[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 10, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRIBUTE TO MIKE ROCK

 Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I would like to take this 
occasion to congratulate Mike Rock on his retirement last month from 
the American Hospital Association--AHA. For 39 years, Mike was a valued 
member of the AHA's Federal Relations team and proved to be one of the 
most knowledgeable, effective, and indefatigable healthcare lobbyists 
on Capitol Hill.
  Mike came to Washington in 1975 from Nebraska. He started working in 
the mail room of Senator Roman Hruska and then joined the staff of 
Representative Charles Thone of Nebraska. From there, he went to work 
for Representative Virginia Dodd Smith as a legislative assistant, 
handling tax, education, and defense issues.
  After 9 years on the Hill, Mike joined the AHA in December 1984. 
Shortly after Mike started at the AHA, his mother Marilyn paid a visit, 
where his colleagues informed her that their nickname for him was 
``Cool Breeze.'' For nearly four decades, Cool Breeze Mike played an 
integral role in the AHA's advocacy activities and so many of its 
successes, including expanding access to healthcare for millions of 
Americans. I have been on the receiving end of Mike's advocacy work for 
my entire time in Congress. During my tenure on the House Ways and 
Means Committee and now as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I 
relied on Mike's subject matter mastery of healthcare and tax policy, 
his political astuteness, and his intuitive grasp of what Congress 
might be able to achieve to improve the Nation's healthcare system. It 
was always a joy to welcome him into my office.
  At the AHA, Mike met his future wife Renee Blankenau, and they have 
two grown children: Clare and Paul. I am glad Mike will have more time 
to spend with his family and his avocations: cycling and swimming. I am 
truly grateful for our friendship and wish him many more happy miles 
and adventures in his retirement.

                          ____________________