[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 168 (Thursday, December 22, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY BLACK EMPLOYEES' 
                              ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 22, 2005

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Pacific Gas & 
Electric PG&E, Company's Black Employees' Association on the occasion 
of its 25th year of service to our community.
  The PG&E Black Employees' Association, BEA, was founded in 1980 by a 
group of African American PG&E employees who wanted to enhance the 
social and intellectual exchange of ideas among the growing number of 
African American employees at the company. Over the past 25 years, this 
exchange has resulted not only in networking, collaboration and 
workplace adjustment opportunities for African American employees, but 
has also been integral to PG&E's outreach efforts to the African 
American Community and our community at large.
  The primary focus of PG&E's outreach efforts in this regard has been 
on providing educational opportunity, namely in the form of college 
scholarships. Since its founding, BEA has awarded upwards of $700,000 
in college scholarships, with the majority of those funds coming 
directly from BEA member contributions.
  In addition to the significant contributions it makes to nationwide 
educational funds, BEA reaches out to young people and members of our 
community in a variety of other ways. In addition to its consistent 
support of the National Society of Black Engineers, the Black Employees 
Associations of Northern California, the Museum of African Diaspora and 
numerous diversity awareness efforts within PG&E, BEA provides 
mentoring and job shadowing opportunities to young people seeking 
career guidance. Furthermore, BEA sponsors regular events which address 
issues related to retirement, financial management and other forms of 
career management for current employees.
  In addition to its efforts in the areas of education and professional 
development, BEA is known for its charitable involvement with a number 
of local community organizations, as well as its members' regular 
volunteer efforts. Recently BEA awarded $25,000 to five community based 
organizations through its partnership with PG&E and other groups, and 
has also awarded funds to local hospitals and community service 
organizations.
  BEA is a regular participant in events and fundraisers at local K-12 
schools and projects, such the Beacon Project and E. Morris Cox 
Elementary School in Oakland. BEA members also volunteer regularly for 
major health initiatives such as the AIDS Walk, Juvenile Diabetes Fund, 
the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, and many other community building 
efforts.
  This year marks the PG&E Black Employees' Association's 25th 
Anniversary. On behalf of the California's 9th U.S. Congressional 
District, I salute all BEA for their many years of invaluable service 
to the African American community and to the community at large. I 
congratulate BEA on this very special occasion, and thank its members 
for their invaluable contributions to California's 9th Congressional 
District and to our country.

                          ____________________