[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING RETIRING ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATOR RAYMOND K. DUSZA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2005

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great labor 
leader, public official and dear friend and colleague who at the end of 
this year will retire from active public service as a member of the 
Erie County Legislature--the man commonly known as ``Mr. Cheektowaga,'' 
Legislator Raymond K. Dusza.
  During the 1990s, I worked closely with Ray, and saw firsthand his 
gentle yet persistent leadership style. Ray's leadership on so many 
issues important to taxpayers and consumers won kudos from countless 
local residents and praise from local taxpayers' groups.
  Ray's call to public service came early in life. He enlisted in the 
United States Army and defended this country as a Paratrooper in the 
unit known as ``America's Guard of Honor,'' Ray's beloved 82nd Airborne 
Division. When Ray came home after his military service, he started at 
the Westinghouse Electric corporation, where his reputation as a ``man 
of the people'' became apparent. Ray rose through the ranks and was 
chosen to represent 4,000 of his labor brothers and sisters as leader 
of the International Union of Electrical Workers, Local 1581.
  In 1988, the 8th District seat in the Erie County Legislature became 
vacant. After many years of active service in the community and in the 
Democratic Party, Ray contested and won election that November, 
representing the residents of the Town of Cheektowaga and the Village 
of Depew. Over the past 17 years, Republicans and Democrats alike have 
bowed to the high regard with which this man has been held--Ray has 
never been seriously challenged for re-election.
  Local consumers soon learned that they had no greater defender of 
their rights than Ray Dusza. Ray led the fight for a new Item Pricing/
Scanner Accuracy law for Erie County, to ensure that prices consumers 
were charged for goods were properly reflecting prices on store 
shelves. Through Ray's work, scanners in supermarkets, home centers and 
other retail stores that were estimated to be accurate only 50 percent 
to 70 percent of the time must now offer consumers 98 percent accuracy. 
In addition, Ray will always be remembered as the ``Coupon King'' for 
his successful fight against the Proctor & Gamble Corporation's attempt 
to deny local shoppers free access to manufacturer's coupons. Ray 
fought hard for consumers, residents and taxpayers as Vice Chairman of 
the Legislature's Public Safety Committee, and as Chairman of two 
legislative standing committees, the Government Affairs Committee and 
the Energy and Environment Committee.
  Ray Dusza added one more very important element to his service in 
County Hall: a robust sense of humor. Ray's philosophy was to ``be 
serious about what you do, but don't take yourself too seriously,'' and 
he was indeed good to his word. Ray always added a refreshing sense of 
humor to the deliberations within County Hall, consistently entering 
committee meetings with the declaration that ``the paratroopers have 
landed,'' and sarcastically questioning what time the perennially tardy 
``nine o'clock caucus'' would begin.
  Ray's dedication to his community was not limited to his role in the 
Legislature. The following are just a few of the organizations Ray has 
dedicated his time and energy toward: the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 
Knights of Columbus--Father Justin Council, Polish Falcons Club, 
American Legion Gierlach Post, Depew/Cheektowaga Taxpayers' 
Association, AMVETS Buddy Knaus Post, Catholic War Veterans Post 1313, 
the Ushers Society at St. Philip the Apostle Church, and St. Josephat's 
Parish Holy Name Society. In addition, Ray is the leader of the 
eponymously-named ``Ray Dusza Booster Club,'' a grouping of political 
supporters that Ray sentimentally refers to as his ``commandos.''
  Mr. Speaker, I am a lifelong resident of another great Western New 
York community--South Buffalo, NY, and the highest compliment that 
folks can pay to someone from South Buffalo is that they remember where 
they come from, and remember the people who sent them to serve in 
public office. Few public officials remember from whom and from whence 
they came the way Ray Dusza does. I am delighted that you have allowed 
me to take a few moments to honor Ray's service to our community here 
today, and I am honored even more to call Ray Dusza my friend. To Ray, 
his wife Terry, to their children, grandchildren and to the entire 
Dusza Family, I want to offer my sincere thanks, and my wishes of good 
luck and Godspeed for many years to come.

                          ____________________