[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 195 (Thursday, December 15, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S7246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. PATRICK BREYSSE

  Mr. PETERS. Madam President, I rise today to honor a public servant 
who has made a significant impact protecting the health of Michiganders 
and people across the country from environmental hazards and related 
health concerns. Dr. Patrick Breysse will be retiring from the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention--CDC--and the Agency for Toxic 
Substances and Disease Registry--ATSDR--after serving 36 years both in 
government and as a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of 
Public Health. Dr. Breysse's expertise in environmental exposure 
assessment and epidemiology has resulted in preventing disease, saving 
lives, and improving the health of communities.
  Dr. Breysse joined CDC in December 2014 to lead the Agency's efforts 
to investigate the relationship between environmental factors and 
health. Under Dr. Breysse, CDC and ATSDR took significant steps to 
address lead exposure, improve safe drinking water, reduce exposure to 
hazardous substances, and play a critical role in CDC's emergency 
preparedness and response to natural disasters. His recent priorities 
include addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances--PFAS--
contamination in drinking water and the health effects of poor air 
quality, extreme heat, flooding, and other weather-related hazards. He 
also led the public health response to the Flint water crisis in my 
home State of Michigan and remains focused on preventing lead exposures 
from public drinking water and working to make our environments lead-
free. Dr. Breysse has worked closely with State, local, Territorial, 
and Tribal partners and been a true advocate for the health of our 
communities.
  Dr. Breysse has also been a leader in bringing attention to the 
health concerns related to PFAS chemicals, testifying before Congress, 
briefing staff and Members, and initiating a ground-breaking health 
study at ATSDR to fill research gaps and examine the relationship 
between these chemicals and human health. He led the charge to better 
understand the contamination of PFAS in our water supply and the 
numerous potentially associated health effects. His vision and 
foresight helped lead to changes in standards, improvements in guidance 
for health professionals, and attention to this issue across the 
Nation.
  Dr. Breysse is leaving behind a rich legacy of improving the quality 
of science and practice related to environmental health within CDC and 
ATSDR. I am thankful for Dr. Pat Breysse and his commitment to the 
health of our communities and for the countless public servants like 
him who dedicate their lives to protecting others.

                          ____________________