Tom Udall: “I rise to recognize Mr. Gary Hartz, who is retiring from his position at the Indian Health Service with 48 years of…”

“I rise to recognize Mr. Gary Hartz, who is retiring from his position at the Indian Health Service with 48 years of distinguished Federal service to the Nation. Mr. Hartz is especially deserving of this Chamber's recognition because he has spent his entire career on a single and absolutely critical goal-improving access to quality health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives. In his current position, Mr. Hartz serves as the Director of the Office of Environmental Health and Engineering, overseeing the construction, maintenance, and operations of Tribal health facilities, sanitation, and environmental health programs, a position that he has performed for more than two decades after working his way up through ranks of the office. An engineer by trade, Mr. Hartz also served as a member of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps--retiring with the rank of rear admiral--and served briefly as the agency's Deputy Director. He began his career in the field, working as an engineer on projects in New Mexico and Alaska. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Mr. Hartz in my roles as vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the ranking member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.…”