News from the Campaign
Thundermist Health Center honors its biggest advocate
from the Providence Journal
WOONSOCKET -- Thundermist Health Center's new Woonsocket headquarters
is now the Patrick J. Kennedy Primary Care Center.
Health-care officials gathered here yesterday to dedicate the building in U.S. Representative Kennedy's honor.
For nearly a decade, Thundermist officials worked to secure the capital needed to move from a cramped, outdated facility to a modern community health center. And Kennedy was right there with them, locking up nearly $1 million in federal money to help with capital costs.
When they wanted to purchase an electronic medical records system, Kennedy helped find money for that, too.
So when it came time to dedicate the new center, the congressman's name was on the tip of everyone's tongue.
"His interest and his passion in what we do is unparalleled," said Thundermist's chief executive officer, Maria Montanaro. [read the rest in the Providence Journal]
Providence Business News Endorses Congressman Kennedy
from the Providence Business News
U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy has shown signs of maturing into
the role in the First District, an improvement from what we've
seen in the past. We are especially impressed by his growing
stature in discussions about the use of information technology
to improve health care delivery.
Congressman Kennedy receives highest score from audience at the Rhode Island Civil Rights Roundtable
The Rhode Island Civil Rights Roundtable recently reported audience scorecard results from the U.S. Congressional Candidates' Forum held on Wednesday, October 11th. Kennedy participated with all other candidates for federal office, or their representative. With a score of 81, Kennedy received the highest score on the panel.
Kennedy answered questions on women's health, affordable housing, disabilities, and education. He also expressed support for printing textbooks in Braille, in response to a question from the audience.
Kennedy believes the Civil Rights Roundtable is a critical forum for federal candidates to express their views on some of the most important issues facing Rhode Islanders today. His commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans is clearly illustrated by his 12 year record in the U.S. House of Representatives, and he looks forward to continuing these efforts in the 110th Congress.
$150,000 police grant targets school violence
from the Providence Journal
WARREN -- Presenting
$150,000 in federal money to help the Warren Police Department
respond to violent incidents in local schools, U.S. Rep. Patrick
Kennedy said it will go toward equipment he hopes officers never
have to use.
The congressman, who addressed residents and officials in the wake of Monday's school shooting in Lancaster County, Pa., where five female Amish students were killed, said the money, which was requested 18 months ago, is especially timely.
Monday's incident was the nation's third school shooting in five days.
"Again and again with these school shootings, we need to make sure that we can respond as quickly as possible to any cry for help," Kennedy said. [read the rest in the Providence Journal]
Kennedy named most powerful member of House of Representatives on Healthcare issues.
Congressman Patrick Kennedy was named the most powerful member of the House of Representatives, 15th most powerful person in the country, on healthcare issues by Modern Heatlhcare magazine -- a leading publication in the health care field.
In the fifth annual listing of the 100 most powerful and influential people in healthcare, Kennedy joins Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, President George W. Bush, Senators Edward M. Kennedy and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Congressman Kennedy is recognized for his role in "making healthcare issues a top priority, especially IT and behavioral health."
"It's an honor to be listed among such giants in the field of health care issues," said Kennedy. "Healthcare is a great concern of everyone I talk to. Whether it's in Rhode Island or around the country, these issues are effecting every segment of our society. The cost of healthcare is crippling everyone. We can do better. We have the ability to provide high quality healthcare at a lower cost to everyone, we just need to muster the political courage to do it. It's something I'm incredibly passionate about, and I'll continue working until we get it done."
Over 92,000 readers of the magazine emailed nominees and voted in this fifth annual listing.
Click here for Congressman Kennedy's accomplishments on Healthcare.
WWII veteran finally gets his medals
from the Providence Journal
PAWTUCKET -- A World War II veteran bedridden with Alzheimer's
disease was honored Friday with a visit from Rep. Patrick J.
Kennedy, who brought him the medals he had earned in the war.
Kennedy brought Carmine "Pat" Scotti the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Honorable Service Lapel Button, the Sharpshooter Badge and the Marksman Badge -- awards he should have collected when he was discharged but didn't because, like many soldiers, he was in a hurry to get home.
"It's remarkable. Every veteran, when they got back here, they were thinking about what's ahead, not what was behind them," Kennedy said. [read the rest in the Providence Journal]