Washington, DC – Congressman Al Green (TX-09), today, joined by colleagues, Congressman Michael Burgess (TX-26) and Congressman John Culberson (TX-07), obtained 306 co-sponsors for H.R. 1154, which would award Texas medical legend, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, with a Congressional Gold Medal. This bill was originally introduced on February 16, 2007 by Congressman Al Green, the original sponsor of the bill. A total of 290 member signatures are needed to release the bill from the Financial Services Committee and send it to the House floor. Joined by bill co-sponsors, Congressmen Burgess and Culberson, the trio of Texas Congressmen worked together to gain the necessary signatures and strong bi-partisan support of this bill. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, of Texas, passed related legislation, S. 474, in the Senate earlier this year, making way for the House to finally award Dr. DeBakey with Congress’ highest honor.
At 99, Dr. DeBakey is still hard at work developing innovative devices and techniques to improve the quality of health care, especially with regards to heart disease. His wisdom has been sought by every U.S. President since Harry S. Truman. In 1964, he performed the first successful coronary bypass, a procedure that has become routine for millions of patients worldwide. His innovations in aneurismal surgery, carotid endarterectomy, and artificial hearts have saved the lives of patients across the globe. During his military service in the Surgeon General’s Office in World War II, he was instrumental in establishing the National Library of Medicine, the Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH units), and the Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital system. He has worked for many years with researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to develop the miniaturized implantable DeBakey Left Ventricular Assist Device, which eliminates the need for heart transplantation in some patients.
Congressman Al Green and Congressman Michael Burgess wished Dr. DeBakey a happy 99th birthday, via telephone from Washington, today. Upon hearing the news that the bill had surpassed the required 290 co-sponsors, Dr. DeBakey remarked, “I am so grateful that I am citizen of the United States”.
“Dr. DeBakey truly is a living legend who has in some way touched all of our lives. He has operated on more than 60,000 patients in Houston alone, and has treated the very rich and the very poor, all with the same high standards of care and unwavering compassion. He has dedicated his life to saving the lives of others. This is why I dedicated myself to introducing this bill and working with my colleagues to award him the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor-- our nation's highest and most distinguished civilian award,” stated Congressman Al Green (TX-09). “I am honored to have this unique opportunity, as original sponsor of this bill, to wish Dr. DeBakey a very happy 99th birthday with news of its movement to the House floor. I thank him for the incredible impact he has made on the field of medicine, both here at home and abroad. I would also like to thank my colleagues, fellow Texas Congressmen, and co-sponsors of this bill, Michael Burgess and John Culberson for their continued dedication to honoring Dr. DeBakey.”
“As a fellow physician, I have always been inspired by Dr. DeBakey’s amazing accomplishments,” said U.S Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26). “His pioneering efforts and dedication to the medical community over the decades has literally given life to thousands. I am honored that the House of Representatives recognizes his contributions to the health of all people, and I can think of no other day, his 99th birthday, to make this announcement.”
"Dr. DeBakey is a living legend who has fought tirelessly against heart disease. He performed the first successful coronary bypass, which today is performed on a routine basis, saving millions of lives,” stated Congressman John Culberson (TX-07). “Today, on his 99th birthday, I give him a heartfelt thank you for all the extraordinary work he has done to improve medicine and our quality of life."