[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 68 (Thursday, April 26, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E881]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONGRATULATING SAM BIANCO UPON BEING AWARDED THE UNITED WAY OF 
                               AMERICA'S 
              ``JOSEPH A. BEIRNE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 26, 2007

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to Mr. Sam 
Bianco, of Vandling, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, who was chosen by 
the United Way of America to receive its prestigious ``Joseph A. Beirne 
Community Services Award.''
  Established in 1974 by the United Way of America, the award annually 
recognizes a union member or labor leader who has rendered outstanding 
service to a local United Way community.
  The award is named in honor of the late Joseph A. Beirne, co-founder 
of the Communications Workers of America International Union and the 
first union member to ever serve as board president of United Way of 
America.
  Mr. Bianco has been a staunch volunteer and supporter of the United 
Way of Wyoming Valley since 1955. At that time he served as a campaign 
solicitor at International Ladies Garment Workers Union shops. He also 
served as business agent for the Pittston ILGWU and, later, as district 
manager for the Wilkes-Barre ILGWU. He currently serves on the United 
Way of Wyoming Valley's board of directors, finance committee, campaign 
cabinet and he has chaired the labor participation committee for the 
past 27 years.
  Under Mr. Bianco's volunteer leadership, the Greater Wilkes-Barre 
Labor Council and United Way of Wyoming Valley were named the 1998 
recipient of the ``National AFL-CIO Model Cities in Community Services 
Award'' for the outstanding partnership created between the local labor 
movement and United Way in jointly addressing and meeting human service 
needs.
  Mr. Bianco, as president of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Labor Council, 
has partnered with the United Way of Wyoming Valley on numerous 
community service projects including the National Association of Letter 
Carriers Food Drive; creating the ``Unions in the Community Girl Scout 
Patch'' and being a co-sponsor of the annual United Way Labor Christmas 
Project.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Bianco for giving 
his community so many years of devoted service. His contributions to 
the quality of life in northeastern Pennsylvania are legendary as is 
his love of helping people in need.

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