1Recognizing Pennsylvania native and former United States Surgeon
2General Dr. Jesse L. Steinfeld.

3WHEREAS, Jesse Leonard Steinfeld was born in West Aliquippa,
4Beaver County, Pennsylvania, on January 6, 1927; and

5WHEREAS, Jesse L. Steinfeld graduated from high school at 16
6years of age and received his bachelor of science degree from
7the University of Pittsburgh just 19 months later in 1945; and

8WHEREAS, At 22 years of age, Jesse L. Steinfeld received his
9medical degree from Western Reserve University in 1949; and

10WHEREAS, Dr. Steinfeld studied oncology during a residency at
11the University of California, San Francisco Hospital and
12eventually became an instructor of medicine in the early 1950s;
13and

14WHEREAS, From 1954 to 1958, Dr. Steinfeld served as director
15of the Radioisotope Laboratory of the National Cancer Institute

1at the National Institutes of Health and simultaneously held an
2appointment as an instructor in medicine at the George
3Washington University School of Medicine; and

4WHEREAS, In 1959, he joined the faculty of the University of
5Southern California School of Medicine as an assistant professor
6of medicine, eventually rising through the ranks to associate
7professor in 1963 and professor in 1967; and

8WHEREAS, Dr. Steinfeld moved back to the Washington, DC area
9in 1968 to again work at the National Cancer Institute and was
10appointed deputy assistant secretary for health and scientific
11affairs later that year; and

12WHEREAS, On December 18, 1969, Dr. Steinfeld was appointed
13United States Surgeon General by President Richard Nixon; and

14WHEREAS, During Dr. Steinfeld's tenure as Surgeon General,
15two new Public Health Service programs were established, namely
16the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and
17the National Health Service Corps; and

18WHEREAS, Continuing the previous research and discussion
19offered by his Surgeon General predecessors, Luther L. Terry and
20William H. Steward, Dr. Steinfeld warned of the dangers of
21smoking and was among the first public health officials to warn
22of secondhand smoke; and

23WHEREAS, It was during Dr. Steinfeld's tenure as Surgeon
24General in 1970 that warning labels on cigarette packs were
25strengthened to say: "Warning: The Surgeon General has
26determined that cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health";
27and

28WHEREAS, In 1971, Dr. Steinfeld proposed that smoking be
29prohibited in public spaces, such as buses, trains, airplanes,
30restaurants and theaters; and

1WHEREAS, In addition to his work on the dangers of smoking,
2Dr. Steinfeld addressed a number of other public health
3concerns, such as carcinogens in food, the use of pesticides,
4the safety of certain sugar substitutes and detergents and the
5dangers of violence on television; and

6WHEREAS, After his resignation as Surgeon General on January
730, 1973, Dr. Steinfeld remained active professionally, and held
8several teaching and administrative positions at medical schools
9and hospitals, until his retirement as President of the Medical
10College of Georgia in 1987; and

11WHEREAS, Dr. Steinfeld passed away on August 5, 2014, due to
12complications from a stroke; and

13WHEREAS, Dr. Steinfeld is survived by his wife of 61 years,
14Gen M. Stokes Steinfeld, his three daughters, Mary Beth
15Steinfeld, Susan Steinfeld and Jody Stefansson and two
16grandchildren; therefore be it

17RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
18service of native Pennsylvanian Dr. Jesse L. Steinfeld and his
19noble contributions to the health and welfare of the American
20people.