[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 134 (Friday, July 30, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E859]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  IN RECOGNITION OF DR. REX ARCHER ON HIS RETIREMENT AS KANSAS CITY'S 
                       HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 30, 2021

  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, it is with a deep sense of gratitude that 
I rise today to celebrate Dr. Rex Archer, an individual that went above 
and beyond to serve our community. His work in public health began more 
than two decades ago, where he has served as the Kansas City Health 
Director. His commitment and contributions to better the region are 
unparalleled, shaping Kansas City's Health Department into a department 
that we can all be proud to have in Missouri's Fifth District.
  Before serving Kansas Citians, Mr. Archer studied at the University 
of Kansas where he completed his medical degree then his master's in 
public health at the University of Michigan. His experience allowed him 
to hold local and state health positions in Maryland and was even a 
primary advocate for protection policies for nonsmokers from tobacco 
smoke. The skills and knowledge he earned, prepared and made him a more 
than qualified to lead the Health Department in Kansas City.
  Under Dr. Archer's guidance, Kansas City, Missouri's Health 
Department became one of the first in the country to be nationally 
accredited, demonstrating its continuous efforts to fulfill its mission 
of providing quality health care options and resources to Kansas 
Citians. The department was recognized by the National Association of 
County and City Health Officials and received the ``Local Health 
Department of the Year Award in Health Equity,'' in addition to the 
``Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health'' prize.
  Dr. Archer dedication to improve public health can be traced to the 
agency's emergency response to HIV in response to the havoc it had on 
our local minority communities, the swine flu epidemic, and most 
recently, his leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He led the 
fight in combating the spread of COVID-19 with compassion and 
expertise, even delaying his retirement for eight months to continue to 
support the city and protect its members through an unprecedented 
tragedy. A champion of inclusivity and equity, Dr. Archer continuously 
advocated to bring more resources to the region when Kansas City, 
Missouri, was not receiving sufficient COVID-19 vaccines. Once 
received, he pushed vaccination efforts to reach our underserved 
communities. His leadership and dedication serve as an example of how 
to unify different sectors of the community such as elected officials, 
experts, and media for the greater good of the people we serve.
  Looking beyond his extraordinary work in emergency health crises, Dr. 
Archer and his team have prioritized delivering equitable healthcare 
services and resources on, expanding the range of services at the 
Kansas City Health Department. Along those new initiatives are the 
Healthy Homes program that provides sanitary homes for all, efforts to 
ensure families have access to healthy and quality meals and 
establishing mental health services to help combat violent crime.
  As a result of his successful career in Kansas City, he has held the 
position of president for the National Association of County and City 
Health Officials and served on the Public Health Accreditation Board 
(PHAB) of Directors, amongst other national public health committees. 
While he may often be behind the scenes, his work in public health can 
be felt and seen widely throughout many lives within our community.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing 
Dr. Rex Archer for the tremendous accomplishments throughout his career 
and his tireless efforts in providing Kansas City with equitable 
healthcare for all. His contributions to our community have made him a 
valued member of Missouri's Fifth District and I speak on the behalf of 
the entire district when I say thank you Dr. Rex Archer. While he 
embraces this next chapter, I wish Dr. Archer many rewarding years in 
retirement and honor his dedication to public health.

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