[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 147 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO LINDA CHAVEZ-THOMPSON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 1, 2007

  Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the members of the 
Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I rise today to honor Linda Chavez-
Thompson, executive vice president of the AFL-CIO, on the occasion of 
her retirement. Elected to this post in 1995, Chavez-Thompson became 
the first woman and person of color to be chosen for one of the 
federation's three highest offices.
  As a second-generation American of Mexican descent, Chavez-Thompson 
personifies the American dream. Born in Lubbock, TX to cotton 
sharecroppers, Chavez-Thompson toiled the fields to help supplement her 
family's income. After making 30 cents an hour picking cotton, Chavez-
Thompson rose through the ranks of the labor movement, beginning her 
career as a union secretary at the local AFSCME chapter, the labor 
union to which her father belonged.
  In her capacity as executive vice president of the labor federation, 
Chavez-Thompson has worked tirelessly to strengthen State and local 
labor movements and has served as a strong voice on behalf of civil, 
human and immigrant workers' rights. She serves as vice-chair of the 
Democratic National Committee, and serves as the president of the 
Inter-American Regional Organization of Workers, ORIT, which is the 
Western Hemispheric arm of the International Trade Union Confederation.
  In retirement Chavez-Thompson will continue to pioneer new territory 
as the first AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Emeritus. In this 
capacity, she will continue to provide her leadership to state and 
local labor councils and communities throughout the country, and will 
continue her important international work. Her determined work on 
behalf of all workers, especially women, people of color, people with 
disabilities and immigrants will continue.
  In making this difficult decision to retire after more than 40 years 
of service to the labor movement, Chavez-Thompson expressed, ``You . . 
. have given me the opportunity of a lifetime, which was to go where I 
never dreamed I could go, and do more than I ever dreamed I could do.''
  For lending her talents, passion and vision to the effort of bringing 
justice to workers, we are all thankful to Chavez-Thompson. She has 
marched and spoken on behalf of those who often labor without a voice 
and has inspired us all to continue this important work for workers 
across the world.

                          ____________________