[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 129 (Thursday, July 22, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E801]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE LIFE OF ROBERT ``RENNY'' CUSHING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JAMIE RASKIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 22, 2021

  Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Robert 
``Renny'' Cushing, who has led a remarkable life dedicated to social 
activism and public service. His selfless determination to secure 
equitable social change for the communities he has served is a true 
testament to our country's civic spirit.
  His journey began at the young age of 15 while advocating alongside 
civil rights activist Allard Lowenstein to end the Vietnam War and to 
lower the voting age nationwide. A year later, he left Hampton, New 
Hampshire with only $40 in his pocket and an itch to see the world. 
Renny soon traveled thousands of miles and worked numerous blue-collar 
jobs. He picked oranges in Florida, plucked grapes in the San Joaquin 
Valley of California, collected waste in Atlanta and harvested tobacco 
in Mexico. After a few years of travelling, he decided to bring all the 
knowledge he acquired about people and life back home.
  When he returned to Hampton, Renny co-founded the Clamshell Alliance, 
a group that would protest the construction of a nuclear station that 
individuals and families throughout his community voted against. He 
also later co-founded the Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights, an 
international non-government organization of family members of murder 
victims fearlessly dedicated to opposing the death penalty. Renny, 
whose father was tragically murdered, spent decades advocating for the 
abolishment of New Hampshire's death penalty law, which the state did 
repeal in 2019.
  He officially began his career as a legislator in 1986, after winning 
his first election as a Representative of the New Hampshire State 
House. Following multiple non-consecutive terms, Renny was nominated as 
the Democratic Leader of the New Hampshire State House of 
Representatives in 2020. While serving as the Democratic Leader, Renny 
received a heartbreaking stage four prostate cancer diagnosis after he 
was hospitalized with acute kidney failure.
  Renny did not allow this devastating news to deter his commitment to 
serving others. Now the Democratic Minority Leader, Renny continues to 
serve in the New Hampshire State House where he has fought to ensure 
remote access to House hearings for disabled legislators, expand 
availability of medical marijuana for cancer patients and ensure the 
removal of harmful PFAS chemicals in nearby wells.
  Renny has devoted his life to the betterment of our nation and our 
communities and the uplifting of all our people. His unwavering 
commitment and tenacious attitude even in the toughest of times 
exemplify what it means to be a patriotic American.
  Madam Speaker, I am honored to recognize the important 
accomplishments of Robert ``Renny'' Cushing, and I hope this Chamber 
will join me in celebrating his remarkable life and career.

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