[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15993-S15994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO RICHARD A. LAUDERBAUGH

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, it is with sadness that I announce the 
death of Richard A. Lauderbaugh, a distinguished and admired former 
legislative counsel and counsel to the Senate Finance Committee, on 
December 3, 2007. Mr. Lauderbaugh was a recognized health policy expert 
with particular expertise in Medicare and Medicaid. He served with 
distinction on the staff of the Finance Committee under the 
chairmanship of Senator Lloyd Bentsen from 1989 until 1992. During this 
period, he was closely involved in the development of Medicare 
legislation that established a fee schedule for physician services and 
measures to prevent program fraud and abuse.
  Mr. Lauderbaugh, a native of Pittsburgh, PA, moved to Washington in 
1981 after earning his bachelor's degree from the University of 
Rochester, a law degree from the Columbia University School of Law, and 
a Ph.D. in history from Washington University in St. Louis. He was 
appointed associate counsel in the Office of the Legislative Counsel of 
the Senate, where his expertise in legislative drafting and his grasp 
of complex policy issues were invaluable.
  Mr. Lauderbaugh also served 2 years as Washington counsel for the 
American Hospital Association, where he provided legal and policy 
advice on a variety of issues including health care reform and hospital 
payment policies under the Medicare and Medicaid Programs. In 1992, he 
joined Health Policy Alternatives, a Washington-based policy consulting 
firm specializing in Medicare and Medicaid policy and legislation, as a 
principal. In this position, he worked closely with a wide range of 
clients including health facility and professional associations, 
manufacturers, consumer advocacy groups, and private foundations. On a 
number of occasions, he worked with my staff in the preparation of a 
bill to ensure access to emergency medical services. His work on a 
variety of policy issues contributed to the introduction and passage of 
many health care bills in the House and the Senate.
  Throughout his 26-year career, Mr. Lauderbaugh was widely recognized 
for his expertise in drafting Federal legislation, for his extensive 
knowledge of the history of Medicare and Medicaid, and his creative 
skill in designing public policies. More important, he was a gentleman 
who patiently helped the experienced or novice staffer or client 
navigate the complex world of health policy. His dedication to the 
highest professional standards and his loyalty to friends and family 
were hallmarks of his distinguished career.

[[Page S15994]]

  Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our 
deepest sympathy to Mr. Lauderbaugh's sister Paula Bradley and her 
husband William, of Albuquerque, NM. We are grateful for his service to 
the Senate and for his many contributions to public policy.

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