[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 15 (Tuesday, February 22, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         TRIBUTE TO RAY FOREMAN

                                 ______


                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 22, 1994

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to pay tribute to my 
friend, Ray Foreman, one of the leaders in the labor movement in 
southern California during the past 30 years and a very close friend. 
Ray and I were allies in many political battles during the past two 
decades. I can say with absolute certainty that Ray played a pivotal 
role in securing both modest and significant political victories for 
labor.
  While still in his twenties Ray first exhibited the ambition and 
sense of justice that have characterized his career. A plumber by 
trade, his fellow union members elected him delegate to the State Pipe 
Trades Convention for several years in the 1960's. From there, Ray rose 
swiftly in the ranks of the Pipe Trades leadership. In 1974-75, he 
served as vice president of the State Pipe Trades; a year later, he 
became president of State Pipe Trades Council.
  His star shone brighter in the 1980's, a decade in which labor was 
under assault by conservative politicians spoiling for a fight. Through 
it all Ray maintained his unshakable conviction in the cause of working 
men and women. In 1982, he was elected head of the Southern California 
Pipe Trades District Council, the parent organization of 14 local pipe 
trades unions. He continues to serve as business manager of the council 
today.
  Ray assumed additional responsibilities in 1985, when the United 
Association appointed him to the UA/Carpenters Committee, and 2 years 
later, when he was named adviser to the Laborers Committee. Around the 
same time, Ray was elected as a permanent executive board member of the 
California State Pipe Trades Council--the first in the history of the 
organization.
  I have found myself closely aligned with Ray during several of my 
most cherished political battles in public office. Our effort to 
promote solar energy and union labor culminated in a collective 
bargaining agreement between the Southern California Pipe Trades 
District Council No. 16 and the Luz Corp. In addition, Ray's message 
about the damage that misinterpretation of ERISA was doing to 
California led to House passage of H.R. 1036.
  Ray has earned a long and enjoyable retirement. I know he looks 
forward to spending more time with his wife, Susan, four children and 
eight grandchildren. He plans to live part time in Santa Barbara and 
part time on property he purchased on a lake in the Ozark Mountains of 
Missouri. Either way he can't go wrong.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Ray Foreman, a man of 
integrity and an outstanding labor leader who put the needs and 
interests of working people above all else.

                          ____________________