[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 156 (Thursday, September 26, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        TRIBUTE TO CRAIG BECKER

 Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Craig 
Becker, who, after 42 years in the health care system, including 26 
years leading the Tennessee Hospital Association, is retiring this 
month. Considering how the health care system has changed in those four 
decades, I can imagine Craig has many stories he could tell of what can 
happen when people seek to help others as our healthcare professionals 
do.
       For those of us from Tennessee, we know Craig is an 
     advocate for hospitals, providing an articulate explanation 
     on issues ranging from Medicare hospital wage disparities to 
     leveling the playing field for Tennessee on Medicaid 
     disproportionate share hospital payment issues, to seeking 
     solutions for rural communities in maintaining a medical 
     presence.
       Craig's dedication has never been about just his job or 
     solely about his service to those working in health care. 
     Several years ago, when was asked in an interview, ``what has 
     been your worst decision,'' he answered, ``dropping out of 
     the Boy Scouts before obtaining his Eagle rank.'' Craig has 
     more than made up for that--for 25 years, he has served as 
     the Assistant Scout Master of Troup 1 in Brentwood Tennessee. 
     Craig has spent dozens of weekends through those two and a 
     half decades hiking and camping with the Boy Scouts of 
     central Tennessee including camping in both Tennessee State 
     and our nation's National Parks. He has participated in 
     jamborees as far away as the World Jamboree in Chile several 
     years ago. Among his many awards, he is a 'Life Scout' which 
     is a badge given for those who can help point Scouts the 
     right way in life ``as truly as does a compass in the 
     field.''
       I was a Boy Scout, and know the lessons one can learn about 
     the great American outdoors, serving your community, and 
     lifelong friendships. It makes sense to me that someone so 
     involved in scouting, has dedicated his professional life to 
     improving Tennessee and our nation's healthcare system.
       While Craig may be retiring from his day job with THA, we 
     are thankful he plans to continue to serve the Boy Scouts and 
     his community.
       I congratulate Craig on a lifetime of service, and wish all 
     the best in retirement to him, his wife Angie--a retired 
     nurse practitioner--and their two sons.

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