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The WHCoA occurs every 10
years and has served as a catalyst for aging policies for
more than 40 years. |
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Senator Harry Reid's Feb. 3, 2005
Congressional Record Statement upon leaving the Policy
Committee; Appoints Thomas E. Gallagher to Fill position
[Congressional Record: February 3, 2005 (Senate)]
[Page S994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr03fe05-55]
[[Page S994]]
APPOINTMENT
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair, on behalf of the Democratic leader,
after consultation with the members of the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on Aging, pursuant to
Public Law 100-175, as amended by Public Laws 102-375, 103-171, and
106-501, appoints the following individual as a member of the Policy
Committee to the White House Conference on Aging: the Honorable Harry
Reid of Nevada.
Mr. REID. Every 10 years, the President convenes a White House
Conference on Aging--WHCoA. It conducts extensive work to understand
and develop policy recommendations on issues of critical importance to
our seniors.
The WHCoA is made up of a Policy Committee recommended by Congress
and the President from the public and private sector. The work of the
committee culminates in the October WHCoA which will be attended by
12,000 delegates and other officials. The theme of this year's
conference, ``The Booming Dynamics of Aging: From Awareness to Action''
will deal with a broad range of issues from workplace opportunities for
older workers to health care and access to affordable prescription
drugs.
Following the October meeting, WHCoA formulates a series of policy
recommendations for Congress and the President.
Senator Daschle was gracious enough to place me on the policy
committee because of my strong interest in the topics it would
consider. Many of those issues are of critical importance to Nevadans.
In particular, I assumed a position on the Health and Long Living
Subcommittee because its work will focus on access to care and
affordable prescription drugs, disease prevention and quality of care.
Today, I have decided to pass the torch of this important post to my
friend and colleague, Thomas E. Gallagher. These issues are near to his
heart. Tom will be an important voice on the WHCoA for Nevadans and all
Americans.
Tom's extensive private sector experience will be a great asset to
the conference as it works to formulate recommendations to Congress.
Through his work as chief executive officer--CEO--chief administrative
officer and general counsel of several Fortune 500 Companies, Tom
became intimately familiar with the health care challenges facing the
business community.
For example, as President and CEO of Park Place Entertainment--now
Caesars Entertainment--Mr. Gallagher reached a historic contract with
Nevada's Culinary Union resulting in fully paid health care and free
prescription drugs for employees, as well as retiree benefits for
seniors.
Prior to his corporate management work, Tom was a partner in Gibson,
Dunn & Crutcher, specializing in corporate finance, mergers and
acquisitions. He graduated magna cum laude from the College of Holy
Cross in Worchester, MA in 1966. He graduated from Harvard Law School
with honors in 1969 and was the Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Journal
on Legislation.
I plan to work closely with Tom as he works on the WHCoA on meetings
to help ensure that the issues and view of Nevadans are explored in the
listening sessions, solution meetings and other WHCoA events.
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