[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3591-S3592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO DR. BOB ROSS

 Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, after nearly a quarter century of 
leadership, Dr. Bob Ross will step down this year from his position as 
president and CEO of the California Endowment. I rise today to honor 
the exemplary achievements of Dr. Ross in his role as a fierce health 
and safety advocate in California and for a lifetime of caring for 
communities across the country.
  Whether in his role as director of San Diego County's Health and 
Human Services Agency, as commissioner for the Philadelphia Department 
of Public Health, or as an instructor of clinical medicine, Dr. Ross' 
extensive background in public health made him the perfect candidate to 
be appointed president and CEO of the California Endowment in September 
2000.
  In the time since his appointment, the California Endowment has 
helped change the culture of care in California for the better. Under 
Dr. Ross' leadership, the California Endowment has worked relentlessly 
in pursuit of ``Health for All,'' working to expand

[[Page S3592]]

coverage for undocumented immigrants, farmworkers, and Dreamers; to 
improve health outcomes for communities of color; and to increase 
diversity in the healthcare workforce.
  Dr. Ross' leadership of the LA County Task Force on Alternatives to 
Incarceration helped reframe our approach to health in the justice 
system. His efforts have not only improved health outcomes but have 
also ensured that inclusion and equity are at the forefront of our 
health systems.
  And of course, as a founding board member of Covered California, Dr. 
Ross' dedication to fostering an equitable healthcare delivery system 
was pivotal in bringing the Affordable Care Act to life in California.
  While it is hard to believe there would ever come a day when the 
``Yoda of Philanthropy'' would step down, we know the legacy he now 
leaves behind. It is a legacy of service, a commitment to equitable 
healthcare in California, and a roadmap for the California Endowment 
and all Californians to follow.
  We are profoundly grateful for Dr. Ross' unyielding commitment to a 
healthier, more equitable California.

                          ____________________