a moderate-to-liberal populist democrat, hill distinguished himself in a number of fields, but was best known for the hospital and health center construction act of 1946, better known as the hill-burton act. he also sponsored the hill-harris act of 1963, providing for assistance in constructing facilities for the mentally retarded and mentally ill. additionally, he was recognized as the most instrumental man in congress in gaining greatly increased support for medical research at the nation's medical schools and other research institution.