releases: http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-honors-dr-otis-doc-bowen
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-honors-dr-otis-doc-bowen | House Honors Dr. Otis Doc Bowen | 2016-09-26 | 2016 | 2016-09 | Republican | House | IN | Susan Brooks | B001284 | susanwbrooks.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON—Today, the House passed H.R. 5509, legislation introduced by Rep. Susan W. Brooks (R-IN) to rename the Veterans House of the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center in Indianapolis in honor of Dr. Otis ‘Doc’ Bowen, former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Indiana Governor and member of the Army Medical Corps during World War II. The Veterans House is a home away from home for veterans receiving outpatient medical care and family members of hospitalized veterans at Roudebush. The bill must now be considered by the Senate. “Whether it was in the trenches of war, in political office, or at the doctor’s office, Doc Bowen had a clear passion for serving others,” Brooks said. “His experiences as a combat physician and as a family doctor built a strong foundation for his efforts first as Governor of our great state of Indiana and then later as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Ronald Reagan. Doc Bowen recognized that the love and support of family and friends are critical components to recovery, and so it’s only right that when Hoosier veterans and their families are in need of a home away from home to find support, to find comfort and to heal, they can find it in a building that bears his name. I’m proud that the Dr. Otis Bowen Veterans House will be a living legacy to honor and continue the life’s work of this great Hoosier.” From 1985 to 1989, Bowen served as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) under President Ronald Reagan. The first doctor to serve as Secretary, he spearheaded the federal government’s response to the spread of AIDS, promoted public awareness of the dangers of the disease and worked towards its eradication. As the Governor of Indiana from 1973 to 1981, Bowen restructured the state’s tax system to reduce reliance on property taxes, instituted major improvements to state park facilities, developed a statewide emergency medical services system, and adopted a medical malpractice law that became a national model. He first won elected office in 1956 as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives, and was reelected again for seven consecutive terms between 1960 and 1972, serving as Speaker during four legislative sessions. Before his career in public service, Bowen established a successful family medical practice in Bremen, Indiana, that remained open for 26 years. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1943 to 1946, and he was with the first wave of Allied troops in the invasion of Okinawa in 1945. Bowen earned both B.A. and M.D. degrees from Indiana University, and was born in Richland Center, Indiana. He died in 2013 in Donaldson, Indiana. The Veterans House, located at 2669 Cold Springs Road in Indianapolis, features 28 fully furnished guest suites with private baths, a common kitchen and dining area, laundry and recreation rooms. The Veterans House was established to provide temporary lodging for veterans and their families, many of whom are unable to incur extra costs associated with a long medical stay away from their home. There is no cost to the veteran or family members to stay at the Veterans House. Funding to build the Veterans House was provided by a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. At the time of the grant, Bowen was a member of the Endowment’s board of directors and encouraged its support of veterans’ causes. In addition to the Lilly Endowment grant, the donations of many service and community organizations are making the project possible. Rep. Brooks spoke in honor of Dr. Bowen on the House floor before H.R. 5509 passed. Her remarks are available online at: https://youtu.be/rGywKIO1hMY. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |