[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E931-E932]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING ALAMEDA COUNTY UNION LEADER JIM PROLA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 13, 2003

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Jim Prola for receiving 
the COPE Award from the Central Labor Council of Alameda

[[Page E932]]

County, AFL-CIO. Mr. Prola will be honored at the Council's Unionist of 
the Year Dinner on May 15.
  Mr. Prola, a member of the Central Labor Council's Executive Board, 
will receive the award to honor his dedication to the labor movement 
and to his community. Before being elected to the Executive Board, Mr. 
Prola served as a delegate for over 20 years to the Labor Council 
representing the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal 
Employees (AFSCME) Local Union 2019.
  He began his labor career as a member of AFSCME Local Union 444, 
where he started the Health and Safety Committee and served as the 
local union's Vice-President. As a member of AFSCME Local 2019, Mr. 
Prola worked with his local union to build a Labor and Environmental 
Coalition which now involves the majority of the East Bay Municipal 
Utilities District Board of Directors.
  In addition to his work with the Central Labor Council, Mr. Prola 
currently serves as Political Action Chair for AFSCME District Council 
57, Region 3 of the San Francisco Bay Area, and as representative to 
the AFSCME Statewide Steering Committee.
  Mr. Prola has been instrumental in engaging AFSCME participation in 
the political process and in helping labor to build political power to 
win social and economic justice. He has contributed to the COPE Program 
of the Central Labor Council of Alameda County AFL-CIO through his 
consistent participation and volunteer work to further labor's 
political programs.
  In addition to his outstanding efforts in the labor movement, Mr. 
Prola serves his community as a volunteer coach for youth basketball in 
Oakland schools, as a volunteer coach for youth soccer in San Leandro, 
and as a volunteer coach for the Babe Ruth Baseball League.
  I am honored to commend Jim Prola for his commitment to community 
service and his diligent work to further political involvement by 
unions.

                          ____________________