Recognizing Dr. Bruce Siegel

Floor Speech

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Dr. Bruce Siegel on his retirement after an extraordinary career as a leader in public health, hospital administration, and health policy. Bruce has spent his entire career advocating on behalf of our Nation's most at-risk populations and the providers that care for them. For the past 14 years he has led America's Essential Hospitals, formerly the National Association of Public Hospitals, championing the cause of mission-driven safety net hospitals that serve communities facing the greatest social and financial barriers to care.

During Dr. Siegel's tenure, he led efforts to preserve the 340B Drug Pricing Program, secured targeted safety-net hospital funding during the COVID-19 pandemic, and fought to close Medicaid payment gaps. He was instrumental in stopping harmful cuts to Medicaid DSH funding. Perhaps most notably, Dr. Siegel spearheaded a national campaign to incorporate social risk factors into federal value-based purchasing programs--an important step toward recognizing and addressing health disparities in policy and practice.

Dr. Siegel's medical career began after graduating from the Joan & Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University and reflects a deep commitment to public service and health equity. From his early days as New Jersey's Commissioner of Health to his leadership of NYC Health+Hospitals and Tampa General Hospital, and later as a professor and director at The George Washington University, Dr. Siegel has consistently worked to improve care for the most vulnerable among us, performing pioneering research into health care quality, health care disparities, and the safety net. He has had a significant and positive impact on our health care system, and his contributions will be sorely missed.

Mr. Speaker, my staff and I thank Dr. Siegel for his tireless dedication and leadership. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of health care advocates and public servants.

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