[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9031]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE UPCOMING WEDDING OF ALEX FERNANDEZ AND ROBERT WOLFARTH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THEODORE E. DEUTCH

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 9, 2015

  Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the upcoming 
nuptials of Alex Fernandez and Robert Wolfarth.
  Robert Wolfarth and Alex Fernandez of south Florida will be getting 
married in the District of Columbia at the Florida House on Capitol 
Hill. Their wedding ceremony marks the first same-sex marriage at the 
Florida House following its lawful recognition in the state through 
judicial ruling.
  Giving back to their community has been a centerpiece of Robert and 
Alex's professional lives and of their relationship. Robert, the 
grandson of former Miami Mayor William M. Wolfarth, and Alex, a public 
servant since the age of 15, met on September 25th, 2006 at Miami-Dade 
County Hall where Alex worked at the time as a Press Secretary. The two 
were immediately bonded by a shared passion for public service.
  Alex proudly served as an aide to Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera 
Bower and was her liaison to the LGBT Affairs Committee playing an 
instrumental role in the inaugural Miami Beach Gay Pride. As a 
successful real estate entrepreneur, Robert's most cherished 
professional accomplishment has been hiring an undocumented immigrant, 
helping her become an American citizen, obtain a real estate 
salesperson license, and achieve the American Dream of homeownership. A 
member of the Miami Beach Hispanic Affairs Board, Alex has been an 
active advocate for workforce housing for residents being displaced 
from their homes and community by the rising cost of living and real 
estate values.
  Among their many professional and civic endeavors, Robert and Alex 
are most proud of their mutual service to the communities they love, 
Miami-Dade County and Miami Beach. Whether it be through the rescue of 
their three dogs from the shelter, or the distribution of pumpkin pies 
to the less fortunate on Thanksgiving, or through their past service on 
the Planning, Affordable Housing, or Charter Review Boards, Robert and 
Alex find in each day of their relationship the opportunity to make a 
positive impact in the lives of others.
  Through their marriage and the continued support of their friends and 
loved ones, Robert and Alex hope to demonstrate that as a nation, 
states, and communities we are strengthened through the contributions 
of countless loving and committed American same-sex couples seeking the 
fundamental right to the pursuit of happiness.
  On this special occasion, I wish Robert and Alex many continued years 
of love, health, and happiness as they enter this blessed new stage of 
their lives together.

                          ____________________