[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H4669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    HONORING THE MEMORY OF BRUCE ROY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, the State of Maine and the working families 
across the Nation lost a determined advocate when Bruce Roy passed away 
on April 7. I rise tonight to honor my dear friend. My heart goes out 
to his wife for over 29 years, Nancy; his two daughters, Jessica and 
Joanne; and his five grandchildren, Courtney, Britney, Logan, Isabell, 
and Cooper, as well as his extended family during this very difficult 
time.

                              {time}  1745

  Bruce reminds us all of how short and precious life can be, but 
unlike most people who let life pass by them, Bruce lived in the 
moment. He gave everything he had to the betterment of his family's 
life and those around him.
  I believe that a true measure of a man should always be the size of 
his heart. And God knows, and everyone who knew Bruce knew, that the 
size of his heart was enormous. He loved so many, and he was loved by 
so many, and there is nothing more important in life than that.
  Bruce's idea of family far extends beyond the traditional norm; it 
includes his fellow mill workers, his union brothers and sisters, and 
his neighbors. He devoted his life to helping struggling families all 
across the State of Maine. And in the weeks preceding his death, 
helping the laid-off workers at Wausau Paper Mill get the assistance 
that they deserved.
  Bruce also was a member of PACE International Union, known today as 
United Steelworkers Local 11 of Jay. He also served as Treasurer/
Recording Secretary and President of the Maine Labor Council of the 
United Steelworkers, and Secretary/Treasurer of the Maine AFL-CIO. He 
was recently appointed and confirmed to the Maine Workers' Compensation 
Board.
  But in no way can Bruce's resume encapsulate who he was and what he 
stood for. When I first ran for Congress, many people did not believe 
that a mill worker could be elected. I was in a six-way primary in 
2002, and the odds were stacked against me. Bruce devoted his life 
full-time to my campaign. And even though he wasn't a paid staffer, he 
was very much part of our campaign team. Bruce would get up at the 
crack of dawn to do mill gates, and spent long evenings plastering 
neighborhoods with campaign signs and literature. He was instrumental 
in my ``Get Out the Vote'' effort in the Katahdin region. I know he did 
all this at the expense of spending time with his loving family. He 
made an enormous sacrifice, but it was for a cause that he believed in. 
And that is how Bruce lived his life, he devoted his whole heart to the 
cause he believed in. When I won the seat to the United States 
Congress, my victory was not just for me, but for people like Bruce.
  Bruce always reminded me that you can't stop fighting for the working 
men and women of this country. He lived that pledge in everything that 
he did. I have never forgotten those words. They are the words that we 
all should live by today.
  Bruce always made a decision based on what was right. His approach to 
life was a combination of good humor, high ideals, and honor. He lived 
by that example. His son-in-law said about Bruce, ``He was the nicest 
guy I ever met,'' and I couldn't agree more.
  There are no words to express the pain we all feel with his passing 
away. We love you, Bruce, and we know that you are among the angels. 
Your work here on Earth will never be forgotten from your brothers and 
sisters in the labor movement, and from your families and friends who 
lived and worked by you each and every day of your life.
  May God bless you and your wonderful family.

                          ____________________