```

[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1353 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1353

  Remembering Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, known as the ``best surgeon who 
 ever lived'', who served our Nation throughout his career and was the 
 father of cardiovascular medicine and Veterans Administration Medical 
                               Research.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 17, 2008

    Mr. Buyer (for himself and Mr. Scalise) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Remembering Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, known as the ``best surgeon who 
 ever lived'', who served our Nation throughout his career and was the 
 father of cardiovascular medicine and Veterans Administration Medical 
                               Research.

Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey was born on September 7, 1908, in Lake Charles, 
        Louisiana, to 2 self-educated Lebanese immigrants;
Whereas at the age of 23, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey developed the roller pump for 
        blood transfusions, which was later adapted for use as a major component 
        of the heart-lung machine used in the first successful open heart 
        operation;
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey served his country in the Army Surgeon General's 
        office during World War II, rising to the rank of colonel during the War 
        and Chief of the Surgical Consultants Division at the end of the War;
Whereas through his first-hand knowledge of military service and the treatment 
        of wounded soldiers in combat theaters, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey 
        contributed to the development of mobile army surgical hospitals (MASH) 
        units, which earned him the Legion of Merit in 1945;
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey founded a private organization, the Society of 
        Medical Consultants to the Armed Forces, for the purpose of establishing 
        graduate-level medical education in the military medical departments;
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey fought for the war zone deployment of vascular 
        surgeons, which saved the limbs of hundreds of civilians and members of 
        the Armed Forces;
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey volunteered for active duty following World War 
        II to ensure that the lessons of military medicine documented in the War 
        became long-standing policy;
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey led the movement for a National Library of 
        Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland, and the creation of the National Heart, 
        Lung, and Blood Institute;
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey developed innovative and groundbreaking 
        procedures that later became standards of surgical practice in the 
        treatment of strokes and aneurysms;
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey developed Dacron grafts for use in heart bypass 
        surgery;
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey performed the first removal of blockage in a 
        carotid artery and the first patch-graft angioplasty;
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey worked with the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration to develop an implantable device to help the heart pump 
        blood;
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey served for 55 years as the first chairman of the 
        Dean's Committee at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Houston, 
        Texas, a facility which now bears his name in recognition of the 
        lifetime of service he gave to sick and wounded veterans;
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey was awarded by President Lyndon B. Johnson the 
        highest civilian honor, the Congressional Medal of Freedom with 
        Distinction, as well as the National Medal of Science by President 
        Ronald Reagan, for his groundbreaking research and leadership in medical 
        and veterans matters;
Whereas Dr. Michael E. Debakey was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to 
        the position of Chairman of the President's Commission on Heart Disease, 
        Cancer, and Stroke, leading to the creation of Regional Medical 
        Programs, established to assist and encourage the creation of 
        cooperative arrangements for research and training among medical 
        schools, research institutions, and hospitals;
Whereas the leadership and groundbreaking work of Dr. Michael E. DeBakey saved 
        countless lives and made the Veterans Administration Research Program 
        the best of such programs in the world;
Whereas Dr. Michael E. DeBakey published over 1,600 articles and 3 best-selling 
        books, and performed over 60,000 surgical operations; and
Whereas on July 11, 2008, all Americans, especially veterans, were greatly 
        saddened by the death of Dr. Michael E. DeBakey: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors Dr. Michael E. 
DeBakey for his legendary career as a skilled surgeon, caring healer, 
inventor, teacher, medical statesman, leader, and patriot, and 
expresses condolences on his passing to his family, friends, and all 
those affected.
                                 <all>
```