[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 4, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E539-E540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN HONOR OF LAUREL BRENNAN AND THE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 
                                PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 4, 2009

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Laurel Brennan, 
Secretary-Treasurer of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO and the Women in 
Leadership Development (WILD) program. As a devoted mentor, Ms. Brennan 
has been generous with her time in helping hundreds of women. Through 
her tireless efforts to help women advance in their professional 
endeavors, many have reached new heights in the labor movement and 
other fields.
  In 1997, Ms. Brennan became the first woman to hold the position of 
Secretary-Treasurer of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO.

[[Page E540]]

Since this accomplishment she has implemented and developed the WILD 
program. Every year, under the leadership of Ms. Brennan, the New 
Jersey State AFL-CIO sponsors the WILD Conference in New Brunswick, NJ. 
The conference brings key players together to address a wide array of 
questions of how unions help women and how women help unions. The 
conference is designed to ensure that union women will have the 
opportunity to be educated, develop leadership skills and build 
diversity within labor movements.
  Ms. Brennan's WILD program began in March 2004 as a way to recognize 
International Women's Day. During the first year she brought together 
75 women to spend the day at the Rutgers Labor Education Center. Over 
the years, the number of women attending the conference expanded to 
reach over 250 people.
  The New Jersey State AFL-CIO has been a leading proponent for 
workers' rights in our community. Representing a robust one million 
workers in our great state, the New Jersey AFL-CIO has an impressive 
record of advocating on behalf of working families. The Women in 
Leadership Development conference is a unique entity of the AFL-CIO. As 
Ms. Brennan's brainchild, WILD empowers women in unions. For the first 
time in its six year history, WILD will be bringing ten union women 
from the United Kingdom to compare efforts globally. This unique 
program not only benefits my community, but provides an exceptional 
foundation for women all over the world to use in the advancement of 
their careers.
  Madam Speaker, I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in 
celebrating the work of Laurel Brennan and the WILD program. Her 
advocacy for women in the labor movement has a lasting impact on many 
New Jerseyans and others. I am confident that Ms. Brennan and the WILD 
women will continue to inspire and benefit many others for years to 
come.

                          ____________________