[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 77 (Monday, May 16, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING JERRY CLARK

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 16, 2016

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of 
Representatives to join me in honoring the life of Jerry Clark, who 
passed away in February. Jerry was a standout civic leader who was 
devoted to the people of the District and its causes. Jerry Clark was 
also a particularly avid leader of our D.C. statehood movement and a 
leader in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
  Because the District has been fighting for equal citizenship rights 
for its entire two centuries of existence, Jerry's consistently devoted 
leadership stands out through ups and downs, whether on the nuts and 
bolts or the big issues, without fanfare. Jerry, who was born in 
Indiana, was there for D.C. without fail, carrying the banner of 
freedom for his adopted city.
  Jerry brought similar vigor to other causes and endeavors. A graduate 
of Princeton University and the University of Chicago Law School, Jerry 
completed his doctoral studies and then spent his career dedicated to 
workers as executive director of the United Mine Workers Health and 
Retirement Funds.
  At the same time, Jerry threw himself into work for LGBT rights. That 
work earned Jerry the Distinguished Service Award for exemplary and 
dedicated work for the LGBT community in the District of Columbia from 
the D.C. Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance. His work was so widespread 
in the District that former D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray appointed Clark to 
the Mayor's committee on the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on 
Washington. Our city has lost a true crusader who never stopped 
standing up for equality for the disenfranchised.
  Among the many organizations that have benefited from Jerry's service 
are the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, the National LGBTQ Task Force, 
the DC for Democracy, DC Statehood Coalition, Bread for the Soul, Ward 
1 Democrats, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, the Law and Society 
Association, the Whitman-Walker HealthSpring Gala, and the Democratic 
National Committee Gay and Lesbian Leadership Council.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to join me in honoring the full and 
productive life of Jerry Clark and for his dedicated work with District 
of Columbia residents, for D.C. Statehood, for the LGBT community, and 
for workers.

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