[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 19919-19920]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



IN HONOR OF DR. MURRAY ITZKOWITZ, AFTER 31 YEARS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
                           OF THE BRIDGE INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 26, 2000

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. 
Murray Itzkowitz, of The Bridge Inc., who after 31 years as Executive 
Director is now the Executive Director Emeritus in charge of research 
and new program development.
  For more than 45 years, The Bridge Inc. has worked with mentally 
disabled adults as a nonprofit mental health, rehabilitation, and 
housing agency. The Bridge is a key provider of housing and support 
services for the chronically mentally ill within New York City. Its 
Mental Health Clinic provides individual, group, and family 
psychotherapy with specialities in, among others, bereavement and 
divorce counseling, substance abuse counseling, and offers treatment to 
victims of crime.
  The Bridge offers health care services provided by a part-time 
primary care physical and nurse practitioner team and a full-time 
licensed practical nurse. This service provides

[[Page 19920]]

comprehensive services such as physicals and follow-up visitations.
  Another cornerstone of The Bridge Inc, is its residence assistance 
program. The Bridge operates more than 300 beds in various settings, 
such as 24-hour supervised residences and independent apartments. In 
fact in December 1998, The Bridge Inc, was granted a $1.7 million grant 
from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to finance 18 
individual apartment units in the South Bronx and Harlem.
  Finally, I must mention the vocational and educational programs 
offered by The Bridge. Among these programs include work training, on-
site employment, and job-placement services. The education program 
includes basic literacy instruction, GED preparation, and college 
preparatory work.
  Through his selfless leadership of this fine organization, Dr. Murray 
Itzkowitz has demonstrated his desire for a physical and mentally 
healthy, better educated, and properly housed citizenry of New York 
City. Exceptional individuals like Dr. Itzkowitz, help improve the 
quality of life for many of our most needy citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have a deeply intelligent and 
compassionate man like Dr. Murray Itzkowitz working within my district 
and I am confident that, as the new Executive Director Emeritus in 
charge of research and development, Dr. Itzkowitz will continue his 
rigorous pursuit of the public well being.

                          ____________________