[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 187 (Friday, November 7, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S8001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO LAURENCE ``LARRY'' BENZ

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
accomplished and compassionate Kentucky business leader Dr. Laurence 
``Larry'' Benz, the founder of Confluent Health. I have had the 
opportunity to work alongside Larry, and we have developed a strong 
friendship. Through military service, professional sports, and now a 
thriving business career, he has accumulated a wide range of 
experiences to help grow Kentucky's economy. He will soon be inducted 
into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame for his transformational 
leadership abilities and impact on Kentuckians' lives.
  Prior to his start in the entrepreneurial space, Dr. Benz served in 
the U.S. Army as a captain in the Army Medical Specialist Corps. For 
his devoted service in the military, he received the Meritorious 
Service Medal. I am thankful for his bravery and unwavering commitment 
to our country. While still serving, Dr. Benz founded the Kentucky 
Orthopedic Rehab Team, a private practice outpatient physical therapy 
company. Through this work, he effectively pursued his passion for 
providing Kentuckians with excellent physical therapy access and care. 
The company went on to become the largest private practice in Kentucky 
and southern Indiana, eventually expanding into North Carolina and 
Florida.
  After selling that business, Dr. Benz went on to cofound with his 
wife Dr. Patricia Benz, a well-respected physical therapist Confluent 
Health. The company helps support businesses that offer rehabilitation 
services like physical therapy, occupational therapy, chronic pain 
management, and sports medicine. Confluent Health assists in all the 
``behind-the-scenes'' work that goes into keeping these rehabilitation 
spaces open. Additionally, they help practitioners get access to 
specialty board certifications and post-professional programs so that 
they can focus on providing care instead of worrying about the business 
side of their practices. In 2022, I was glad to join Dr. Benz for the 
opening of Confluent Health's new headquarters in Louisville, marking a 
historic investment in our city while delivering first-rate care to 
Kentuckians.Dr. Benz then took everything he learned in his time as CEO 
of Confluent Health and stepped into a new role helping grow the Dental 
Care Alliance. They serve approximately 400 dental private practices 
across 24 States.
  Dr. Benz's excellence in business is paired with a drive to help 
others and give back to communities. Outside of his professional work, 
he has shown a commitment to education in Kentucky. In 2011, Dr. Benz 
was appointed to serve on the board of trustees my alma mater, the 
University of Louisville, and went on to be elected board chairman last 
year. Currently, he serves as a member of the UofL Athletic Association 
and the president's council. He is a proven leader whose expertise is 
invaluable in both the healthcare and academic spaces. He has been 
invited to present at over 250 physical therapy programs, national 
conferences, and MBA programs throughout the country. His vision for 
future generations of physical therapy providers is founded in the 
values of empathy and compassion. There is no doubt that Larry has made 
his mark on the industry and continues to leave a lasting impact each 
and every day.
  Larry's career is one focused on kindness and support. He has 
emphasized patients' well-being and mental health, along with their 
physical health. On the provider's side, he has lifted small private 
practices well beyond what they would have been able to do on their 
own, in a variety of fields of medicine. He has reached nearly every 
region of Kentucky over the course of his career, and I admire his and 
Patty's continued commitment to the Louisville area. I also admire 
their commitment to their family, with children Aaron, Lauren, 
Jonathan, and their grandchildren Levi, Johnny, Elliot, and Valora.
  Again, I ask my colleagues to please join me in congratulating Dr. 
Larry Benz on his induction into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame 
and recognizing his profound impact on Kentucky.

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