Recognizing Michael J. Williams

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to recognize and honor Children's National Hospital Board Chair Michael J. Williams for his leadership and dedication to the health and well-being of children and families in the District of Columbia and the national capital region.

Mr. Williams' service to Children's National and the children and families of the District of Columbia, the national capital region and beyond has been notable and profound. During his five years as Chair, Children's National has served 22,000 patients in its hospital and 650,000 through its clinics.

Through his leadership, Children's National has continued to achieve and improve its ranking by US News & World Report as one of the Top 10 Pediatric Hospitals in the country and for three years in a row it has been ranked as the country's No. 1 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Further, Children's National achieved Magnet designation for Outstanding Nursing Care during Mr. Williams' last year as Chair.

During Mr. Williams' tenure as Chair, Children's National launched the creation of the Children's National Research & Innovation Campus at the former Walter Reed Medical Center. This will be the first of its kind in the nation to focus on pediatric research and innovation. It will also be the home to JLABS @ Washington, DC, a collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC, providing incubation space for companies that are seeking to advance the development of new drugs and medical devices, including applications in pediatrics. Children's National also entered into another key partnership aimed at improving access to health care for a unique patient population when it integrated with the HSC Health System.

Even though Mr. Williams retired as Chair of the Board on October 1, 2019, I am pleased that he will continue his service to children by remaining on the Children's National Board through June 2020. In addition, he will be a Director on the board of the HSC Foundation.

As Chair, Mr. Williams has skillfully and successfully guided Children's National through a period of significant change.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to honor Michael J. Williams for his leadership and service to Children's National, and for the exceptionally valuable contributions he has made to the health and welfare of children and families of the District of Columbia and the national capital region.

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