>> GOOD MORNING, AGAIN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I AM REAR ADMIRAL SYLVIA TRENT ADAMS DEPUTY US SURGEON GENERAL
I WILL BE ASSISTING ADMIRAL BRETT GIROIR, ASSISTANT
SECRETARY FOR HEALTH, AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES, WHO IS TODAY'S MASTER OF CEREMONIES.
PLEASE RISE FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE OFFICIAL PARTIES.
WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE WITH US TODAY MR.
JOHN NELSON, LIAISON OFFICER TO THE PENTAGON FOR THE
U.S. ARMY NORTH.
DR.
ROBERT KADLEC, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PREPAREDNESS AND
RESPONSE, AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
ADMIRAL BRETT GIROIR, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE HONORABLE ALEX
AZAR, SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES.
>> GOOD MORNING.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS
FOLLOWED BY THE SURGEON GENERAL'S HONOR GUARD, FOLLOWED
BY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE MARCH.
HONOR GUARD, ADVANCE THE COLORS.
OH, SAY CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT
WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT'S
LAST GLEAMING WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND
BRIGHT STARS THRU THE PERILOUS FIGHT
O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING
AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR
GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE
OH, SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE
O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE
>> HONOR GUARD, RETIRE THE COLORS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING OUR ALL-VOLUNTEER HONOR GUARD CHORAL
AND ENSEMBLE, AND PLEASE BE SEATED.
SECRETARY AZAR, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, ASSISTANT SECRETARY
ROBERT KADLEC, DR.
ANTONIO NOVELLO, 14TH UNITED STATES
SURGEON GENERAL, ESTEEMED GUESTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,
FLAG OFFICERS, COMMISSIONED CORPS OFFICERS, DISTINGUISHED
GUESTS, WELCOME TO THIS CEREMONY TO RECOGNIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE AND THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE JOINT
SERVICE RESPONSES TO THE 2017 HURRICANES HARVEY, IRMA AND
MARIA.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE A NUMBER OF DIGNITARIES WHO HONOR
US WITH THEIR PRESENCE TODAY.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL I HAVE READ ALL THE NAMES.
ENERGY AND COMMERCE'S SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN MICHAEL
BURGESS, M.D. FROM TEXAS' 26TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:
ALTHOUGH YOU WERE NOT ANNOUNCED, I DON'T NEED ANY PAPER FOR YOU,
CONGRESSMAN BILL SUAREZ, REPRESENTATIVE IN MY HOME
DISTRICT IN COLLEGE STATION.
CONGRESSMAN PETE OLSON FROM THE 22 AND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
COLONEL PETE POLANCO, 99TH MEDICAL COMMAND OF THE PUERTO
RICO NATIONAL GUARD.
COLONEL JAMES CURRY, U.S. ARMY, RETIRED, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE COMMISSIONED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE.
AND IN ADDITION TO OUR DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME CONGRESSIONAL STAFF FROM
THE TEXAS, FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, PUERTO RICO AND U.S. VIRGIN
ISLAND DELEGATIONS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US FOR THIS OCCASION.
[APPLAUSE] TODAY WE RECOGNIZE AN
OUTSTANDING GROUP OF DEDICATED MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES
UNIFORMED SERVICES FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION IN PROVIDING
DISASTER RELIEF AND BRINGING HOPE AND COMFORT TO SURVIVORS OF
HURRICANES HARVEY, IRMA AND MARIA.
BY WAY OF A BRIEF HISTORY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT
FAMILIAR, THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
COMMISSIONED CORPS IS A UNIFORMED SERVICE COMPRISED OF
6500 PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE BOTH AT HHS AND AT 25
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT.
THE MISSION OF OUR SERVICE IS TO PROTECT, PROMOTE AND ADVANCE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR NATION.
THE COMMISSIONED CORPS ROLE AS A FRONT LINE DEFENDER OF PUBLIC
HEALTH GOES BACK MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES, WHEN OUR PREDECESSOR
AGENCY, THE U.S. MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE, WAS ORGANIZED IN 1798
TO TREAT SICK AND INJURED SEAMEN.
CONGRESS ORGANIZED THE COMMISSIONED CORPS ITSELF IN
1989.
DUE TO OUR ORIGINS IN THE MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE, A SEA SERVICE,
THE COMMISSIONED CORPS DRAWS OUR RANKS, CUSTOMS AND COURTESY FROM
THOSE OF OUR SISTER SEA SERVICE, UNITED STATES NAVY.
SINCE OUR CREATION, THE COMMISSIONED CORPS HAS BECOME A
PUBLIC HEALTH LEADER BY PROMOTING PREVENTION
INITIATIVES, HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
TECHNIQUES, RESEARCH, AND TREATMENT TO INCREASE THE LIFE
EXPECTANCY OF PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES BY OVER 30 YEARS.
THE COMMISSIONED CORPS CONTINUES TO LEAD THE NATION IN PROVIDING
HEALTHCARE TO UNDERSERVED AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
WE HAVE RESPONDED IN THE AFTERMATH OF NATURAL AND
MAN-MADE DISASTERS INCLUDING 9/11, THE SHOOTINGS IN
ROSENBERG, OREGON, SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, AND THE
FLINT WATER CRISIS.
THE COMMISSIONED CORPS HAS SUPPORTED THE INTERNATIONAL
RESPONSES AS WELL, INCLUDING THE 2014 EBOLA OUTBREAK IN WEST
AFRICA, NUMEROUS JOINT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HEALTH
DIPLOMACY MISSIONS ABOARD THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SHIPS
COMFORT AND MERCY, AND CURRENTLY OUR OFFICERS ARE SUPPORTING THE
RECOVERY MISSIONS IN PUERTO RICO, THE 2018 TYPHOON, AND THE
CALIFORNIA CAMPFIRE.
THIS LEGACY SOLIDIFIES THE COMMISSIONED CORPS AS A
CORNERSTONE OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN THIS NATION, AND AN INVALUABLE
ASSET TO BOTH PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, AND
RECOVERY, BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND WHEN CALLED UPON GLOBALLY.
OFTEN HAND IN HAND WITH OUR SISTER SERVICES IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
TODAY WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE A SINGULARLY IMPORTANT
JOINT RESPONSE ACTIVITY, WHEREIN UNIFORMED SERVICE MEMBERS BOTH
FROM THE DOD'S ARMED SERVICES AND THE UNARMED PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS DEPLOYED IN RESPONSE TO RESPONSE
AND RECOVERY EFFORTS IN THE WAKE OF DEVASTATION CAUSED BY
HURRICANES HARVEY, IRMA AND MARIA.
THE 2017 RESPONSE JOINT SERVICES RESPONSE AWARDS CEREMONY MARKS
THE FIRST TIME IN COMMISSIONED CORPS HISTORY THAT WE ARE
RECEIVING THE JOINT STAFF HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL FOR A
LARGE SCALE DEPLOYMENT EFFORT.
THE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL IS AWARDED FOR MERITORIOUS
DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN A SIGNIFICANT MILITARY ACT OR
OPERATION OF A HUMANITARIAN NATURE.
IN MAY 2018, THE JOINT STAFF APPROVED THE AWARD FOR QUALIFIED
MEMBERS OF ALL BRANCHES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES FOR THE 2017
HURRICANE RESPONSE.
MORE THAN 1,460 COMMISSIONED OFFICERS DEPLOYED TO RESPOND TO
HURRICANES HARVEY, IRMA AND MARIA WITH HUNDREDS OF OFFICERS
DEPLOYING TWICE.
THESE OFFICERS SUPPORTED CASE MANAGEMENT FOR EVACUEES AND
THEIR NON-MEDICAL ATTENDANTS, PROVIDED DIRECT PATIENT CARE,
HELPED WITH RECOVERY OPERATIONS IN REBUILDING LOCAL HEALTHCARE
IN SOCIETAL SYSTEMS AND IDENTIFIED COMMUNITIES' UNMET
NEEDS.
TO BEGIN TODAY'S CEREMONY, IT IS MY DISTINCT PRIVILEGE TO
INTRODUCE THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE
HONORABLE ALEX AZAR.
I HAVE LEARNED IN MY NINE MONTHS IN OFFICE THAT SECRETARY AZAR IS
A STAUNCH AND COMMITTED SUPPORTER OF THE COMMISSIONED
CORPS.
HE HAS SPENT HIS CAREER WORKING IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
SECTORS, AS AN ATTORNEY AND IN SENIOR LEADERSHIP ROLES FOCUSED
ON ADVANCING HEALTHCARE REFORM, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION.
HE LEADS OUR AGENCY, TASKED WITH ENHANCING THE HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF ALL AMERICANS BY PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES AND BY FOSTERING SOUND, SUSTAINED
ADVANCES IN THE SCIENCES UNDERLYING MEDICINE, PUBLIC
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
SIR, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU COULD BE WITH US FOR THIS
EXCITING AND HISTORIC CEREMONY AND CELEBRATION.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ALEX AZAR, THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES.
[APPLAUSE] >> WELL, GOOD MORNING,
EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE AT HHS.
TODAY IS A VERY, VERY SPECIAL OCCASION IN THE LIFE OF THIS
DEPARTMENT.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN FROM
HHS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, WHO MOUNTED A HEROIC
RESPONSE TO LAST YEAR'S HURRICANES.
IT'S A HISTORIC DAY ALSO FOR THE U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
COMMISSIONED CORPS IN PARTICULAR.
AS THE ADMIRAL MENTIONED, IT IS THE FIRST TIME COMMISSIONED
CORPS OFFICERS HAVE EVER BEEN AWARDED THE JOINT STAFF
HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL FOR A LARGE SCALE DEPLOYMENT.
THIS MAY BE A NEW RECOGNITION FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE,
BUT THEIR HUMANITARIAN WORK HAS A LONG, LONG HISTORY, DATING
BACK MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES TO THE MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE.
INDEED, FOR THE CONGRESSMEN IN THE AUDIENCE, SINCE THE MARINE
HOSPITAL SERVICE DATES BACK TO 1798, INSTEAD OF WHERE IT IS
RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT WOULD BE 5 INSTEAD OF NUMBER 9.
AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE'S HISTORY
IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL TO ME BECAUSE ONE OF THE VERY FIRST
PEOPLE MY GRANDFATHER MET ON ARRIVING ON ELLIS ISLAND IN 1920
WAS A UNIFORMED MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE WHO
DELIVERED HIS 6-2ND PHYSICAL, AS EVERY ARRIVING PASSENGER GOT AT
ELLIS ISLAND.
IT IS A GREAT HONOR OF MY LIFE TO NOW LEAD THE DEPARTMENT THAT
IS HOME TO THE U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONED
CORPS, AND US A YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SEE, I'M WEARING THE PIN OF
MY SURGEON GENERAL'S MEDALLION, WHICH I RECEIVED BACK DURING THE
BUSH ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS ONE OF THE GREAT HONORS OF MY
LIFE, AND IT'S A TREMENDOUS HONOR TO BE ABLE TO BE LEADING
THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE COMMISSIONED CORPS.
LAST YEAR'S HURRICANES WERE AN EXCEPTIONAL CHALLENGE.
2017 WAS THE FIRST TIME IN OUR RECORDS TWO CATEGORY 4 ATLANTIC
STORMS, HARVEY AND IRMA, MADE LAND FALL IN THE SAME SEASON.
HURRICANE MARIA WAS THE FIRST CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE TO HIT
PUERTO RICO IN 85 YEARS.
OUR COUNTRY SUFFERED TREMENDOUS LOSSES FROM THESE HURRICANES,
BUT WE ALSO SAW HEROIC AND INSPIRING RESPONSES.
ONE KEY PIECE OF THAT RESPONSE WAS INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL
COOPERATION BETWEEN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND STATE AND LOCAL RESPONDERS.
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE ONE ELEMENT OF THAT COOPERATION,
WHICH IS THE COOPERATION BETWEEN HHS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE.
AS PART OF THE OVERALL FEDERAL RESPONSE, HHS LEADS THE PUBLIC
HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESPONSES TO DISASTERS, A FUNCTION THAT
DR.
BOB KADLEC WILL BE SPEAKING MORE ABOUT IN A BIT.
THIS OFTEN MEANS ADDRESSING SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING
SITUATIONS WHICH REQUIRE THE CONTRIBUTIONS NOT JUST OF THE
COMMISSIONED CORPS OFFICERS BUT ALSO OUR PART-TIME RESPONDERS
FROM THE NATIONAL DISASTER MEDICAL SYSTEM, V.A.
PERSONNEL, THE MILITARY AND STATE, LOCAL
AND COMMUNITY OFFICIALS.
IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO MOVE EQUIPMENT OR PERSONNEL IN A
DISASTER SITUATION.
IMAGINE THE CARE THAT IS INVOLVED IN TRYING TO EVACUATE
SOMEONE CRITICALLY ILL FROM A HOSPITAL, URGENTLY, AS A STORM
IS BEARING DOWN.
FEDERAL PERSONNEL CARRIED OUT THIS WORK NOT JUST WITH GREAT
CARE AND COMPASSION, BUT ALSO WITH GREAT SOPHISTICATION.
THROUGH THE EMPOWER SYSTEM, SET UP USING HHS DATA, WE WERE ABLE
TO IDENTIFY AS THE STORMS APPROACHED PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE
HEALTHCARE NEEDS THAT WOULD REQUIRE ASSISTANCE OR EVACUATION
IF THE POWER WENT OUT IN THEIR HEALTH FACILITIES OR THEIR HOME.
THIS WAS THE FIRST EVER DISASTER SEASON WHERE WE EVACUATED KIDNEY
DIALYSIS PATIENTS, MANY OF WHOM OUR TEAMS WERE ABLE TO REACH
BEFORE THEY EVEN KNEW THAT THEIR DIALYSIS LOCATION HAD BEEN
DESTROYED BY THE STORMS.
THE SUPPORT CONTINUED LONG AFTER THE STORM HAD RECEDED AND
EVACUATIONS HAD BEEN COMPLETED.
COMMISSIONED CORPS OFFICERS MOVED ON FROM PERFORMING MEDICAL
CHECKS AND DELIVERING CARE TO HELPING EVACUEES REBUILD THEIR
LIVES.
THIS INVOLVED EVERYTHING FROM SUPPORTING SENIORS WITH LIMITED
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY OR DEMENTIA TO SECURING SPECIAL CAR SEATS
FOR A FAMILY WHO GAVE BIRTH AFTER THE STORMS TO PREMATURE
TWINS.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THIS WORK IS STILL NOT COMPLETE.
AS WE WORK TO SUPPORT DIALYSIS EVACUEES AND REBUILD THE HEALTH
SYSTEM IN PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLAND.
BUT TODAY IS A DAY FOR CELEBRATION.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE COMMISSIONED CORPS AS A WHOLE
FOR THIS SPECIAL RECOGNITION, AND I WANT TO THANK EVERY SINGLE
FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND COMMUNITY RESPONDER WHO
CONTRIBUTED TO THIS RESPONSE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ESPECIALLY WELCOME BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT
THE FORMER SURGEON NOVELLO, WHO LED THE CORPS THROUGH SO MUCH OF
OUR PREPARATIONS TO BE READY FOR THIS TYPE OF HISTORIC RESPONSE
TO BE READY FOR THREE UNPRECEDENTED HURRICANES AT THE
SAME TIME.
AMERICANS SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE
TO RESPOND TO THESE HURRICANES.
AND ALL AMERICANS SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE SOPHISTICATION AND
DEDICATION SHOWN BY OUR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.
THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCES, WE LEARNED LESSONS THAT WILL HELP
KEEP US SAFER IN THE FUTURE, NOT JUST FROM HURRICANES, BUT FROM
EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT THREATS THAT WE'RE BETTER PREPARED FOR
EVERY DAY.
AMERICANS REST EASY EVERY NIGHT, KNOWING THEY'RE PROTECTED BY THE
WORLD'S GREATEST MILITARY AND WE'RE PLEASED TO BE OFFERING OUR
OWN RECOGNITION FOR THE HUMANITARIAN WORK OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TODAY.
BUT AMERICANS SHOULD ALSO REST EASY KNOWING THAT IN THE EVENT
OF A DISASTER OR PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
COMMISSIONED CORPS STAND READY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE CARE
THAT THEY MAY NEED.
THE SECURITY AND PEACE OF MIND THIS PROVIDES EVERY AMERICAN IS
AND SHOULD BE A POINT OF GREAT PRIDE FOR OUR COUNTRY, FOR HHS
AND ESPECIALLY FOR EVERY OFFICER OF THE COMMISSIONED CORPS.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO EVERYONE BEING HONORED TODAY,
AND PLEASE ENJOY THE REST OF TODAY'S CEREMONY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] >> WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN ATTENDANCE TODAY, AND THANK YOU,
SECRETARY AZAR, FOR THOSE WORDS.
AS REPRESENTATIVES OF MILLIONS OF CONSTITUENTS AFFECTED BY THE
2017 HURRICANES, OUR CONGRESSMEN ARE INVALUABLE PARTNERS IN OUR
COLLECTIVE RESPONSES, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT YOU TOOK THE
TIME TO JOIN US TO HONOR OUR OFFICERS TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO FIRST INTRODUCE CHAIRMAN BURGESS, WHO REPRESENTS
THE 26TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS.
HE CURRENTLY SERVES IN THE HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE
AND IS THE CHAIRMAN OF ITS HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE.
HE IS THE MOST SENIOR MEDICAL DOCTOR ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE, SERVING IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
HE RECEIVED HIS M.D. FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL
SCHOOL IN HOUSTON AND COMPLETED HIS RESIDENCY PROGRAMS AT
PARKLAND HOSPITAL IN DALLAS.
CHAIRMAN BURGESS.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE
PART OF YOUR AWARDS CEREMONY TODAY.
THANK YOU, DR.
GIROIR, FOR THAT INTRODUCTION, A LITTLE KINDER
THAN I DESERVE.
SO IT'S AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING AS WE RECOGNIZE
BRAVE AMERICANS WHO ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVICE, AND TO SERVE
THOSE IN THE WAKE OF LAST YEAR'S HISTORIC AND CATASTROPHIC
STORMS.
MANY AROUND THE COUNTRY AND INDEED AROUND THE WORLD WATCHED
AS FRESH IMAGES OF DESTRUCTION WERE DELIVERED TO THEIR
TELEVISION AND COMPUTER SCREENS, AND OF COURSE IN TEXAS, WE HAD A
FRONT ROW SEAT TO THE COURAGE AND THE HEROISM THAT MARKED OUR
NATION'S RESPONSE TO THESE DISASTERS.
TEXAS BENEFITED DIRECTLY FROM OUR UNIFORMED OFFICERS' QUICK
RESPONSE, AS RISING WATERS THREATENED FURTHER DAMAGE IN THE
WAKE OF HURRICANE HARVEY.
IN PUERTO RICO, MERE WEEKS AFTER HURRICANE MARIA REACHED SHORE, I
WAS ABLE TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE MANY AMERICANS ON THE GROUND WHO
HELPED PROVIDE THE BASIC SERVICES FOR THOSE ON THE ISLAND
AND, IN FACT, IT WAS THAT OPPORTUNITY I HAD TO MEET THE
FORMER SURGEON GENERAL NOVELLO AND CERTAINLY GOT TO SEE
FIRSTHAND HOW HER RESPONSE TO THE DISASTER WAS PLAYING SUCH A
VITAL ROLE.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE, IN FACT, HAD A FIELD HEARING IN PUERTO RICO
ABOUT A YEAR AGO RIGHT NOW, AND DR.
KADLEC AND I WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ON THAT CONTINGENT.
BUT AS A DOCTOR, I RECOGNIZE THE CRITICAL NEED FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
EXPERTISE IN THE AFTERMATH OF EACH DISASTER.
IN TEXAS AND PUERTO RICO, YOU COULDN'T HELP BUT BE STRUCK BY
THE PROFESSIONALISM, THE COMMITMENT AND THE DEDICATION
SHOWN BY MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
COMMISSIONED CORPS.
THOSE WE'RE HONORING HERE TODAY KNOW THAT THE WORK DOES NOT END
WHEN THE FLOOD WATERS RECEDE.
MANY STAYED ON THE GROUND TO HELP COMMUNITIES REBUILD LONG
AFTER MOST AMERICANS HAD TURNED THEIR ATTENTION ELSEWHERE.
AS A NATION, WE SHOULD ALL BE ENCOURAGED BY THE EFFORT PUT
FORTH BY THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
COMMISSIONED CORPS AND THEIR FELLOW MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
I CERTAINLY WANT TO CONGRATULATE TODAY'S HONOREES AND EXPRESS MY
HEARTFELT THANKS FOR THEIR PUBLIC SERVICE, AS A TEXAN, AS
AN AMERICAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN BURGESS.
NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE CONGRESSMAN OLSON, WHO
REPRESENTS THE 22ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS.
HE CURRENTLY SERVES IN THE HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE
AND IS THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF ITS ENERGY SUBCOMMITTEE.
AFTER GRADUATING LAW SCHOOL, CONGRESSMAN OLSON JOINED THE
U.S. NAVY AND EARNED HIS NAVAL AVIATOR WINGS IN MARCH 1991.
HE HAS FLOWN MISSIONS OVER THE PERSIAN GULF, THE INDIAN OCEAN
AND THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
CONGRESSMAN OLSON.
[APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY!
THANK Y'ALL FOR THAT VERY KIND INTRODUCTION, ADMIRAL GIROIR.
TEXAS LANGUAGE.
HE GETS IT.
IT'S A TRUE HONOR TO BE WITH Y'ALL THIS MORNING TO RECOGNIZE
THE AMAZING EFFORTS OF THESE BRAVE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
COMMISSIONED CORPS OFFICERS.
I REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS.
THE RIVER RUNS RIGHT THROUGH THE HEART OF MY CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT.
IT FLOODED LIKE NEVER, EVER BEFORE.
7,000 HOMES WERE LOST WITHIN TWO DAYS BECAUSE OF HURRICANE
HARVEY.
HARVEY HIT US TWICE.
IT HIT US VERY HARD.
IT TOOK OUT SCHOOLS, SHOPS, HOMES, AND LIVES OF OVER 80
FELLOW TEXANS.
WITH SOME TEXANS GETTING HIT, HAMMERED WITH 5 FEET OF RAIN IN
TWO DAYS, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH, MUCH, MUCH WORSE.
BUT IT WASN'T, AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF Y'ALL.
Y'ALL WORKED HARD ALONGSIDE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR TEXAS A
NATIONAL GUARD, AND OUR NEIGHBORS ACROSS TEXAS AND TEXAS
22.
WE SHOWED THE ENTIRE WORLD WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HOUSTON-STRONG.
AND NO HURRICANE CAN WEAKEN THAT.
I'M THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL TO CALL Y'ALL SOME OF HARVEY'S
HEROS.
I KNOW THAT BACK HOME, EVERY PERSON IN TEXAS 22 IS THANKFUL
FOR YOUR BRAVERY TOO.
Y'ALL ARE WHAT MAKE TEXAS AND AMERICA SO GREAT.
YOU RISE TO THE OCCASIONS WHEN CALLED UPON AND PERFORM SELFLESS
ACTS OF HUMANITY.
ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF HOUSTON AND TEXAS 22, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE WITH Y'ALL
TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HOUSTON-STRONG.
I'LL CLOSE BY SAYING, GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!
[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, CONGRESSMAN OLSON, FOR THAT VERY PERSONAL AND A
MEMORABLE TALK THAT WE WILL REALLY ALWAYS APPRECIATE, WE
WILL ALWAYS BE HOUSTON-STRONG.
I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE
HAD PLANNED TO BE HERE BUT IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT COMMUTING
SO I'M SURE SHE WOULD HAVE SENT HER RESPECTS AS WELL.
SHE HAD LONG PLANNED TO BE AT THIS CEREMONY.
NEXT, I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE DR.
ROBERT KADLEC, THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PREPAREDNESS AND
RESPONSE.
DR.
KADLEC SPENT MORE THAN 20 YEARS AS A CAREER OFFICER AND
PHYSICIAN IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BEFORE RETIRING AS A
COLONEL.
OVER THE COURSE OF HIS CAREER, HE HAD SENIOR POSITIONS IN THE
WHITE HOUSE, UNITED STATES SENATE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE.
MOST RECENTLY, HE SERVED AS THE DEPUTY STAFF DIRECTOR TO THE
SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY DR.
KADLEC.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ADMIRAL
GIROIR FOR THAT VERY GRACIOUS AND VERY THOUGHTFUL
INTRODUCTION.
I HAVE TO ADMIT, THIS IS QUITE A MOMENT FOR ME BECAUSE IT BRINGS
ME A LITTLE BACK TO THE FIFTH DAY ON THE JOB, WHEN I ARRIVED
HERE IN THE DEPARTMENT AND I WAS TOLD BY MY STAFF THAT THIS
HURRICANE CALLED HARVEY WAS BARRELING ON TEXAS, COULD BE A
CATEGORY 5, BUT HAD TO WAIT THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
SO THAT WAS MY BAPTISM UNDER FIRE, IF YOU WILL, AND WHEN I
LOOK OUT AT THE SEA OF NAVY BLUE HERE, ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT
I CAN RECALL VERY STARKLY IN THOSE FEW MOMENTS OF SHEER
TERROR THAT I HAD, NEWLY ARRIVED HERE NOT EVEN KNOWING WHERE THE
BATHROOMS WERE WAS THE COMMISSIONED CORPS OFFICERS WHO
WERE PART OF MY TEAM, AND WHO HELPED US MOUNT THE RESPONSE
THAT WAS UNPRECEDENTED NOT ONLY FOR THE DEPARTMENT BUT FOR THE
COUNTRY BECAUSE HARVEY WAS JUST BEFORE IRMA, JUST BEFORE MARIA,
AND THOSE EVENTS HAPPENED NEARLY SIMULTANEOUSLY BUT IN QUICK
SUCCESSION.
AND AS YOU HEARD FROM ADMIRAL GIROIR, IT'S LIKE WE MOBILIZE
THE WHOLE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS TO RESPOND.
AND THEY WERE AN INTEGRAL MEMBER, AND MEMBER OF OUR TEAM
WHO DID SO.
I THINK IT'S WORTH MENTIONING AT LEAST AT THIS POINT THAT I HAVE
MANY PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS OFFICERS
WITHIN ASPR, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM WHO RESPONDED WERE NOT PART
OF MY ORGANIZATION, BUT PART OF CDC, PART OF FDA, PART OF THE
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE, FROM ALL PARTS OF THE DEPARTMENT, THEY
WERE MOBILIZED AND VOLUNTEERED TO RESPOND TO THOSE EVENTS.
AND I PERSONALLY SAW WHAT THEY DID IN TEXAS, IN FLORIDA AND
PUERTO RICO AND WHAT THEY'RE STILL DOING IN THOSE PLACES,
EVEN TODAY.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE ONE-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF MARIA GOING BACK TO PUERTO RICO AND SEEING OUR
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS INVOLVED IN
THINGS AND HELPING WITH RECOVERY OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FROM
THOSE TERRIBLE EVENTS.
AS THEY ARE IN TEXAS, AS THEY ARE IN FLORIDA TODAY, RESPONDING
AND AGAIN HELPING PEOPLE RECOVER FROM THE EVENTS OF MICHAEL, AS
THEY ARE TODAY IN SAIPAN AND THE MARIANA ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC,
HELPING OUR FELLOW AMERICANS RECOVER FROM YUTU.
SO ONE THING YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, I THINK VERY CLEARLY
IS, WHEREVER THE CALL HAS BEEN RECEIVED, THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS HAS RESPONDED IN WAYS THAT ARE
PROBABLY TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION, BUT I WILL POINT OUT,
IT SEEMS TO BE NOT ONLY A TRADITION THAT DATES BACK TO
1798, 220 YEARS OF RESPONDING TO PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES, TO
CRISES, TO CONFLICTS, THAT THE PUBLIC COMMISSIONED CORPS HAS
BASICALLY SOUGHT TO ANSWER THE CALL, TO ANSWER THE DUTY THEY
HAVE TO SAVE LIVES AND PROTECT AMERICANS AND PROTECT ALL PEOPLE
WHO ARE AT RISK.
I HAVE TO ADMIT, THOUGH, ON THIS OCCASION, WHERE IT WILL BE ONLY
APPROPRIATE TO RECOGNIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND WHAT
THEY ARE OFFERING IN TERMS OF WHAT THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE
BEEN IN RESPONDING TO THESE EVENTS AS WELL IS TO JUST NOTE
THAT IT HAS BEEN ALSO THE TRADITION AND DUTY OF THE PUBLIC
HEALTH COMMISSIONED CORPS SERVICE TO BASICALLY RESPOND IN
TIMES WHEN DOD WAS IN NEED AND RESPOND IN WAYS THAT ARE
EXTRAORDINARY.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE BOOK OR HAVE READ THE BOOK
"PLAGUES AND POLITICS," WHICH IS A HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE BY FITZHUGH MULLAN, THERE'S A GREAT PASSAGE IN HERE
ABOUT THE ROLE AND CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE SACRIFICE OF THE PUBLIC
HEALTH COMMISSIONED CORPS ON JUST ONE OCCASION DURING WORLD
WAR II.
DR.
RALPH BRAUN WAS THE CHIEF OF PUBLIC HEALTH OF SERVICE TEAM
DURING THE D-DAY INNOVATION IN JUNE OF 1944.
AS HE SAID IN A LETTER THAT HE WROTE TO A PHS COLLEAGUE, "WE
STAGED OFF THE COAST FROM THE 6TH OF JUNE TO THE 26TH, ACTING
AS A HOSPITAL SHIP FOR THOSE CASUALTIES BROUGHT FROM THE
BEACH AND FROM SHIPS SUNK IN THE AREA.
THE NUMBER WE HAD ABOARD AT ONE TIME VARIED AS WE SENT THEM BACK
TO ENGLAND, WHEN THEY COULD BE MOVED.
OUR HIGH WAS 312 ON 1 DAY.
FOR 60 HOURS IN ONE STRETCH, THE BOYS WERE ON DUTY.
I DRANK SO MUCH COFFEE THAT I WAS HAVING EXTRA SYSTOLES EVERY
FOURTH OR FIFTH BEAT.
I THINK IT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT
IS OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE YOU AND WHO ARE SITTING IN THIS
AUDIENCE TODAY WHEN THE CALL IS MADE TO BASICALLY HELP OUR
COUNTRY IN NEED.
SOMETIMES THAT'S IN TEXAS, PLACES LIKE HOUSTON, SOMETIMES
IT'S PLACES IN NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND PUERTO RICO,
VIRGIN ISLANDS, SOMETIMES IT'S IN SAIPAN OR WHEREVER THAT NEED
IS, YOU HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL, AND THAT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY
TESTIMONY NOT ONLY TO THE TRADITIONS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH
COMMISSIONED CORPS, BUT TO THE DNA THAT YOU HAVE, EACH AND
EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND IT IS MY PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO STAND
BEFORE YOU TODAY AND JUST SIMPLY SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR
WHAT YOU'VE DONE NOT ONLY DURING MY TENURE BUT WHAT YOU WILL DO
IN THE FUTURE IN RESPONSE TO THE NATION'S EMERGENCIES AS WE'VE
SEEN SO FREQUENTLY NOW AND WILL LIKELY SEE AGAIN.
DR.
GIROIR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] >> NOW I'M PLEASED TO INTRODUCE,
VIRTUALLY, MY GREAT COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND, VICE ADMIRAL JEROME
ADAMS.
HE IS BUSY REPRESENTING ALL OF US IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE AT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION MEETING AND
COULD NOT BE HERE WITH US TODAY, BUT WE DO HAVE A PREPARED
MESSAGE FROM HIM.
>> MY JOURNEY AS SURGEON GENERAL BEGAN DURING THE TERRIBLE
AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE HARVEY.
TWO DAYS AFTER MY SWEARING IN, HURRICANE IRMA MADE LANDFALL ON
THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND FOUR DAYS LATER, HURRICANE MARIA
STRUCK PUERTO RICO.
THESE HURRICANES LEFT BOTH PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN
ISLANDS WITHOUT CLEAN WATER OR AN ADEQUATE POWER SUPPLY.
MANY WERE LEFT HOMELESS.
THOUGH DEVASTATED, THE RESIDENTS OF THESE ISLANDS WERE BOTH
RESILIENT AND OPTIMISTIC AND REFLECTED AN IMMENSE SOURCE OF
PRIDE AS UNITED STATES CITIZENS.
A MONTH INTO MY NEW POST, I TOOK MY FIRST TRIP IN UNIFORM AS THE
UNITED STATES SURGEON GENERAL TO PUERTO RICO AND TO THE U.S.
VIRGIN ISLANDS.
I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE PROUD OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS.
OUR OFFICERS PRE-DEPLOYED TO PUERTO RICO BEFORE THE STORM HIT
SO THAT WE, ALONG WITH FEMA, COULD RESPOND MORE QUICKLY TO
THE DISASTER.
BY EARLY NOVEMBER, MORE THAN 1200 UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE OFFICERS HAD SERVED IN THE U.S., VIRGIN ISLANDS OR
PUERTO RICO, ALONG WITH PERSONNEL FROM OTHER PARTS OF
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY.
THE CONCEPT OF SERVICE BEFORE SELF HAS NEVER BEEN MORE EVIDENT
TO ME THAN DURING MY VISIT TO THE HURRICANE-STRICKEN REGIONS.
I WAS CONTINUOUSLY INSPIRED BY THE LEADERSHIP AND THE INTEGRITY
OF OUR OFFICERS.
WHILE THE DEVASTATION AND DESTRUCTION WILL ALWAYS STAY
WITH ME, SO, TOO, WILL THE SELF-SACRIFICE OF THE
CLINICIANS, THE RESCUE AND DISASTER PERSONNEL,
FIREFIGHTERS, THE VOLUNTEERS, AND SO MANY OTHERS WHO TURNED TO
HELPING THEIR FELLOW MAN EVEN WHILE THEIR OWN LIVES WERE
UPENDED.
AND IT'S TRULY A PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM OF
EXCELLENCE AND OF SERVICE.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERY OFFICER WHO RESPONDED, AND I
WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM PROUD TO SERVE ALONGSIDE THESE
SELFLESS AND DEDICATED OFFICERS.
YOU HAVE REPRESENTED OUR SERVICE WELL, AND FOR THAT, I THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> FINALLY, IT IS MY HONOR TO
INTRODUCE YOU TO, AGAIN, VIRTUALLY, LIEUTENANT GENERAL
JEFFREY BUCHANAN, COMMANDER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY NORTH.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, NORTHCOM IS VERY BUSY AT THIS MOMENT AND HE
COULD NOT JOIN US.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUCHANAN ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE U.S. ARMY
NORTH, WHICH IS HEADQUARTERED AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS ON
AUGUST 26TH, 2016.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUCHANAN'S IMPRESSIVE CAREER STANDS STORIED
UNITS SUCH AS THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION, THE 25TH INFANTRY
DIVISION, THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, AND THE TENTH MOUNTAIN
DIVISION.
FROM 2013 TO 2015, HE COMMANDED THE U.S. ARMY MILITARY DISTRICT
OF WASHINGTON JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS NATIONAL CAPITOL
REGION, BUT BEFORE AND AFTER THAT COMMAND, HE SERVED FOUR
TOURS IN IRAQ AND ONE TOUR IN AFGHANISTAN.
AGAIN, LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUCHANAN COULD NOT BE WITH US
TODAY, BUT WE APPRECIATE HIM TAKING THE TIME TO RECORD A
MESSAGE FOR US.
>> AFTER HURRICANES AFFECTED EVERY MUNICIPALITY AND REQUIRING
SIGNIFICANT ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
AS THE JOINT FORCE LAND COMPONENT COMMANDER FOR THIS
RESPONSE, I WAS PROUD TO SEE HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAME
TOGETHER UNDER FEMA'S LEADERSHIP TO RESPOND TO ONE OF THE WORST
HURRICANE SEASONS WE'VE EVER SEEN.
THE STRONG PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN OUR SISTER SERVICES INCLUDING
THE COMMISSIONED CORPS CONTRIBUTED TO THE DELIVERY OF
SERVICES.
IT WAS INSPIRING TO ME TO SEE THE MEDICAL PROVIDERS AND
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HHS, THE
U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS AND THE
MILITARY WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH VOLUNTEERS TO HELP
RESIDENTS IN NEED.
THE MISSION WAS HUGE.
WITH MORE THAN 4,500 HEALTH PERSONNEL ASSISTING IN EVERY
POSSIBLE WAY, ASSESSING HOSPITALS, EVACUATING PATIENTS,
TRANSPORTING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, COORDINATING BED
SPACE, MONITORING DISEASES AND, OF COURSE, PROVIDING EFFECTIVE
DIRECT PATIENT CARE TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEEDED IT.
THE MILITARY WAS PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS EFFORT TO SAVE
LIVES AND CONNECT INDIVIDUALS WITH THE CARE THEY NEEDED.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH HHS TO ENSURE MEDICAL CARE STATIONS
WERE RESOURCED ACROSS PUERTO RICO.
OUR SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND MARINES ALSO PROVIDED DIRECT
PATIENT CARE.
THE DEPLOYMENT OF AN AREA SPECIAL SUPPORT MEDICAL COMPANY,
U.S. NAVAL SHIP COMFORT AND ARMY COMBAT SUPPORT HOSPITAL AND AN
AIR FORCE EXPEDITIONARY MEDICAL SUPPORT HOSPITAL COMPRISED THE
LARGEST DEPLOYMENT OF MILITARY MEDICAL CAPABILITIES FOR
DISASTER RESPONSE IN THE UNITED STATES.
IN MY TRAVELS ACROSS THE ISLAND OF PUERTO RICO, THE PEOPLE
CONTINUALLY EXPRESSED THEIR GRATITUDE.
SO AS THE JOINT FORCE LAND COMPONENT COMMANDER FOR THIS
COMMISSION, IT IS WITHOUT RESERVATION THAT I'M PROUD TO
RECOGNIZE THE OFFICERS OF THE U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
COMMISSIONED CORPS WITH THE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL.
THE WORK YOU DID IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE MARIA AND OTHER STORMS
IN 2017 TOUCHED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS AMERICANS.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR FELLOW
CITIZENS IN THEIR TIME OF GREATEST NEED.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT GENERAL
BUCHANAN, FOR THOSE WORD.
SO WE HAVE BEEN HONORED TO HEAR ABOUT THE 2017 RESPONSE FROM
SENIOR LEADERS ACROSS TWO DEPARTMENTS CHARGED WITH
PLANNING AND LEADING THE CHARGE.
AND THIS MORNING, IN RECOGNITION OF THOSE JOINT 2017 RESPONSE AND
RECOVERY EFFORTS, WE WILL NOW PRESENT THREE DIFFERENT AWARDS
TO INDIVIDUALS AND UNITS.
THE SURGEON GENERAL'S EXEMPLARY SERVICE MEDAL, THE PUBLIC HEALTH
SERVICE OUTSTANDING UNIT CITATION, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL.
WE WILL START WITH THE SURGEON GENERAL'S EXEMPLARY SERVICE
MEDAL.
>> THE SURGEON GENERAL'S EXEMPLARY SERVICE MEDAL IS
AWARDED AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE UNITED STATES SURGEON
GENERAL FOR EXEMPLARY CONTRIBUTIONS OF A MEMBER OF ANY
UNIFORMED SERVICE TO INITIATIVES OF THE SURGEON GENERAL.
MR.
JOHN NELSON, ON BEHALF OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL JEFFREY
BUCHANAN, COMMANDER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY NORTH, WILL
BE RECEIVING THIS MEDAL TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE U.S. ARMY.
[APPLAUSE] LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE
RISE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE SERIES OF AWARDS.
THE SURGEON'S EXEMPLARY SERVICE MEDAL IS HEREBY PRESENTED TO
LIEUTENANT GENERAL JEFFREY BUCHANAN FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE
AND SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND THE
UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES DURING THE 2017
HURRICANE RESPONSE.
[APPLAUSE] DR.
ANTONIO NOVELLO, ON BEHALF OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOSE REYES,
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO.
THE SURGEON GENERAL'S EXEMPLARY SERVICE MEDAL IS HEREBY
PRESENTED TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOSE REYES FOR OUTSTANDING
SERVICE AND SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
HEALTH AND THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE DURING THE
2017 HURRICANE RESPONSE.
[APPLAUSE] ON BEHALF OF COLONEL PETER
POLANCO, COMMANDER, 900TH MEDICAL COMMAND PUERTO RICO
NATIONAL GUARD, VICE ADMIRAL NOVELLO HAS ASKED TO RECEIVE
THIS MEDAL ON HIS BEHALF.
THE SURGEON GENERAL'S EXEMPLARY SERVICE MEDAL IS HEREBY
PRESENTED TO COLONEL PETER POLANCO FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE
AND SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES, THE OFFICES OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH
AND UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE DURING THE 2017
HURRICANE RESPONSE.
[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HONOREES.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU MAY BE SEATED.
NOW IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET ALL OF YOUR EXERCISE
TODAY, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF STANDING AND SITTING.
FOREWARNED.
AS WE MOVE TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
OUTSTANDING UNIT CITATION, I WILL ASK REPRESENTATIVE
RECIPIENTS TO JOIN US ON STAGE.
TODAY'S RECIPIENTS INCLUDE: MR.
JOHN NELSON ON BEHALF OF U.S. ARMY NORTH.
VICE ADMIRAL NOVELLO ON BEHALF OF COLONEL JOSE POLANCO.
ON BEHALF OF THE 900TH MEDICAL COMMAND PUERTO RICO NATIONAL
GUARD.
AND REAR ADMIRAL JOAN HUNTER, ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS.
[APPLAUSE] THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
OUTSTANDING UNIT CITATION IS GRANTED TO A GROUP OF SERVICE
MEMBERS WHO EXHIBIT OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD ACHIEVING
THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CORPS.
TO MERIT THIS AWARD, THE UNIT MUST HAVE PROVIDED OUTSTANDING
SERVICE, OFTEN OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.
THE PHS OUTSTANDING UNIT CITATION IS BEING AWARDED TODAY
TO DOD PARTNERS WITH WHOM WE JOINTLY RESPOND, AS WELL AS TO
THOSE PHS RESPONDERS WHOSE MISSIONS OCCURRED OUTSIDE THE
SPECIFIED LOCATION AND TIME PARAMETERS COVERED BY THE
HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL.
IN FACT, SOME PHS OFFICERS DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF RESPONSE
AND RECOVERY EFFORTS THE MANY MONTHS AFTER THE 2017 STORMS
THEMSELVES.
AND TO LOCATIONS FAR FROM THE DIRECTLY AFFECTED AREAS AS
IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SOMETIMES RELOCATED
HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE STORM.
WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE, WHICH
SOMETIMES INCLUDED CONSIDERABLE PERSONAL SACRIFICE ON SHORT TERM
NOTICE, DEPLOYMENTS, NUMEROUS DEPLOYMENTS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO
THE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY EFFORTS FOLLOWING HURRICANES
HARVEY, IRMA AND MARIA.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RISE FOR THE OFFICIAL
PRESENTATION OF THE AWARDS.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE OUTSTANDING UNIT CITATION IS
HEREBY AWARDED FOR DEPLOYMENT PERFORMANCE DURING THE EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT AND CONFLICT DISASTER RESPONSES DUE TO THE 2017
HURRICANE RESPONSE SEASON.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU MAY BE SEATED.
AS WE OF MOVE ON TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL, I WILL ASK OUR INDIVIDUAL
RECIPIENTS TO JOIN US FIRST ON THE STAGE AND THEN WE WILL ASK
REPRESENTATIVE TEAM MEMBERS AND TEAM COMMANDERS TO JOIN US.
AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, OVER 1400 PHS OFFICERS DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT
OF 2017 HURRICANES HARVEY, IRMA AND MARIA.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL MAY
BE AWARDED TO ANY MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY WHO
DISTINGUISHES THEMSELVES BY MERITORIOUS PARTICIPATION AND
SPECIFIED MILITARY ACTS FOR OPERATIONS OF A HUMANITARIAN
NATURE.
ON MARCH 12TH, 2018, THE DOD JOINT STAFF APPROVED THIS HONOR
FOR QUALIFIED MEMBERS IN ANY BRANCH OF THE ARMED SERVICES.
THE HONOR WAS EXTENDED TO THOSE HHS OFFICIALS AND PHS DEPLOYMENT
TEAMS WHO RESPONDED TO THE 2017 HURRICANES DURING THE TIME
PERIODS AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS OUTLINED IN THE AUTHORIZATION,
INCLUDING PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE
CARIBBEAN, FLORIDA, LOUISIANA AND TEXAS.
THE AUTHORIZED EFFECTIVE DATES ARE AUGUST 23RD, 2017 TO
OCTOBER 31ST, 2017 FOR HURRICANE HARVEY, AND SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2017
TO OCTOBER 20TH, 2017 FOR HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA.
TODAY'S INDIVIDUAL RECIPIENTS OF THE DOD HUMANITARIAN SERVICE
MEDAL INCLUDE: DR.
ROBERT KADLEC, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES, DR.
ANTONIO NOVELLO, VICE ADMIRAL, RETIRED, FORMER
U.S. SURGEONS GENERAL.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HONOREES.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO ASK OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
DEPLOYMENT TEAM COMMANDERS OR THEIR DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES
TO JOIN US ON STAGE IN SEVERAL WAYS.
THEY INCLUDE: CAPTAIN TATE BRETT, NATIONAL INCIDENT SUPPORT
TEAM, ALSO KNOWN AS NISTB, THE REGIONAL SUPPORT TEAM, ALSO
KNOWN AS RST7, CAPTAIN CUNNINGHAM, CAPTAIN JOSEPH SIMON
REPRESENTING CAPITAL AREA PROVIDER, ALSO KNOWN AS CAP TEAM
5, COMMANDER OKWACHI, COMMANDER AYISHA, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
CHANDRA, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER YVETTE MACKLAND, LIEUTENANT
DEMANDER JENNIFER SHEPHERD REPRESENTING NST C.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FIRST WAVE
OF HONOREES.
[APPLAUSE] UP NEXT ARE CAPTAIN ANDREW CHEN
REPRESENTING RST2.
CAPTAIN DAVID DE LA CRUZ, RAPID DEPLOYMENT FORCES, TEAM 2, AND
TEAM 2A.
CAPTAIN SALLY HU REPRESENTING NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION RST.
CAPTAIN CYNTHIA KONKEL REPRESENTING RDF5, CAPTAIN
WILLIAM PIERCE, AND 2B.
CAPTAIN BRENDAN TAYLOR.
CAPTAIN HOLLY ANN WILLIAMS, RDF3 AND TEAM 3.
AND CAPTAIN MARK MILLER.
CONGRATULATIONS TO WAVE TWO OF THE HONOREES.
[APPLAUSE] THE FINAL WAVE INCLUDE CAPTAIN
JENNIFER MOSER, REPRESENTING APPLIED PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM 3,
4 AND 5, COMMANDER WILLIAM BULDUCK, MENTAL HEALTH TEAM,
MHT2, COMMANDER MONIQUE FRASIER, SERVICES ACCESS TEAM KNOWN AS
SAT1.
COMMANDER PATRICIO GARCIA, STAT TEAM 2.
COMMANDER SELENA REDDY, SAT TEAM 3.
COMMANDER MICHELLE TAI REPRESENTING MHT3, LIEUTENANT
COMMANDER LATASHA ALLEN, REPRESENTING APHT1.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER SHITARA SHERWOOD, STAT TEAM 5.
AND LIEUTENANT COMMANDER DANA WILLIAMS, APH T2.
CONGRATULATIONS TO WAVE 3 OF THE HONOREES.
[APPLAUSE] >> CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO ALL
OF TODAY'S AWARD RECIPIENTS.
BEFORE WE CONCLUDE TODAY'S CEREMONY, I WANT TO AGAIN THANK
SECRETARY AZAR AND THOSE DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS AND THEIR STAFF WHO JOINED US TODAY.
MY SINCEREST GRATITUDE ALSO TO ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBERT
KADLEC, LIEUTENANT GENERAL BUCHANAN, VICE ADMIRAL ADAMS,
DR.
NOVELLO, OUR DOD PARTNERS, THE SURGEON GENERAL'S HONOR
GUARD, THE U.S. PUBLIC SERVICE CHORALE AND ENSEMBLE, MY TEAM IN
THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND ALL OF HHS FOR
HELPING MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE, AND MANY THANKS TO
EVERYONE BEHIND THE SCENES WHO WORKED TRULY TIRELESSLY FOR
WEEKS LATE INTO THE NIGHT, EARLY IN THIS MORNING, THE PLANNING
COMMITTEE, THE PEOPLE IN FACILITIES, HHS STUDIOS, AND ALL
ELSE WHO WORKED TO MAKE TODAY POSSIBLE.
PLEASE SHOW THEM YOUR APPRECIATION.
[APPLAUSE] I HOPE YOU WOULD ALL AGREE THAT
TODAY'S CEREMONY CAN AND ABSOLUTELY WILL SERVE AS AN
INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US AND THE NATION AS A WHOLE.
IT IS MY FIRMEST AND MOST HEARTFELT BELIEF THAT THE
COMMISSIONED CORPS IS UNIQUELY SUITED TO BE AN AGENT OF CHANGE
FOR THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF OUR GREAT NATION,
AND I CAN ASSURE EVERY OFFICER IN THIS ROOM AND BEYOND THAT THE
FUTURE OF THE COMMISSIONED CORPS IS STRONG.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE
MILESTONES BEING ACHIEVED TOGETHER IN THE COMING MONTHS
AND YEARS.
TO OUR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PARTNERS AND TO THE MANY
COMMISSIONED CORPS OFFICERS WHO DEPLOYED, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU
DID AND WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO. AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT
LEAST, SINCEREST THANKS TO THE FAMILIES, ALL OF THE FAMILIES
WHO YOU OFTEN LEAVE BEHIND WITH BARELY A MOMENT'S NOTICE IN
ORDER TO SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND RESTORE THEIR
COMMUNITIES.
YOU ARE TRULY THE HEROS BEHIND THE SCENES.
I HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL JOIN US FOR A BRIEF RECEPTION TO
FOLLOW THAT WILL BE AS YOU EXIT, BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, PLEASE
RISE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE DEPARTURE OF THE OFFICIAL
PARTIES.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S CEREMONY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ATTENDING.
[APPLAUSE]
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