[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6791]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING DR. MICHAEL E. DeBAKEY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 23, 2008

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, Senate Majority Leader Reid, 
Senate Republican Leader McConnell, House Republican Leader Boehner, 
Senator Hutchison, the Honorable Dr. Michael Ellis DeBakey and Mrs. 
DeBakey:
  Please allow me to thank Senator Hutchison for her leadership; 
Representatives Burgess and Culberson for helping to acquire the 290 
signatures needed to bring this bill to the floor; Speaker Pelosi, 
Majority Leader Reid, and the leadership for considering the 
legislation expeditiously; the President for signing it; and I 
especially want to thank God for the Honorable Dr. Michael E. DeBakey.
  On September 7th his life will measure 100 years. However, the most 
meaningful measure of life is not how long one lives, but rather what 
one does with the time God gives. Dr. DeBakey, your living has made it 
possible for others to have better lives.
  You have promulgated over 1,600 publications and operated on over 
60,000 patients. You have either established or helped establish: the 
field of stroke surgery; the coronary bypass; the mobile army surgical 
hospital; the National Library of Medicine; the multiple 
transplantation procedure; and health care systems around the world
  You epitomize the truest measure of life. As Ruth Smeltzer 
proclaimed, ``Some measure their lives by days and years, others by 
heart throbs, passion and tears; But the surest measure under the sun, 
is what in your lifetime for others you have done.''
  You have proven that one person can not only impact the world but 
that one person can change the world for the good of all. If we did not 
have a Congressional Gold Medal, we would have to create one just for 
you.

                          ____________________