October 5, 2000 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE 20911 than any college in America. Its 70 per- hearts, our souls and our conscience. member of official dele- cent medical and dental school accept- Mother Katharine Drexel is no dif- gations on exchange missions to Rus- ance rate is almost twice the national ferent. Her actions are a true testa- sia, Yugoslavia, and France, and des- average, and 93 percent of those who ment to the power of strong religious ignated as coordinator for nursing for enter these programs earn their degree. faith and a moral obligation to those the United States-Argentina Coopera- Xavier also ranks first nationally in less fortunate. tion in Health and Medical Research the number of African-American stu- On behalf of the thousands of people Project. Dr. Abdellah has also served as dents who earn degrees in biology, around the world who have been a consultant to the Japanese Nursing physics, pharmacy and the physical touched by her work, I pay tribute to Association on nursing education and sciences. In fact, since 1927 Xavier has the life and work of Mother Katharine research on three separate occasions. graduated nearly 25 percent of the Drexel. She may have been a teacher to I have had the privilege of knowing black pharmacists practicing in the some, but Mother Katharine is a Dr. Abdellah for many years. Her self- United States. to many.∑ less devotion to duty and extraor- Thousands of Xavier’s graduates are f dinary accomplishments are legendary. prominent scientists, scholars, musi- It is with pride that I congratulate Dr. TRIBUTE TO DR. FAYE G. cians, and community leaders in Lou- Abdellah on her well-deserved induc- ABDELLAH isiana and across the country. Notable tion into the National Women’s Hall of graduates include Department of Labor ∑ Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I would Fame. Our nation can be proud of her Secretary Alexis Herman, and retired, like to take a moment to honor Dr. long and distinguished service to this four-star Air Force General Bernard Faye G. Abdellah, RN, Ed.D., Sc.D., country.∑ FAAN who is currently serving as the Randolph, former head of the Space f and Defense Systems Command. Dean of the Graduate School of Nurs- Proof of Mother Katharine’s superior ing at the Uniformed Services Univer- MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT works lies in the achievements of three sity. Dr. Abdellah will be inducted in Messages from the President of the of her former students. One of Mother the National Women’s Hall of Fame United States were communicated to Katharine’s students at Xavier was a this weekend. Founded in 1969, the Hall the Senate by Ms. Evans, one of his young man who shined shoes, but want- is a national membership organization secretaries. ed an education. Today, Dr. Norman in Seneca Falls, New York that honors EXECUTIVE MESSAGES REFERRED Francis is president of Xavier Univer- and celebrates the achievements of As in executive session the Presiding sity and a nationally recognized leader American women. She will join a list of Officer laid before the Senate messages in higher education. 157 of the most distinguished women in from the President of the United Another of her former students, Lio- American history, including Susan B. States submitting sundry nominations nel Hampton, found his gift for music Anthony, , , which were referred to the appropriate under Mother Katharine’s tutelage at Sandra Day O’Connor, , and committees. Xavier. Hampton later earned platinum . Dr. Abdellah is (The nominations received today are and gold records, and became the first being recognized and honored for her printed at the end of the Senate pro- African-American to play in the Benny pioneering work altering nursing the- ceedings.) Goodman Band. Hampton joined an- ory and practice, for the development f other jazz great and New Orleanian, of the first tested coronary care unit Louis Armstrong, to play for Pope Pius that saved thousands of lives, and for MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE XII. being the first nurse to hold the rank At 1:09 p.m. a message from the Mother Katharine also spread her of Rear Admiral (Upper Half) and the House of Representatives, delivered by goodwill elsewhere across the country. title of Deputy Surgeon General for the Mr. Hayes, one of its reading clerks, When Marie Allen entered Mother United States. announced that the House insists upon Katharine’s St. Michael’s Indian Dr. Abdellah is the recipient of 79 its amendment to the bill (S. 835) to en- School in Window Rock, Arizona, she professional and academic honors. She courage the restoration of estuary was an impoverished young child who holds eleven honorary degrees from habitat through more efficient project spoke no English. Today, Dr. Marie universities that have recognized her financing and enhanced coordination of Allen heads the Navaho Nation Special innovative work in nursing research, in Federal and non-Federal restoration Diabetes Program to educate Native the development of the first nurse sci- programs, and for other purposes, and Americans about diabetes, a deadly dis- entist, as an international expert in ask a conference with the Senate on ease that plagues American Indian res- health policies, and for making invalu- the disagreeing votes of the two Houses ervations. Even more, over the past 10 able contributions to the health of our thereon. That Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. YOUNG years, 90 percent of students grad- nation. She has authored and co-au- of Alaska, Mr. BOEHLERT, Mr. uating from St. Michael’s Indian thored more than 150 publications, GILCHREST, Mrs. FOWLER, Mr. SHER- School have gone to college. some of which have been translated WOOD, Mr. SWEENEY, Mr. KUYKENDALL, These are just three examples of the into six languages. Mr. VITTER, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. BORSKI, multitude of students who have been Dr. Abdellah worked with the Sur- Mr. BARCIA, Mr. FILNER, Mr. TAYLOR of inspired to greatness by Mother Kath- geon General in the formation of na- Mississippi, Mr. BLUMENAUER, and Mr. arine Drexel. In the midst of a hostile tional health policies related to AIDS, BALDACCI, be the managers of the con- culture, she used kindness and compas- drug addiction, violence, smoking and ference on the part of the House. sion to fight injustice and indignities, alcoholism. She developed the first fed- The message also announced that the and in the process forged a brighter fu- eral training program for health serv- House has passed the following bill, in ture for America’s poor and underprivi- ices researchers, health services ad- which it requests the concurrence of leged. ministrators and geriatric nurse prac- the Senate: When Katharine Drexel died at the titioners. Dr. Abdellah has worked H.R. 5212. An act To direct the American age of 97 in 1955, more than 500 of her with state and district nursing associa- Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to disciples were teaching in 63 schools on tions, serving on many work groups establish a program to collect video and American Indian reservations and in and committees developing standards audio recordings of personal histories and African-American communities. This is of nursing practice, credentialing ac- testimonials of American war veterans, and a true testament to her ability to in- tivities, and providing workshops in for other purposes. spire and lead. nursing research. ENROLLED BILLS SIGNED History is full of truly remarkable As part of her international health The following enrolled bills, pre- people whose individual acts of kind- outreach role as a nurse and health viously signed by the Speaker of the ness have left an indelible mark on our services consultant, she has been a House, were signed on today, October 5,

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