[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 161 (Tuesday, October 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN REMEMBRANCE OF J. ROY GABRIEL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 23, 2007

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
dedication of Mr. J. Roy Gabriel, director of labor affairs for the 
California Farm Bureau Federation and chief operating officer of the 
Farm Employers Labor Service. Roy passed away suddenly this month in 
our Nation's Capital while representing the agricultural community on 
the issues he found most near and dear to his heart. His service and 
commitment to California agriculture and his passion and joy for life 
will be sorely missed.
  A native of southern California, Roy attended California Polytechnic 
University, San Luis Obispo where he earned a degree in Agricultural 
Business Management and a technical certificate in crops production. 
Armed with this knowledge and a love for farming, Roy became active in 
local politics, honing his negotiating skills. In 1973, he joined the 
California Farm Bureau as a legislative assistant and began his life 
long commitment to the betterment of agriculture in California. 
Recognizing Roy's breadth of experience and political prowess, Gov. 
Pete Wilson appointed Gabriel in 1998 to serve as chief deputy director 
of the California Department of Industrial Relations.
  Roy's involvement with California farming has spanned 30 years. 
Throughout his lifetime, he has been a tireless voice in support of the 
valley's immigrant population. In the eighties, Roy helped more than 
50,000 workers apply for legal immigration status under the Federal 
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Like me, Roy believed the 
current agriculture labor shortage to be a crisis and fought to bring 
attention to the issue and enact reform legislation like AgJobs. The 
agricultural labor reform movement has lost a great champion in his 
passing.
  We also shared a passion for rail transportation. He was not only an 
avid historian of nineteenth and twentieth century rail development, 
but he was respected for his knowledge and opinions on the subject 
matter. Roy was also an active supporter of today's national high speed 
and inner-city passenger rail efforts. For all these reasons, we will 
miss him dearly.
  Mr. Gabriel's leadership and dedication will continue to inspire 
Californians for many years to come. A man of great principle and 
integrity, his passion and enthusiasm has touched many lives, including 
my own. It is with fond sadness that I remember and honor the life of 
my colleague and friend, Mr. J. Roy Gabriel.

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