Special KWVA "W in Your Dream Vacation Fund-Raiser" Information ...
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Sp<strong>in</strong>al Cord Injury Center named for CID 159<br />
member<br />
I’m enclos<strong>in</strong>g a program and photograph from a ceremony which<br />
recently took place at the James A. Haley Veterans Adm<strong>in</strong>istration<br />
Hospital <strong>in</strong> Tampa, FL.<br />
In recognition of U.S. Congressman Michael Bilirakis’ lifetime<br />
endeavors to improve the circumstances of veterans, active service,<br />
and families of those who served their country with honor, the “powers<br />
that be” decided to rename the Sp<strong>in</strong>al Cord Injury Center of the<br />
James A Haley hospital <strong>in</strong> honor of Congressman Bilrakis, a Korean<br />
veteran.<br />
Congressman Bilirakis is a Regular Life member of both the<br />
Association and the Sunsh<strong>in</strong>e State Chapter. In view of the latter, the<br />
Chapter was <strong>in</strong>vited to attend the renam<strong>in</strong>g ceremony and show the<br />
Chapter standard.<br />
Congressman Bilirakis did not miss the opportunity at the podium to<br />
thank his Association/Chapter colleagues for their attendance.<br />
Peter Palmer, President, P.O. Box 159 Largo, FL 33779-5298<br />
Mike was one of the primary authors of the Health Insurance<br />
Portability and Accountability Act and guided its passage<br />
through Congress. This critical law made health <strong>in</strong>surance<br />
more accessible and affordable by al-low<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>surance portability<br />
from job-to-job and limit<strong>in</strong>g exclusions on pre-exist<strong>in</strong>g<br />
conditions.<br />
Attendees at Congressman Bilrakis event (Front, L-R) Mrs. Evelyn Bilirakis,<br />
Mel Routt, Congressman Michael Bilirakis, Peter H. Palmer, Mike Tucci<br />
(Back, R-L) Gene Peeples, Ed Richards, Lou Michaud, Gordon Bennett,<br />
Fred Strahlendorf<br />
As a member of the<br />
Veterans' Affairs<br />
Committee, Mike helped<br />
secure additional<br />
resources for Florida's veterans<br />
- <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g $43.8<br />
million for a sp<strong>in</strong>al cord<br />
<strong>in</strong>jury unit <strong>in</strong> Tampa and a<br />
more equitable resource<br />
allocation method implemented<br />
by the VA.<br />
77<br />
The Graybeards<br />
May – June 2009