[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E390-E391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNION ADVOCATE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 5, 1997

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 100th 
anniversary of the Union Advocate, one of the oldest labor newspapers 
in Minnesota, which is widely read by working families in my home town 
of St. Paul and its surrounding suburbs.
  Barb Kucera, editor of the Union Advocate, today is a special 
resource to the Advocate newspaper. With her insightful articles and 
almost singlehanded operation of the bimonthly publication, Barb has 
been essential to the continued success of this special publication. 
Families in the Twin Cities area look forward to receiving copies of 
the publication, which highlights issues and concerns of interest to 
working men and women. For many years, I have had the privilege of 
counting Ms. Kucera, the first female editor of the paper, as a close 
friend. She is proceeding in the 100-year tradition of Union Advocate 
editors--real advocacy and a voice for working Minnesotans and the 
labor movement in our region.
  A veteran labor reporter, Barb Kucera rescued the Union Advocate when 
it was on the verge of bankruptcy, and has been the driving force 
behind its revitalization. She manages to develop story ideas, write 
and edit the newspaper's articles, take photographs, and sell 
advertising space for each issue. Over the years, Barb has also managed 
to expand coverage of issues to incorporate stories with more of an 
international slant.
  During the paper's centennial year, Ms. Kucera plans to publish 
various historical articles on the history of the labor movement--its 
victories and setbacks, opportunities and pitfalls. Barb was recently 
highlighted in a Twin Cities newspaper article, and in it she noted 
that examining the history of the union movement is useful in terms of 
applying lessons learned from it to today's situations.
  First as a union family member, union member, and today as a public 
official, I want to

[[Page E391]]

acknowledge the special role that the Union Advocate has in terms of 
helping to shape, guide, inform, and educate the Minnesota community 
that I am proud to represent.
  The articles in the Union Advocate will no doubt provide important 
lessons for us and for our children during the next hundred years. I'm 
sure my colleagues will join me in congratulating this historic 
publication on its centennial year, and in extending good wishes to 
Minnesotan Barb Kucera, a very fine writer and editor, and also to the 
board and volunteer union members that are actively supporting this 
unique news publication. I wish the organization and paper many 
productive years of service even as I acknowledge the role that the 
Union Advocate has played in shaping the modern Minnesota today. May 
they continue to do the same in the decades ahead. Congratulations and 
thank you. Happy 100th anniversary.

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