Senator Ted Kennedy served 47 years as Senator from Massachusetts. He was one of the most prolific lawmakers in history, with an impressive list of legislation bearing his name. Regardless of one’s politics, it is impossible to not admire Senator Kennedy’s dedication to and his achievements in the name of accessible and affordable health care for all. Below is a list of his contributions in the health care arena. (Read the complete text on the Senator’s web site)
1966
Created the National Community Health Center program to serve low-income patients. Today the program comprises more than 1,200 centers and serves over 20 million Americans.
1969
Gave his first speech calling for national health insurance for all Americans.
1970
Led legislation which laid the basis for the “War on Cancer” by quadrupling funds for cancer research and prevention.
1971
Chairman of the Senate Health Subcommittee. Held a series of field hearings around the country on national health insurance, and passed the National Cancer Act to expand research on all aspects of cancer. Established the National Cancer Institute.
1972
Championed the Meals on Wheels Act, which offers nutritional meals to homebound senior citizens and the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program, known as WIC, which offers food, nutrition counseling, and health services to low-income women, infants, and children.
1974
Introduced comprehensive legislation providing national health insurance
1990
Introduced, with Senator Orrin Hatch, the Ryan White CARE Act, providing emergency relief to the thirteen cities most affected by AIDS and substantial assistance to all states to develop effective and cost-efficient AIDS care programs, particularly for early diagnosis and home care.
1992
Helped pass the Mammography Quality Standards Act to guarantee the safety and accuracy of mammograms and to encourage their use.
1996
With Senator Nancy Kassebaum sponsored the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which guarantees the continuation of health insurance coverage for millions of Americans who change jobs or lose their jobs. Joined a bipartisan group of Senators to enact the Mental Health Parity bill to eliminate unjust annual and lifetime limits on mental health coverage that differ from the limits for other physical illnesses.
1997
With Senator Hatch, led the successful effort to enact the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which has brought quality health care to millions of children in low- and moderate-income families.
2000
Sponsored Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act, intended to eliminate the pervasive health disparities between minorities and other Americans, and also included an authorization for significant resources to improve the delivery of health care to minorities. Sponsored the Pediatric Graduate Medical Education Act, which provides essential support for training programs at children’s hospitals across the country. Led the successful effort to provide federal compensation and medical benefits to Department of Energy employees who become ill because of their dangerous conditions at work.
2006
Sponsored the Family Opportunity Act, which enables states to expand Medicaid coverage for children with special needs and enables low- and middle-income families with disabled children to purchase coverage under Medicaid.
2007
Renewed the Ryan White Care Act with greater focus on prevention, chronic care, quality of life, and new and emerging therapies for AIDS. Proposed a bill to strengthen the FDA’s regulatory authority over drugs after they are approved to ensure their safety.
2008
Enacted the Mental Health Parity Act, requiring insurance companies to provide benefits for mental illnesses equal to the benefits for physical illnesses and assuring equity for 113 million Americans. Also led the enactment of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, prohibiting insurers and employers from discriminating against people due to their genes.
2009
Championed the health and employment provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to promote investment in health information technology and to help those who lose their jobs to keep their health insurance.