Richard N. Gottfried was first elected to the Assembly in 1970 at 23, while in law school, and retired at the end of 2022, serving 52 years – the longest-serving member of the Legislature in New York State history.. He had chaired the New York State Assembly Committee on Health since 1987. He was a Democrat representing a Manhattan district including Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown, and part of the Upper West Side.
He sponsored the N.Y. Health Act to create a single-payer health plan for New York. He was a leading proponent of patient autonomy and reproductive freedom. He was the sponsor of the law to allow medical use of marijuana in New York and the HIV Testing and Confidentiality Law. He worked to fund Medicaid, community health centers and school health clinics, and creating and expanding public health insurance programs in New York, including Child Health Plus.
He introduced the first Assembly bill to recognize same-sex marriage and the law to protect transgender rights. He was the author of the law creating Hudson River Park.
He is a graduate of Cornell University (BA, 1968) and Columbia Law School (JD, 1973). He is a member of the NY Civil Liberties Union, and the China Institute.
Richard N. Gottfried was first elected to the Assembly in 1970 at 23, while in law school, and retired at the end of 2022, serving 52 years – the longest-serving member of the Legislature in New York State history.. He had chaired the New York State Assembly Committee on Health since 1987. He was a Democrat representing a Manhattan district including Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown, and part of the Upper West Side.
He sponsored the N.Y. Health Act to create a single-payer health plan for New York. He was a leading proponent of patient autonomy and reproductive freedom. He was the sponsor of the law to allow medical use of marijuana in New York and the HIV Testing and Confidentiality Law. He worked to fund Medicaid, community health centers and school health clinics, and creating and expanding public health insurance programs in New York, including Child Health Plus.
He introduced the first Assembly bill to recognize same-sex marriage and the law to protect transgender rights. He was the author of the law creating Hudson River Park.
He is a graduate of Cornell University (BA, 1968) and Columbia Law School (JD, 1973). He is a member of the NY Civil Liberties Union, and the China Institute.
