Washington, DC – The President, today, signed S. 474, a bill sponsored and passed in the Senate by Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), to award a congressional gold medal to Texas medical legend, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey. Congressman Al Green (TX-09), joined by Congressmen Michael Burgess (TX-26) and John Culberson (TX-07), successfully passed the House version of the bill with overwhelming bi-partisan support.
Officials from the U.S. Mint have met with sponsors of the legislation and other interested parties (e.g., family members) to discuss possible designs for the medal. Mint engravers will then prepare a series of sketches of possible designs for consideration and comment by the Commission of Fine Arts and subsequently the Secretary of the Treasury who makes the final decision on the medal’s design. This process ensures that each medal is unique, representing each individual and/or event that it has been awarded for. The legislation also provides for replicas of the medal, cast in bronze, to be sold. After the medal is created by the Philadelphia Mint, a presentation ceremony will be held to honor Dr. Michael E. DeBakey with the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, Congress’ highest and most distinguished civilian award.
“Dr. DeBakey’s medical advances have contributed so much to our country and the world,” Sen. Hutchison said. “Not only did he perfect the heart transplant procedure which has saved so many lives, but he also invented the M.A.S.H. unit. As a veteran of World War II, he saw our young men dying on the battlefield and was determined to improve medical care to save lives. Dr. DeBakey will receive the Congressional Gold Medal for these lasting contributions. It is a high honor, and one that is certainly well-deserved.
“Congressmen Al Green, Gene Green, Michael Burgess, John Culberson, and Ted Poe were instrumental in shepherding this bill through the House, and I thank them for helping to make this recognition of Dr. DeBakey’s work possible.” said Sen. Hutchison.
“Dr. DeBakey’s life proves that not only can one person impact the world, but he can also change the world for the good of all. He has dedicated his life to saving the lives of others. In his 99 years, 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,” stated Congressman Green. “Instrumental in establishing the Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals (MASH units), and later the Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital system, Dr. DeBakey’s impact on the field of medicine has been both national and international. If we did not have the congressional gold medal, we would have to create one for Dr. Michael E. DeBakey for his lifetime of remarkable achievements and exceptional service. God bless you, Dr. DeBakey. Thank you for all you have done for all of us”
“It has truly been an honor to work with Senator Hutchison to move forward as quickly as possible to honor Dr. DeBakey with our nation’s highest and most distinguished civilian award,” continued Congressman Green. “It has been a highpoint in my career in Congress to be able to work for passage of this bill in the House through collaborative bipartisan efforts, especially on behalf of Dr. Michael Burgess, John Culberson, Gene Green, Sheila Jackson Lee, Nick Lampson, Ted Poe and the entire Texas delegation.”