HONORED FOR WORKING TO ADVANCE QUALITY EYE CARE

Washington, Apr 8, 2005 - Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala) last night received the "Visionary" Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology "for outstanding legislative efforts toward the advancement and availability of quality eye care." Dr. Peter Whitted of the Academy stated, "We would like to recognize you for your leadership on veterans' health care, specifically, H.R. 3473, the Veterans Eye Treatment Safety Act. We commend you for your steadfast and ardent determination to ensure that America's veterans continue to receive the best possible surgical eye care."

I deeply appreciate this recognition by the Academy and I am proud of my efforts to ensure that our nation's veterans receive the care they deserve, including eye care," said Stearns. "I appreciate the commitment of ophthalmologists to veterans and to expanding the quality and availability of their specialized services."