[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 24 (Thursday, February 14, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Remembering Charlie Morgan

  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Madam President, today I rise with a heavy heart 
because our Nation has lost one of its outstanding citizens and many of 
us have lost a dear friend.
  Charlie Morgan, chief warrant officer of the New Hampshire National 
Guard, passed away early Sunday morning with her wife Karen and their 
daughter Casey by her side. Chief Charlie Morgan was just 48 years old. 
For those of us who had the pleasure of knowing Charlie, it has been a 
difficult week. However, as I rise today, I take comfort in the 
opportunity I had to share part of Charlie's life and work.
  Many know Charlie for the national attention she received over the 
last several years advocating on behalf of her fellow gay 
servicemembers and their families. However, first and foremost, Charlie 
was a soldier. She enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1982. After a brief 
period away, Charlie returned to service as a member of the Kentucky 
National Guard in 1992, 1 year before the now-repealed don't ask, don't 
tell policy became law.
  Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Charlie 
returned for a third time, joining the 197th Fires Brigade of the New 
Hampshire National Guard, a tour that included a yearlong deployment in 
Kuwait.

  In addition to the mental and emotional challenges of military 
service, Chief Warrant Officer Morgan shouldered the constant burden of 
keeping her life secret from her fellow soldiers. Married to her 
partner Karen in 2000, Charlie was unable to live openly under the 
military's don't ask, don't tell policy.
  Immediately following the repeal of don't ask, don't tell, Charlie 
made national news as one of the first servicemembers to publicly 
confirm her homosexuality and shed light on many of the remaining 
inequalities faced by same-sex military families.
  I first met Charlie in 2011. She contacted my office during her 
deployment in Kuwait when she learned that despite the repeal of don't 
ask, don't tell, her partner Karen of over 10 years would not be 
allowed to attend mandatory National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration 
Programs upon her return. I was pleased to work with Secretary Panetta 
and the New Hampshire National Guard, which has been very supportive of 
Charlie, to ensure that she and her wife Karen would be able to 
participate in the program together.
  However, as those of us who appreciated her determination understood, 
Charlie was not satisfied. She continued to vigorously pursue equal 
benefits for same-sex spouses, particularly survivors' benefits and 
compensation still denied under the Defense of Marriage Act. And this 
was not an abstract issue for Charlie. In 2011 she was diagnosed for a 
second time with breast cancer. Concerned for the future well-being of 
her family, Charlie took aim at DOMA by challenging its 
constitutionality in Federal court, and her case is set to be heard by 
the Supreme Court later this year.
  Several days ago my office sent out an online condolence card to the 
Morgan family, and the response from that card has been overwhelming. 
In less than a week we received over 2,000 messages of support from 
citizens all across our country, and I would like to read just a couple 
of those this morning.
  From Hobkinton, NH, we heard: Charlie is a hero to many of us. Thank 
you for making your lives public so others can live their lives 
privately in love.
  From Oregon, we heard: Thinking of you in this time of loss. It is 
also a loss for our country, but she leaves a legacy that will carry 
on.
  From Fulton, IL, we heard: Thank you so much, Charlie, for all you 
have done. You will not be forgotten, and your service, work, and 
legacy will live on. Those of us left behind will honor you by 
continuing on in this all-important fight for equality.
  I hope Charlie Morgan knew how many lives she touched and how greatly 
we admired her efforts. I know that she will be sorely missed and that 
her example will continue to guide us well into the future.
  With Charlie's memory in mind, I will soon be introducing the Charlie 
Morgan Act. This bill will end a number of restrictions on benefits for 
legal spouses of all military servicemembers and veterans regardless of 
their sexual orientation. Every individual who provides for our defense 
deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing one's family will be 
taken care of should the worst happen. No one should ever again go 
through what Charlie and her family had to go through. I hope all of us 
in the Senate will take up this legislation and act quickly to address 
this issue. It is long overdue.
  Madam President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.