| |
 |
| |
555 Dirksen Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Ph: 202.224.6342
Fax: 202.224.1100
|
| |
 |
| |
Raleigh Office:
310 New Bern Avenue
Suite 122
Raleigh, NC 27601
Ph: 919.856.4630
Toll Free: 866.420.6083
Fax: 919.856.4053
Salisbury Office:
225 North Main Street
Suite 304
Salisbury, NC 28144
Ph: 704.633.5011
Toll Free: 866.420.6084
Fax: 704.633.2937
Western Office:
401 North Main Street
Suite 200
Hendersonville, NC 28792
Ph: 828.698.3747
Fax: 828.698.1267
Eastern Office:
306 South Evans Street
Greenville, NC 27835
Ph: 252.329.1093
Fax: 252.329.1097
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
| |
Speeches
|
| |
|
DOLE REMARKS AT THE RIBBON CUTTING OF LEVINE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
|
| |
October 20th, 2007 - Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for that warm welcome. And thank you, Michael for your kind words of introduction and for helping make this extraordinary day a reality. I am delighted to be here and to share the stage with so many distinguished individuals.
It’s a pleasure to see my great colleague and friend Sue Myrick, a champion for health care issues, especially those aimed at stopping cancer, and it’s always a joy to be with Robin Hayes, who has been a strong supporter of this hospital. Robin fights every day for his constituents – focusing on the business matters that especially affect Charlotte, the defense issues that impact personnel and their families at Fort Bragg, and the many other concerns of folks throughout his district. Of course, I’m also glad to be with my very own congressman, Mel Watt, and our friend from South Carolina, John Spratt. Mel, I’ll never forget a freezing cold outdoor event here in Charlotte when you took off your suit coat and put it around my shoulders. And we have the picture to prove it! What a gracious gesture!
And what a delight to be with former Governor Jim Martin. As governor, Jim always delivered on his promises to this state – just like he’s delivered for this hospital. For example, Jim came to me for help to stop a proposed change to Medicaid payments to public hospitals. Fortunately, we were able to prevent this rule change, which would have cost North Carolina hospitals hundreds of millions of dollars and eliminated the safety net. So Jim, thank you for all you do to continually improve the lives of your fellow North Carolinians.
Many other outstanding folks have made today possible. Smokey Bissell, you have been a remarkable chairman of the Dare to Dream campaign, raising more than $66 million dollars. The community owes great thanks to the hospital's many benefactors, especially Sandra and Leon Levine, Linda and Rick Hendrick, and Christa Overcash, for their tremendous generosity. I would also like to applaud all the good folks at Carolinas HealthCare System for their unwavering dedication to this project.
In a time when we seek to provide greater access to healthcare for all Americans, focusing on our children is not only smart policy, but it’s the right thing to do. As you may know, there’s been some discussion about children’s health care recently, as Congress has debated low-income children’s healthcare coverage. Despite differences in the approach, nearly all agree that this is a vital program that should continue, and I hope that Congress will quickly move forward with a plan that responsibly expands coverage for our neediest children.
Over the next 10 years, nearly 100,000 children will be born into or move to the Charlotte region. No question, this hospital will be an enormous asset. Many young Carolinians will now be able to receive care much closer to home, and they will lead healthier, more productive lives, thanks to Levine Children’s Hospital.
Ladies and gentlemen, it truly is an honor to be part of this celebration – and to see the vision and hard work of many come to fruition. I have been privileged to work in the Senate to secure federal support for the important work of Carolinas Healthcare System and the children’s hospital, and I look forward to continuing our work together.
May God bless the benefactors, the health care professionals, the young patients, and the families whose lives this hospital will touch, and may God continue to bless this great land of the free, America.
|
| |
| ### |
| |
|
|
 |
20th - current Speech
|
 : radio clip |  : television clip
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
