RECOGNIZING DEBORAH P. BROWN

RECOGNIZING DEBORAH P. BROWN

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 47 (Monday, March 16, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E217] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING DEBORAH P. BROWN _____ HON. CHRISSY HOULAHAN of pennsylvania in the house of representatives Monday, March 16, 2026 Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Deborah P. Brown for more than forty-four years of extraordinary service to the American Lung Association and for a lifetime of visionary leadership dedicated to saving lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. As Chief Mission Officer of the American Lung Association, and previously as President and CEO of the Lung Association of the Mid- Atlantic, Deb Brown has been a transformative leader whose steadfast advocacy, innovative leadership, and unwavering commitment to public health have strengthened programs, advanced research, expanded advocacy, and forged impactful partnerships across the Nation. Her work has helped improve lung health and strengthen public health protections for Pennsylvanians and communities nationwide. Deb's commitment to lung health is deeply personal. After losing loved ones to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), she dedicated her life to ensuring that no family faces lung disease without access to support, education, and hope. That experience strengthened her resolve to raise awareness, advance research, and champion policies that improve quality of life for those living with lung disease. In Pennsylvania, Deb was instrumental in advancing landmark public health achievements, including tobacco prevention initiatives, asthma control efforts, expanded healthcare access, clean air protections and anti-idling legislation that strengthened safeguards for residents across the Commonwealth. Her leadership also extended to Delaware, where she played a pivotal role in the passage of the state's Clean Indoor Air Act--then the second comprehensive law of its kind in the Nation. As Chair of the Delaware Cancer Consortium, she led statewide efforts to improve cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. Over the past eight years, under her national leadership, Deb advanced the American Lung Association's work in research, advocacy, and public education. Under her direction, the organization successfully advocated for stronger car and truck emission standards, cleaner power plants, and critical methane emission controls from oil and gas operations--policies that continue to deliver lasting health benefits. She also served on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Act Advisory Committee. During her tenure, the organization supported approximately $178.6 million in research investments to advance initiatives that improve lung health and accelerate innovation. Deb's leadership was particularly critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she helped advance science-based public health efforts to protect people living with lung disease. She also played an important role in advancing Tobacco 21 policies, protecting children from predatory marketing of e-cigarettes, and supporting state-level successes, including increased tobacco taxes. She strengthened advocacy efforts that bring lung disease patients and caregivers to Washington, D.C. each year to advocate for protecting access to affordable healthcare and securing sustained federal funding for the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With degrees in Public Health and Health Education and as a Certified Health Education Specialist, Deb has dedicated her career to empowering communities through education, prevention, and advocacy. She has authored curricula, contributed to research publications, and trained advocates and educators across the country. Just as importantly, she is widely respected for her mentorship and compassion, helping cultivate the next generation of public health leaders. Through her visionary leadership, deeply personal commitment, and tireless dedication to lung health, Deb has improved the lives of countless individuals and families and helped create healthier communities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States. Her legacy will endure in cleaner air, stronger public health protections, groundbreaking research, expanded access to care, and the many lives saved and leaders inspired by her example. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the career and retirement of Deborah P. Brown. ____________________