[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 18, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H6469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                         HONORING CONNIE KURTZ

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Connie 
Kurtz, an LGBT rights activist who passed away recently at the age of 
81.
  Connie was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where she met and 
fell in love with the woman who would become her wife, Ruthie Berman. 
Ruthie and Connie became a couple in 1974, long before same-sex couples 
were afforded equal rights.
  Ruthie was a school counselor, and, in 1988, they found themselves at 
the forefront of the gay rights movement when they joined two other 
couples and sued the New York Department of Education for domestic 
partner benefits for same-sex couples. Their advocacy led to the city 
extending healthcare benefits to same-sex couples in 1994.
  Ruthie and Connie's activism did not stop there. They continued to 
fight for LGBT rights, including rights for older LGBT Americans. They 
recognized the unique healthcare, social, emotional, and housing needs 
of our aging LGBT population, and they sought to help minimize these 
disparities.
  I am honored to have introduced the Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder 
Americans Act with my colleagues Congressman Ted Deutch and Congressman 
Charlie Crist. This legislation defines LGBT seniors as a vulnerable 
population, requires the Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary 
of Aging to collect data on the unique needs of this population, and 
provides grants for service organizations that are working to improve 
the health and long-term outcomes of the aging LGBT population.
  Since Connie's passing, Ruthie has vowed to continue her activism. 
Ruthie said of her wife: ``Connie took on responsibilities as an 
activist with the belief that her role had a beginning, a middle, and 
an end. Working to pass the Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act 
was Connie's last political action before she passed away on May 27, 
2018. I hope Congress will honor Connie by passing this law so, like 
Connie, all LGBT older adults can age with the dignity and respect they 
deserve. Let's make this happen.''
  Mr. Speaker, I couldn't agree with her more. Today, in honor of 
Connie's life, I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in 
cosponsoring this legislation. Together, we can take another step 
toward equality for LGBT older Americans.

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