[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 8, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING WILBUR J. COHEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 8, 2010

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I speak today to honor a remarkable 
American, Wilbur J. Cohen, on the 97th anniversary of his birth.
  From the programs of the New Deal to the Great Society, Wilbur Cohen 
was a key player in nearly every significant effort that involved 
social legislation. Nicknamed ``The Man Who Built Medicare,'' Mr. Cohen 
was responsible for improving the quality of life of millions of 
elderly Americans. As an acquaintance of Mr. Cohen once said, ``he 
feels every person in the country who is home alone sick is his 
personal responsibility.''
  Mr. Cohen was born on June 10, 1913 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After 
graduating from the University of Wisconsin--Madison in 1934, Mr. Cohen 
relocated to Washington, D.C. to pursue his dreams of public service. 
In short order, he became a key drafter of the Social Security Act. He 
then became the Director of the Bureau of Research and Statistics, 
which managed program development and legislative coordination with 
Congress for the Social Security Board--renamed the Social Security 
Administration in 1946. Shortly after his election, President John F. 
Kennedy appointed Mr. Cohen as Assistant Secretary for Legislation of 
the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. During President 
Kennedy's administration, Mr. Cohen was responsible for obtaining 
congressional approval of over sixty-five bills. In 1965, President 
Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Mr. Cohen Under Secretary and, in 1968, 
Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. During the Johnson 
Administration, Mr. Cohen ensured the passage of the historic Medicare 
bill and the landmark education bill that granted federal aid to 
elementary and secondary schools. Not limiting his attention to 
welfare, Social Security, and Medicare, however, Mr. Cohen also 
dedicated his efforts to addressing the concerns of school dropouts, 
Indian health, consumer protection, and the budgetary needs of St. 
Elizabeth's Hospital, to name a few other issues of concern.
  Portrayed by Time magazine as a man of ``boundless energy, infectious 
enthusiasm, and a drive for action,'' Mr. Cohen's exemplary spirit and 
selfless dedication to public service have allowed countless people to 
live healthier and more fulfilling lives. This drive for a better 
America earned the support of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for 
the expansion of social programs to those most in need. A true 
visionary and a lifelong believer in social justice, Mr. Cohen was an 
inspiration to all Americans for his tireless advocacy on behalf of the 
less fortunate. On May 17, 1987, Mr. Cohen passed away, and the United 
States lost a great pioneer of social legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 
life and accomplishments of Mr. Wilbur J. Cohen.

                          ____________________