[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9441-S9442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RETIREMENT OF JOHN J. SHEEHAN

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding labor leader and an outstanding American. John J. ``Jack'' 
Sheehan is retiring after 29 years as legislative director of the 
Steelworkers of America and a total of 45 years of service to his union 
and all working people. He has served as an assistant to three 
presidents of the Steelworkers: Lloyd McBride, Lynn Williams, and 
George Becker.
  During his 10 years in the Steelworkers' Washington office, Jack 
Sheehan has been at the forefront of some of the most important 
legislative battles in our history, including the creation of the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act [OSHA], the Mine Safety and Health 
Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act [ERISA], the Clean Air 
Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and much more.
  Jack Sheehan was born and raised in the Bronx. He was the son of 
Irish immigrants. His father drove a truck for the New York City 
Sanitation Department. Jack learned early in his life about the daily 
struggles of working men and women who worked hard, who toiled through 
the Great Depression of the 1930s, and who fought and won World War II 
in the 1940s.
  He saw the destructive effects of discrimination in our society and 
became a champion of the cause of civil rights and equal opportunity.
  He saw how poverty deprived people of their dignity and became an 
advocate for social and economic development programs that promised 
millions of Americans a better life.
  He knew how important a clean and healthy environment is to the lives 
and well-being of all Americans and became an environmental advocate.
  He understood that the labor movement is a progressive force for 
social and economic change that could better the lives of millions of 
Americans.
  Upon graduating from St. Joseph's College in 1951, he joined the 
administrative staff of the United Steelworkers of America. In 1952, he 
was appointed auditor under the secretary-treasurer's office and 
traveled extensively throughout the United States on behalf of the 
union. In 1959, Jack came to the Steelworkers' Washington, DC, 
legislative office and launched a career as a labor lobbyist that has 
been nothing short of spectacular.

  Jack worked to ensure the passage of the Manpower Training and 
Development Act and the Area Redevelopment Act. He was one of the first 
labor leaders to stand with the environmental movement for clean air 
and clean water. He continues to serve as a board member of the Natural 
Resources Defense Council. He is also one of the founding members of 
the Consumer Federation of America.
  Perhaps the single most important fight of Jack's long and 
distinguished career was the fight to save the lives and health of 
workers on the job. Jack committed himself totally to securing the 
passage of OSHA, despite strong business opposition and even some 
opposition within the ranks of the labor movement. OSHA recently marked 
its 25th anniversary. It has been estimated that since the passage of 
OSHA, more than 150,000 workers' lives have been saved because of this 
law. There probably would not have been an OSHA law passed in 1970 had 
it not been for the steadfast leadership and determination of Jack 
Sheehan.
  ERISA was written in 1974 because thousands of American workers were 
losing their pensions and their right to retire with financial security 
when their employers went out of business. Jack worked tirelessly to 
see that Congress passed ERISA. America's working men and women are 
better off today because Jack Sheehan was here in the halls of Congress 
on their behalf.
  Mr. President, Jack Sheehan's career is a tribute to his intelligence 
and determination. I know that my colleagues in the Senate join me in 
extending to Jack our very best wishes

[[Page S9442]]

upon his retirement from the Steelworkers. Jack Sheehan has truly been 
a ``Man of Steel'' for the Steelworkers and all American 
workers.

                          ____________________