[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10881-S10882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HONORS MARK MONTIGNY

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, the American Medical Association recently 
honored Massachusetts State Senator Mark Montigny of New Bedford with 
its 1997 Nathan Davis Award. This honor is a well-deserved tribute to 
Senator Montigny for his outstanding commitment to public service and 
his leadership in health care.
  The award was established by the AMA in 1989 to honor elected and 
career officials at the Federal, State and

[[Page S10882]]

local levels for their leadership in advancing public health. Mark 
Montigny's role on these vital issues in the Massachusetts legislature 
has helped our State to make impressive progress in improving the 
quality and affordability of health care for all citizens.
  In July 1996, one of Senator Montigny's principal legislative 
initiatives was enacted into law, to provide health insurance for the 
160,000 children in Massachusetts without such insurance. His 
initiative also launched a pilot prescription drug subsidy program for 
senior citizens.
  These initiatives are financed by a 25 cent increase in the State 
cigarette tax. The linkage between the cigarette tax and children's 
health insurance in Senator Montigny's bill was one of the principal 
models for the national children's health insurance legislation enacted 
by Congress as part of the balanced budget agreement this year.
  New Bedford and Massachusetts are proud of Mark Montigny's leadership 
on these issues. I congratulate him on the AMA's award, and I look 
forward to working closely with him in the years ahead.

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