[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15089]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  A TRIBUTE TO DR. MICHAEL E. DeBAKEY

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Dr. Michael E. DeBakey on the eve of his funeral in Houston tomorrow.
  We lost Dr. DeBakey just a few days ago. Many of us have come to know 
him as a major force in medical science for almost 100 years. He died 
at 99 years old, still, however, before his illness, going to his 
office, going to the medical center, and being a counsel and a resource 
for any number of doctors, thousands upon thousands of doctors of which 
he had the privilege of training.
  Dr. DeBakey was a great researcher, a great scientist, a great 
physician, a great surgeon. He was a great teacher, and he founded the 
MASH unit that has helped us save so many lives. He loved veterans. He 
served in World War II. He was the father of the Veterans 
Administration Veterans Affairs Department. He created the concept of 
medicine for the veterans of this Nation.
  We are so grateful that, among other things that he was named after, 
the Veterans Hospital in Houston, which I carried the legislation, his 
name was given to the Michael E. DeBakey High School that has helped 
train so many young people who have a desire for a medical profession.
  Tomorrow he will be paid tribute to by so many in Houston. Mr. 
Speaker, today we honor him as we have been given a great gift--his 
life, his service, his ability to cure, his love of saving lives. May 
he rest in peace, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, an icon, a giant, an American 
hero, and we will never forget him.

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