Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) was named a Legislator of the Year by the New Jersey Hospital Association on Thursday.

Smith, along with fellow New Jersey Reps. Leonard Lance (R) and Frank LoBiondo (R), was honored by the association at its Fall Membership Luncheon in Princeton, NJ for his support for affordable health care access for everyone, and in particular his vote to protect Medicaid during this last round of health care reform in Congress. Approximately 150 CEOs, hospital trustees, government relations officers, and others from the state of New Jersey were in attendance.

In his speech accepting the award, Smith thanked the association for its work and advocacy on health care reform and ensuing quality health care for all.

Below are excerpts of Smith’s remarks on receiving the award:

Thank you for this award. 

But more importantly— thank you! NJ Hospital Association – for your extraordinarily effective advocacy, timely dissemination of accurate and critical information and admonishment to do what is right especially during the most recent healthcare reform debate.

Thank you—for crunching the numbers and sweating the details to ensure that all potential health care consequences, pro and con, are truly understood—before we vote. So, when bad outcomes follow bad laws, you are justified in saying I told you so.

As a member of congress for 37 years, I have always respected and relied on NJHA recommendations.

As Chairman and founder of several congressional caucuses including autism, Alzheimer’s, Lyme disease, and now the Heart and Stroke caucus, I especially appreciate and admire your mission – and the noble work – ­you and members of the association undertake.  

As prime author of major federal laws to assist persons with disabilities including autism, I am especially grateful for NJHA’s commitment to quality, accessible and affordable health care—for all.

As Chairman of the Global Health Committee, I have seen the lack of fundamental healthcare—and hospitals in particular – in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.  That contrast, makes me even more grateful for all that you do to preserve wellness and to heal.

Finally, I am confident that together we will meet the challenges ahead – and they are significant—from work to protect Medicare; the imputed floor; disproportionate share hospitals; and 340b drug pricing.

Congratulations to Cathleen Bennett as she takes over as President and CEO of the NJHA and best wishes and thanks to Betsy Ryan for her tenacious work on behalf of NJ’s patients and hospitals.