Date: 2010-06-23
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Thank you. Mr. Chairman. And to the Speaker. whenever JOHN DINGELL raises his voice to join in honoring a leader. you always have to take his affirmation really as an honor of that leader. And so no one wants to be left out when it comes to honoring someone Chairman DINGELL has designated as deserving that honor. I come far away from Michigan. from Texas. and to be able to say that Ron Gettelfinger is an American hero. and America thanks him. because he understood the various assets of wealth. He might have understood a family in New York or down in Houston. or maybe in Alabama who was able to get that first Americanmade car. made by the men and women of the United States. and in this instance those who reside in Michigan. Buying a car was a big deal. and I think this president. past president of the UAW. understood that. And I am grateful for him understanding that. That is why he fought for the men and women of the UAW. And so I rise today to join in this Special Order to honor Ron Gettelfinger and to thank him for caring about America. for those families who work every day all the time to ensure that they might buy that first car. that family car. that they could load up a family of two. three. four. five or more in a car that they knew would work. that had all of the bells and whistles and had the investment of the hardearning and the hardworking men and women of the UAW. We want to thank him for his hard and exemplary work with organized labor. and we want to acknowledge him at this time of his retirement. There is no doubt that for his 40 years of service in the interest of the average American worker. he deserves the praise of Congress. He agreed with something I think that I wholeheartedly agree with: it is important for Americans to make things. And how proud we were that we could point to the American automobile industry as being made by the hands of those who worked hard and made good and made good products. America has got to get back to making things. and Mr. Gettelfinger. who was involved in the union and worker activities since 1964. I believe understood that well. Ever since he was elected to represent Fords Louisville assembly plant as committee person. bargaining chair and president. he has tirelessly worked for the betterment of the average American worker. It should be noted as the UAW votes rose. as they improved their working conditions. and of course the contractual conditions and agreements. others likewise benefited. His organizing and people skills are legendary. as is his steadfast commitment to the American worker. all of which made him a symbol of the union movement in the United States and an icon to many Americans. Mr. Gettelfinger first became a member of the Ford United Auto Workers bargaining committee in 1987. Since then. he has held several management positions before being elected to his first term of president of the UAW in 2002. Under his leadership. UAW was able to lobby effectively for labor protections and fair trade agreements. including provisions for workers rights and environmental protections. He was a visionary. With the voice of the average worker as his motivational mantra. he fervently criticized corporate global initiatives designed to strip workers of their right to a living wage in the face of economic decline. In addition. he toiled to keep American jobs here. He believed in America making things. I hope he will leave that legacy. because weve got to get back to making things. Mr. Speaker. this is the kind of man who embodies the American spirit and symbolizes the importance of the average American worker to the success and way of life that we cherish. There is nothing wrong with working with your hands and having a decent living. He believed in technology. better ways of making cars. more efficiency. but he didnt believe in undermining the worker. the American worker. Our democracy has been made stronger by the efforts of this unique individual. It is only fitting that we honor former president of the UAW Ron Gettelfinger for his lifes work and give him special praise on his retirement. Again for these reasons. I rise in support of Chairman DINGELLS special order and would only leave you to say this: He is a great American. We would do well to follow in the footsteps of this great American and learn that America is at her best when she can make things for the American people and people around the world. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of my colleague JOHN DINGELLs special order to honor Ron Gettelfinger. immediate past president of the United Auto Workers. UAW. for his exemplary work with the men and women of organized labor. and on the event of his retirement. There is no doubt that for his 40 years of service in the interest of the average American worker. Mr. Gettelfinger deserves the praise of the Congress. Mr. Gettlefinger has been involved in union and worker activities since 1964. Ever since he was elected to represent the Fords Louisville Assembly Plant as committeeperson. bargaining chair. and president. he has tirelessly worked for the betterment of the average American worker. His organizing and people skills are legendary as is his steadfast commitment to the American worker. all of which make him a symbol of the union movement in the United States and an icon to many Americans. Mr. Gettelfinger first became a member of the FordUnited Auto Workers. UAW. bargaining committee in 1987. Since then. he has held several other management positions before being elected to his first term as president of UAW in 2002. Under his leadership. UAW was able to lobby effectively for labor protections and fair trade agreements. including provisions for workers rights and environmental protections. With the voice of the average worker as his motivational mantra. he fervently criticized corporate global initiatives designed to strip workers of their right to a living wage in the face of economic decline. In addition. he toiled to keep U.S. jobs here in America. Mr. Speaker. this is the kind of man who embodies the American spirit and symbolizes the importance of the average American worker to the success and way of life that we cherish. Our democracy has been made stronger by the efforts of this unique individual. It is only fitting that we honor Ron Gettelfinger for his lifes work and give him special praise on his retirement. Again. for these reasons I rise in support of my friend and colleague. JOHN DINGELLs special order.