Paul G. Rogers
Hogan & Hartson
For tireless leadership in advancing the cause of American health care through his initiatives both as a legislator and as a private citizen.
Virtually every major health law in the United States bears the mark of Paul Rogers. Now a partner in a Washington, DC law firm, Mr. Rogers served for 24 years in the US House of Representatives from the 11th District of Florida. Of those 24 years, eight were spent as Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Health and Environment, a position in which he achieved national recognition as an innovative and hard-working leader. His colleagues referred to him as "Mr. Health."
In directing his energies to assuring that all Americans have access to high quality medical services, Mr. Rogers has also been instrumental in encouraging investments in both basic and clinical research.
Among the prominent pieces of legislation which Mr. Rogers sponsored or played a major role in enacting are the National Cancer Act of 1971 and 1977; Health Manpower Training Act; Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970; Research On Aging Act; Medical Device Amendments of 1976; Emergency Medical Services Act; Health Maintenance Organization Act; Clean Air Act; Safe Drinking Water Act; Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act, and the Medicare-Medicaid Anti-Fraud and Abuse Amendments of 1977.
As a private citizen, Mr. Rogers has continued to demonstrate the same qualities of leadership in shaping health care as he did in his terms in Congress. He has developed and serves on the boards of organizations that are at the forefront of patient and health care policies. Many of these organizations also directly support basic and clinical research, advocate greater research funding, or support advancement of medical knowledge in other ways.
Mr. Rogers is founding chairman of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, which has helped bring this disease and women's health care issues to the forefront. He is also chairman of the National Council on Patient Information and Education, the Friends of the National Library of Medicine, and the University of Virginia Health Science Council. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and co-chairman of the National Leadership Coalition for Health Care Reform.
To Paul Rogers, for his tireless, compassionate and visionary leadership in securing the access of all Americans to the highest quality health care and in the quest for cures for humanity's worst diseases, this 1993 Albert Lasker Public Service Award is given.
