EL PASO, Jun 9, 2011 - This evening, Congressman Silvestre Reyes delivered the commencement address at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center - Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (TTUHSC) Graduate Medical Education Commencement Ceremony.  Below are Congressman Reyes remarks as prepared for delivery:

"Thank you, Dr. Meza, for that kind introduction.  I’m happy to be with you this evening to share this very special occasion with you, your family, and your professors.

"I know for many of the families out there, this is probably the fourth commencement ceremony they’ve had to sit through in the last 11 to 15 years.  But, this is the one everyone’s been waiting for.  This is the one that makes it official.  After this, it’s time to get out there and pay off those loans.

"It’s great to see so many people from all over the world gathered here today for this commencement.  From my count, there are 20 countries from nearly every continent represented among this year’s 68 graduates.

"I’m fortunate to say that I’ve had the privilege of visiting all of them during my tenure on the House Intelligence Committee.  Ironically, the only place I haven’t been to is Nebraska.  I was surprised Dr. Meza, you all let Big 12 rivals like the Nebraska Cornhuskers in here.  We’ll have to talk about that.

"In any event, to those in the audience who traveled many miles to be here, welcome.  I know that many families, friends, and loved ones have waited many years for this day, and we’re glad you are here to share this moment.

"Every single one of you has sacrificed to pursue this very noble profession.  Pursuing a career in medicine is one of the most difficult callings that requires daunting long term commitments that are far beyond what most people are able, or in most cases, willing, to devote.  I commend you for following through on your dreams and for dedicating yourselves to such a critical cause.

"You know, every year there are surveys that show doctors and clergy are among the most respected professions in America.  Particularly as people age and we need more medicial care, the relationship we have with our doctors is often very important.  I know that I really appreciate my doctor, and I’m blessed to have one that I trust and respect very much.  You know what professions are least respected in America?  Politicians and car salesmen.

"The level of diversity assembled in this class is a testament to this institution’s reputation for academic excellence and world-class training.  For nearly four decades, this institution has helped train medical professionals in a variety of specialties who practice around the world.  I have no doubt you will continue the proud legacy that has been built here, as you excel in your respective fields, and make a difference in your part of the world.

"Your residency came at the most pivotal time in the history of the Texas Tech Paul Foster School of Medicine and University Medical Center of El Paso.  In your time spent here, you witnessed the opening of the first four-year medical school in the state in three decades; the transformation of our public hospital to University Medical Center to better reflect the academic mission of the facility; and, of course, the $154 million UMC expansion and new Children’s Hospital that is nearly complete.

"We are a community with a bold vision for our future.  Fulfilling this vision has taken years of persistence and hard work by countless individuals, organizations, and institutions that have been united through a desire to secure a better future for our children and grandchildren.

"Your work as residents here in the community has been a very special part of this vision, and our entire community is proud of you and celebrates your achievements with you.

"Despite these exciting developments here locally, you are entering the medical profession at a very challenging time for our state and nation.  Nearly 10 years after the September 11th attacks, our country is still engaged in two wars abroad, and here at home, we are reeling from the worst economic recession since the Great Depression.  The ripple effects of the recent recession are still being felt today, particularly with respect to our nation’s health care.  The economic environment in which you will launch your medical careers is the most difficult we have seen in our lifetime.

"Here in Texas, in particular, the health care challenges we face, especially in the border region, pose a significant threat the future of our state and the well-being of its residents.

"During your residency, I know you have come across countless patients who didn’t have health insurance.  The number of people without insurance in this country, and in this state, is one of the greatest challenges to our nation’s long term well-being, not to mention the health and well-being of the patients you will treat in the months and years ahead.

"For those of you in emergency medicine, I know you regularly treat patients for conditions that should be handled in a doctor’s office, not the ER.  It’s not uncommon for some patients to come in for dialysis or for treatment of diabetes, because they can’t afford to get care elsewhere.  This is the most ineffective and costly way to deal with health care in America, it’s not good for patients, it’s not good for doctors, and it’s certainly not good for America’s future.

"We, in the Congress, are very concerned about the impact that rising health care costs will have on our nation’s ability to remain competitive in the global economy, particularly against countries such as China and India that are producing more skilled workers that will compete more often with future generations of Americans.

"America now spends $2.3 trillion on health care, about 16 percent of our nation’s economy, a greater proportion than any other industrialized nation by far.  This works out to about $7,681 per resident, but Americans aren’t any healthier for it.  It was expected that in less than 10 years, health care costs would have consumed 20 percent of our nation’s economy.  In 1980, health care costs made up 9 percent.  Despite this level of spending on health care, life expectancy in the U.S. is lower than all developed nations.

"As health care costs consume a greater share of our nation’s economic output, fewer resources will be available for other priorities such as education, defense, scientific research and development, and other critical needs.

"Of course, part of the reason that health care costs have risen is due to the fact that so many people are without health insurance.  Unfortunately, this problem is more prevalent here in El Paso.

"Sadly, instead of trying to steer people away from the emergency room and into a doctor’s office, our state is going down a road that will likely increase the number of people who seek treatment in the ER in the months and years ahead.

"In the U.S., about one in five people are uninsured.  Texas has the shameful distinction of being the worst state in the nation for the number of people who have health insurance.  The state has the highest percentage of children and adults without health insurance.  One in four people in Texas are uninsured.  In El Paso, we’re sadly worse off than the rest of the state; one in three people are without health insurance.

"Fortunately, the Affordable Care Act signed into law last year, will help reverse these harmful trends that have plagued our community and those along the border for many years.  These measures will help slow the growth of health care costs.

"In addition to containing health care costs, in order to stay competitive in the years ahead, all levels of government must invest in education from kindergarten to medical residency positions.

"There is a great need to increase the number of doctors in America to meet growing demands, particularly in Texas.  We must expand the number of students studying medicine at our medical schools, but equally if not more importantly, we must increase the types of residency opportunities that you received here at the Texas Tech Paul Foster School of Medicine and University Medical Center.

"Currently, with 192 physicians per 100,000 people, Texas is 42nd in the nation among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in the ratio of doctors to population.  Among the 10 most populous states, Texas is last.  In order to reach the national average of 240 physicians per 100,000 people, Texas would need to add 10,000 more doctors.  This is a problem that is at our doorstep.

"While Texas is one of the fastest growing states in the nation, with more than 24 million people, the population growth in Texas’s medical schools and residency programs has not kept pace with the state’s growing needs.

"Currently, Texas has less than 6,400 medical residents in accredited programs.  The state of New York, with five million fewer residents, has 15,000 medical residents, more than double that of Texas. The state of Pennsylvania has half the population of Texas, yet it has more medical residents.

"By 2013, Texas will graduate about 1,600 medical students, but will have only 1,400 first year residency slots.  This is a shortage we simply can't afford to have with our rapidly growing population.  If we can’t place our medical students in residency programs here in the state, they will go elsewhere, and when that happens, it’s less likely they will return here to practice medicine.

"However, eighty-five percent of doctors who graduate from Texas medical schools, and also complete their residency in the state, will likely stay in Texas.

"If we are going to solve these challenges, we must increase our capacity to teach and train medical professionals.  Investing in Graduate Medical Education is critical to health and well-being of future generations.

"When I reviewed the list of graduates, their hometowns, medical schools, and career plans, I was proud to see many El Pasoans who completed their residency here, and especially pleased to see that many are choosing to practice here.  I am very encouraged that we are on our way to reversing the trends that have left border communities such as El Paso underserved.  As I’m sure you can attest, for a medical resident, this region is a great place to study, and I’m glad that many of you have also chosen to call it home.

"In closing, I’d like to leave you with a quote that I hope will embody your journey as medical professionals in the years ahead.  It’s from Dr. Noble Young, one of the four founders of the School of Medicine at Georgetown University, who spoke at the commencement exercises back in 1857, and the statement was recently recounted by the University’s President:

“You are not to rest content with what you have.  You are to acquire more and more, to become laborers in the field of progress – a progress to continue to the end of time.  At every step some new and wondrous truth to be investigated and learned.”

"I hope all of you engage your promising careers in this spirit.  We are all proud of each of you, and I look forward to the many contributions you will make in the years ahead.

"Thank you very much, and God Bless."