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Managing America: Recognition

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Week Ending July 20, 2007

H.RES.208 Honoring Operation Smile in the 25th Anniversary year of its founding.

Called Operation Smile and now in its 25^th year the program that provides reconstructive surgery and related healthcare to indigent children and young adults around the world is recognized in this resolution.

Operation Smile was created by plastic surgeon Dr. William P. Magee, Jr. and his wife Katherine, a nurse, when they visited the Philippines and found hundreds of children ravaged by deformities. Thus the organization that has since performed surgery on more than 100,000.

More resolution below….

Sponsor:  Rep. Thelma D. Drake (R-VA-2^nd)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote July 16, 2007

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost

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MORE INFORMATION

Whereas Operation Smile is a private, not-for-profit volunteer medical services organization providing reconstructive surgery and related health care to indigent children and young adults in developing countries and the United States;

Whereas in 1982, Dr. William P. Magee Jr., a plastic surgeon, and his wife, Kathleen S. Magee, a nurse and clinical social worker, traveled to the Philippines with a group of medical volunteers to repair children's cleft lips and cleft palates;

Whereas there they discovered hundreds of children ravaged by deformities, and although they helped many children, the volunteers were forced to turn away the majority of those who sought help;

Whereas Operation Smile headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, was founded in 1982 by Dr. William Magee Jr. and his wife Kathleen S. Magee to address this need;

Whereas since 1982, Operation Smile's volunteers have provided free reconstructive surgery to more than 100,000 children and young adults with facial deformities in 25 countries and currently work in Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gaza Strip/West Bank, Honduras, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela, and Vietnam;

Whereas Operation Smile provides education and training to thousands of healthcare professionals globally, and is implementing a plan for a Global Standard of Care to ensure that every child treated will receive the same high standard of care every time;

Whereas Operation Smile provides a network of resources to assist families in the United States with children born with facial deformities;

Whereas more than 450 Operation Smile Student Associations in the United States and around the world build awareness, raise funds, and educate students about values of commitment, leadership, and volunteerism;

Whereas Operation Smile has been distinguished by many prestigious awards, including the first $1,000,000 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to recognize outstanding contributions made to alleviate human suffering;

Whereas Operation Smile helps raise the standard of healthcare around the world and through its international partnerships builds trust, bridges cultures, and bestows dignity at home and abroad; and

Whereas in 2007, in celebration of its 25th Anniversary, Operation Smile has announced a year-long series of initiatives to include implementing global standards of care for all its medical programs, opening comprehensive care centers in seven countries, hosting international forums on medical diplomacy, and launching the World Journey of Smiles, which consists of 40 simultaneous missions in 25 countries with the goal of treating an estimated 5,000 children living with facial deformities: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors Operation Smile on its 25th Anniversary year as its volunteer medical professionals continue their noble work to travel around the world to treat children suffering from facial deformities.

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