[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 21 (Friday, February 17, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E184-E185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SALUTING JAMES P. HOFFA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 16, 2006

  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
salute James P. Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of 
Teamsters. Mr. Hoffa has spent the past 47 years in diligent and loyal 
service to the Teamsters Union and workers across the country.
  Sworn in at the age of 18 by his father, James has been a member of 
the Teamsters Union since 1959. He learned early in his life the 
importance of workers' rights as he joined his father on picket lines 
as a young boy.
  Since taking office in March of 1999, Mr. Hoffa has been rebuilding 
the International

[[Page E185]]

Brotherhood of Teamsters. During his tenure as President, union 
membership has increased and the budget has been balanced for the first 
time in nearly a decade.
  The Teamsters have also increased their global outreach, creating a 
new office of global strategies to focus resources on building 
alliances with workers from around the world, and by holding meetings 
of the International Transportation Workers Federation, ITF, with union 
leaders representing 624 transport unions that consist of 4.5 million 
workers from 142 countries.
  Most recently, Mr. Hoffa faced intense challenges while the union 
family chose to take different directions for its future. It is my hope 
that these changes will be positive for the Teamsters and provide Mr. 
Hoffa with a continued opportunity to lead.
  It is for these reasons that I stand to recognize the work and 
dedication of Mr. James Hoffa, and his commitment to workers and the 
International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

                          ____________________