February 25, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 34 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E202-E203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING PATIENT ADVOCATE BILL HAHN AND THE MANY SELFLESS AMERICANS 
       WHO WORK ON BEHALF OF THOSE STRUGGLING WITH KIDNEY DISEASE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL POSEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 25, 2019

  Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, on March 5, 2019, Citizens from across the 
country will gather in our nation's Capital to help raise awareness 
about kidney disease and advocate for public policy solutions as part 
of the National Kidney Foundation's Annual Patient Advocacy Summit. In 
all my years of service, I have yet to meet more caring and tireless 
advocates.
  Their advocacy is important because of the number of people kidney 
disease affects--nearly one in three adults are at risk of developing 
kidney disease. Nearly thirty million Americans have kidney disease and 
approximately ninety percent don't even know it. It sneaks up on you 
and that's why raising awareness is a key component to combating this 
disease and ultimately saving lives.
  Sadly, on October 10, 2018, we lost one of our great advocates and 
champions--our friend Bill Hahn of Rockledge, Florida, passed away. 
Bill was one of those unspoken heroes who got up every morning and 
fought to keep going, for himself, and so many other people struggling 
with kidney disease, recovering from transplant surgery and waiting to 
receive the special gift of life.
  From an early age, Bill believed in physical fitness and leading a 
very active and healthy life. As a young man he was a male model and 
later a professional surfer with the famous Salick surf team winning 
numerous awards. A graduate of Florida State University, he owned and 
operated a successful health fitness business selling exercise 
equipment in Melbourne, Florida. Even with his dedication to a daily 
exercise regiment, at the age of twenty-six, Bill was diagnosed with 
Type 1 Diabetes.
  Living with Diabetes can be a difficult struggle, even for someone as 
physically fit as Bill Hahn. Over time the disease began to take a toll 
on Bill's health as he suffered from many of its complications 
including blindness, nerve damage and even coma. Unfortunately, Bill 
suffered renal failure at age fifty-one, but his physical routine never 
stopped. When Bill was on dialysis, he was walking ten miles a day. And 
because of his fitness level, he was a good candidate for transplant 
surgery. On New Year's Eve 2008, Bill received a true gift of life--a 
new kidney and pancreas.
  Since his surgery, Bill dedicated his life to helping patients 
struggling with kidney disease and other serious medical conditions. In 
2012 he joined with surfing legend and fellow transplant recipient Rich 
Salick and co-founded the annual Cocoa Beach ``Footprints in the Sand'' 
Kidney Walk. Katie and I have been involved in the Kidney Walk each 
year and it continues to grow and draw participation from all over 
Central Florida thanks in large part to Bill's work and other 
volunteers from our community.
  Bill was a constant advocate for this cause, especially in the last 
years of his life. And, if you knew Bill Hahn, helping others is what

[[Page E203]]

kept him going. He worked closely with my office on various projects 
throughout the years and brought to my attention many important pieces 
of legislation moving through Congress that are critical to winning 
this battle. In 2017 Bill lead a successful effort to declare May 13th 
``Living Kidney Donor Day'' in the State of Florida. He is also the 
author of three books including More Than A Conqueror Legacy, a 
spiritual healing guide for patients; The Silver Lining, a chronicle of 
Bill's journey through recovery; and The Window Box, a book of poetry.
  I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me 
in recognizing the efforts of Bill Hahn and the many other Americans 
who have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about kidney disease and 
advocate for patients in need.

                          ____________________