Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-05-29

CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO'S INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND AGING

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On 2026-05-29, Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11) delivered a floor speech titled "CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO'S INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND AGING" in the House.

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CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO'S INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND AGING

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 91 (Friday, May 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 91 (Friday, May 29, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E497] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO'S INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND AGING ______ HON. NANCY PELOSI of california in the house of representatives Friday, May 29, 2026 Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the UCSF Institute for Health & Aging (IHA) on the occasion of its 40th anniversary. Since its founding in 1985, IHA has stood as one of the most consequential health research institutions in our Nation--a beacon of scientific rigor, social justice, and community-centered inquiry rooted in the heart of San Francisco. Forty years ago, visionary sociologist Dr. Carroll Estes established IHA as the first campus-wide organized research unit in the entire University of California system focused on health and aging. What began as a pioneering effort to understand the intersection of aging, health policy, and social equity has grown into a globally recognized research enterprise housed within the UCSF School of Nursing--and the health of all Americans has been improved because of Dr. Estes' research, advocacy, and the institution she founded. Over four decades, IHA has been led by exceptional scholars who deepened and expanded its mission. Dr. Patrick Fox broadened IHA's focus to encompass the social determinants of health and interdisciplinary policy collaboration. Dr. Wendy Max established IHA as a national leader in health economics, shaping landmark policies on tobacco control and Alzheimer's care costs. Today, under Director Dr. Jenny Liu, IHA brings a global perspective to its mission--emphasizing behavioral economics, innovative delivery channels, and equitable access to healthcare across the full lifespan. IHA's work is organized around seven vital focus areas: Women's Health; Aging and Life Course Health; Health and the Arts; Equity Sciences; Health Economics and Health Policy; Mental Health and Substance Use; and Health Workforce. This breadth reflects IHA's foundational commitment to addressing health not as an isolated biological phenomenon, but as a condition shaped by complex social, economic, and environmental forces. IHA's current research portfolio exemplifies that commitment across multiple fronts. Under Dr. Elena Portacolone's leadership, IHA researchers have qualitatively coded more than 780 interviews in a landmark study on older adults living alone with cognitive impairment-- uncovering barriers to services, patterns of social isolation, and the unique vulnerabilities of the estimated 4.3 million Americans in this population, with findings being translated directly into public policy recommendations to enhance equity, accessibility, and quality of life for some of our most vulnerable seniors. Internationally, Dr. Erica Sedlander's research identified that the belief that contraceptives cause infertility is a primary barrier to contraceptive use in sub-Saharan Africa--and her advocacy successfully added a question on this specific belief to the global Demographic Health Survey, influencing data collection and intervention strategies across multiple nations. IHA is also investing in the next generation of researchers through the Future of Sexual and Reproductive Health Research (FOR) Kenya program, equipping young Kenyan women with qualitative research skills, mentorship, and pathways into health research careers. Across all of these domains, IHA's research has influenced policies ranging from Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security protections to tobacco regulations, nursing home care standards, and cancer screening improvements--with ripple effects felt not just in San Francisco and California. but in communities across the United States and around the world. Mr. Speaker, as we face mounting challenges--rising costs, persistent disparities, an aging population, and the ongoing struggle to extend quality care to all--institutions like IHA are more essential than ever. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating IHA's faculty, researchers, staff, partners, and leadership on this extraordinary milestone, and in wishing them continued success in the decades ahead. ____________________

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CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO'S INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND AGING Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 91 (Friday, May 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 91 (Friday, May 29, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E497] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO'S INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND AGING ______ HON. NANCY PELOSI of california in the house of representatives Friday, May 29, 2026 Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the UCSF Institute for Health & Aging (IHA) on the occasion of its 40th anniversary. Since its founding in 1985, IHA has stood as one of the most consequential health research institutions in our Nation--a beacon of scientific rigor, social justice, and community-centered inquiry rooted in the heart of San Francisco. Forty years ago, visionary sociologist Dr. Carroll Estes established IHA as the first campus-wide organized research unit in the entire University of California system focused on health and aging. What began as a pioneering effort to understand the intersection of aging, health policy, and social equity has grown into a globally recognized research enterprise housed within the UCSF School of Nursing--and the health of all Americans has been improved because of Dr. Estes' research, advocacy, and the institution she founded. Over four decades, IHA has been led by exceptional scholars who deepened and expanded its mission. Dr. Patrick Fox broadened IHA's focus to encompass the social determinants of health and interdisciplinary policy collaboration. Dr. Wendy Max established IHA as a national leader in health economics, shaping landmark policies on tobacco control and Alzheimer's care costs. Today, under Director Dr. Jenny Liu, IHA brings a global perspective to its mission--emphasizing behavioral economics, innovative delivery channels, and equitable access to healthcare across the full lifespan. IHA's work is organized around seven vital focus areas: Women's Health; Aging and Life Course Health; Health and the Arts; Equity Sciences; Health Economics and Health Policy; Mental Health and Substance Use; and Health Workforce. This breadth reflects IHA's foundational commitment to addressing health not as an isolated biological phenomenon, but as a condition shaped by complex social, economic, and environmental forces. IHA's current research portfolio exemplifies that commitment across multiple fronts. Under Dr. Elena Portacolone's leadership, IHA researchers have qualitatively coded more than 780 interviews in a landmark study on older adults living alone with cognitive impairment-- uncovering barriers to services, patterns of social isolation, and the unique vulnerabilities of the estimated 4.3 million Americans in this population, with findings being translated directly into public policy recommendations to enhance equity, accessibility, and quality of life for some of our most vulnerable seniors. Internationally, Dr. Erica Sedlander's research identified that the belief that contraceptives cause infertility is a primary barrier to contraceptive use in sub-Saharan Africa--and her advocacy successfully added a question on this specific belief to the global Demographic Health Survey, influencing data collection and intervention strategies across multiple nations. IHA is also investing in the next generation of researchers through the Future of Sexual and Reproductive Health Research (FOR) Kenya program, equipping young Kenyan women with qualitative research skills, mentorship, and pathways into health research careers. Across all of these domains, IHA's research has influenced policies ranging from Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security protections to tobacco regulations, nursing home care standards, and cancer screening improvements--with ripple effects felt not just in San Francisco and California. but in communities across the United States and around the world. Mr. Speaker, as we face mounting challenges--rising costs, persistent disparities, an aging population, and the ongoing struggle to extend quality care to all--institutions like IHA are more essential than ever. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating IHA's faculty, researchers, staff, partners, and leadership on this extraordinary milestone, and in wishing them continued success in the decades ahead. ____________________