has been a Nursing Assistant in Extended Care since 1998. Mr. Cheng has continued to provide top quality , as well as encouragement to his veteran patients. Mr. Cheng recently spent a great deal of time with a young Traumatic Brain Injury patient that had been admitted to the NCHU. During this time, Mr. Cheng demonstrated compassion and selfless dedication to treating patients. He did the little things that are necessary during a time of extended treatment, such as developing a relationship wit this young patient. Mr. Cheng is also dedicated to professional growth. He is the only employee to graduate from the VA sponsored Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program and is now working on achieving his Registered Nurse Degree.

Timothy B. Williams is the Director of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. Mr. Williams has worked closely with nursing and physician leadership to implement innovative strategies to optimally deliver patient care, in spite of limited resources. He has continuously sought opportunities to ensure nurse support and to encourage professional development of nursing at all levels. Mr. Williams has also been an effective supporter of VA efforts to recruit and retain nursing staff.

Rebecca Newsom Williams, RN, MPH, is the Associate Director for Patient/Nursing Services for the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System. In her role, Ms. Williams directs the integration of all nursing related activities throughout the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, in collaboration with the Executive Leadership team. Ms. Williams has demonstrated excellence in her leadership by recognizing the need for combined research and clinical practices.

Mr. President, as you can see, these phenomenal nurses deserve to be applauded for their accomplishments. Through their commitment and compassion to our nation's heroes, they themselves also become heroes to our veterans.

As Ranking Member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I again congratulate these distinguished award recipients. They demonstrate the need and importance of excellence at every level of care giving, for every patient. In this time of critical need for nurses, it is imperative that we thank these nurses that have chosen to serve in the VA health care system for their diligence and dedication