June 13, 2024, Washington, DC—The Root Cause Coalition (TRCC), a national organization dedicated to advancing health equity by addressing the social drivers of health (SDoH), is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 TRCC Impact Award. 

This esteemed award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to health equity through their work in elected or career government service.  The recipients exemplify the core values of TRCC, demonstrating:

• A Deep Commitment to SDoH: A relentless focus on addressing the social factors that influence health outcomes, such as housing, education and economic opportunity.
• Visionary Policy Leadership: A proven track record of creating and championing innovative legislation and policy solutions to improve health outcomes for underserved populations.
• Equity-Driven Advocacy: An enduring commitment to advancing public policy that tackles health disparities and promotes health equity for all.
• Collaborative Spirit: A strong ability to build bridges and work across the political spectrum to address the social drivers of health.

"We are deeply honored to recognize these outstanding individuals with the TRCC Impact Award," states Barbara Petee, President of The Root Cause Coalition. "Their unwavering dedication to health equity and tireless work in government service are truly inspiring, and we are grateful for their commitment to improving the lives of all communities."

The 2024 TRCC Impact Award recipients were recognized during the TRCC Advocacy Day on May 15, 2024. Join us in celebrating this year’s recipients: 

Senator Alex Padilla is the first Latino elected to represent California in the U.S. Senate. Padilla currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship and Border Safety. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Budget; Environment and Public Works; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Judiciary; and Rules. Senator Padilla is committed to working to guarantee quality, affordable and equitable health care for every American. In the Senate, Padilla has prioritized addressing the systemic disparities that affect health care access and is a champion for increased access to mental health care.

Senator Shelley Moore Capito represents West Virginia and is a member of the Appropriations Committee; the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee; the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee as ranking member; and the Rules and Administration Committee. She has a long history of working on maternal health issues in a bipartisan manner and has repeatedly prioritized securing funding for her state for maternal health services and research. She has also worked to improve rural health care delivery through letters and legislation with a specific focus on rural maternal health care needs.

Representative Robin Kelly represents Illinois’ 2nd District and is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Health, Communications and Technology, and Innovation, Data, and Commerce subcommittees. Her Energy and Commerce work is focused on expanding access to healthcare, consumer protection for American families, and economic development. Committed to improving the health and wellness of vulnerable communities across the country, the Congresswoman serves as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, and Co-Chairs the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls. She also Co-Chairs the House Democratic Policy Group and House Tech Accountability Caucus.

Representative Michelle Steel represents California’s 45th District and is a member of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Education and Workforce. As a child of immigrants, the Congresswoman’s background has shaped many of her policy initiatives. She is especially sensitive to barriers that so many people face when seeking health care in the U.S. and believes that all Americans should have access to quality and affordable health care options. In particular, the Congresswoman is driven by the difficulties that her non-English speaking mother faced when accessing and navigating the health care system.

Garrett Devenney is the Chief of Staff of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). He previously served as Senior Health Policy Advisor for Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Prior to joining the Committee, Garrett served as Health Legislative Aide to Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer (NY) and completed his placement as a David A. Winston Health Policy Fellow with the HELP Committee. In every step of his career, from health research to hospital finances to community health and beyond, Garrett has been mindful of the health of underserved communities and has worked to find ways to interject health equity into U.S. policy.

About The Root Cause Coalition

The Root Cause Coalition was founded in 2015 and is a non-profit member-driven organization comprised of nearly 90 leading health systems, hospital associations, foundations, businesses, national and community nonprofits, health insurers, academic institutions, local governments, and policy centers. Our common goal is to achieve health equity for every American. Learn more at www.rootcausecoalition.org.

Media Contact:

Kristen Van Dusen
Senior Advisor, Marketing & Communications
kvandusen@rootcausecoalition.org