[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15097]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 CELEBRATING LIFE OF MICHAEL C. SAVAGE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of 
January 20, 2004, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have always been told that life 
is filled with uncertainty. Therefore, we should always endeavor to do 
as much as we can while we can because we never know when the time will 
come when we cannot do.
  Such has been the life of Michael C. Savage who recently died in a 
boating accident. Mike was young, 51 years of age. He was openly gay, 
had a partner of 15 years, was a loving son to his mother, Ms. Maureen 
Savage, and brother to his siblings, Chuck and Cindy.
  Mike was the chief executive officer of Access Community Health 
Network, probably the most successful group of community health centers 
in the country. Mike worked on AIDS and gay issues in Chicago, moved 
away to Boston to become executive director of the Fenway Community 
Health Center, and then returned to Chicago to run the Access Community 
Health Corporation.
  When Mike took over Access in 1994, they had nine sites. At the time 
of his death, he had grown the network into 41 sites and increased its 
annual budget from $19 million a year to almost $70 million, and they 
served over 160,000 patients a year. In addition to his full time 
professional job, Mike was an active member of Dignity Chicago, a 
community of lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and straight 
Catholics. He was also active with United Power For Action, Stand 
Against Cancer, and was a board member of the National Association of 
Community Health Centers.
  Mr. Speaker, I have been around the community health center movement 
for many years; as a matter of fact, since its inception, and I have 
never encountered a more talented, energetic, visionary and effective 
leader, planner, and manager. It is indeed unfortunate Mike passed on 
so soon. Fortunately, he did much good while he was here.
  Therefore, I express condolences to his family, friends and 
colleagues, and trust that Access will continue as the best of its kind 
in the Nation. We simply pause to say thank you to Mike Savage.

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