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Recognizing and congratulating David Gates, Esq. upon the occasion of his retirement from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project for his decades of service and commitment to people with disabilities and families in need of health insurance coverage and health care services in Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth.
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WHEREAS, David Gates, Esq. will presently retire from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (“PHLP”), a non-profit legal services organization dedicated to protecting and advancing health care rights, which Mr. Gates was instrumental in co-founding, and where he has provided legal counseling and representation to tens of thousands of individuals across the state, helping them get and keep health care coverage and services; and
WHEREAS, David Gates has devoted his entire professional life to organizations committed to advocating for the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, having worked, prior to PHLP, for the Bucks County Welfare Rights Organization, Bucks County Legal Aid, the late State Sen. Roxanne Jones of Philadelphia, and the National Health Law Program (“NHeLP”) in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gates has worked closely with people with disabilities, their family members, advocates, as well as federal, state, and local officials to create favorable conditions in the Commonwealth for consumers to thrive; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gates has represented children and adults with disabilities in appeals before the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, the Insurance Department, the Common Pleas Court, Commonwealth Court, Superior Court, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the federal district courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gates’ contributions to this Commonwealth include significant legislative accomplishments, including contributing to the drafting of HB 20 of 1991 that created the Children’s Health Insurance Program (“CHIP”); drafting regulations implementing the Managed Care Act (Act 68 of 1998); and testifying before the Pennsylvania Senate Banking and Insurance Committee in support of HB 1150, the bill sponsored by then-State Rep. Dennis O’Brien, which became the Autism Insurance Law (Act 62) and twice before the Pennsylvania House Human Services Committee in 2013, after which he served as a consultant to the Commonwealth on its implementation; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gates has prepared and delivered hundreds of well-received trainings for people with disabilities, their family members, advocates, and health care providers to build knowledge and capacity within the community; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gates currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation (PATF), the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia Family Voices; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gates has been the recipient of such honors as the Montgomery County ARC Rose Rosa Advocacy Award (1996); the Striving for Excellence Award from PA Legal Services (1999); the PATF annual Advocacy Award (1999); the Philadelphia Alliance of MH/MR Provider’s annual award (1999); an Excellence Award from PA Legal Aid Network for his work with HomeWorks, an independent living homeownership project for individuals with disabilities; an advocacy award from the ABA in PA; the Initiative and Champion for Social Justice award from PEAL; Attorney of the Year award from Autism Speaks; the Villanova Law Alumni Association Award for Public Service; the Dennis O’Brien Autism Advocate award from the Philadelphia School District Office of Specialized Services; and an advocacy award from the Policy and Analytics Center of Drexel University; and
WHEREAS, David Gates has contributed decades of his professional life to advancing the interests of vulnerable people and families who deserve to have their health promoted holistically, proactively and in a person-centered way, helping them individually and collectively to build a more just world; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Philadelphia, Does hereby recognize and congratulate David Gates upon the occasion of his retirement from the Pennsylvania Health Law Project for his decades of commitment to people and families in need of health insurance coverage and health care services across the Commonwealth.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to David Gates as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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