[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1123-E1124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO MS. ROSA WALKER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 12, 2009

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Ms. Rosa Walker, 
former Director of the Texas AFL-CIO, for her 38 years of visionary 
leadership. As a stalwart trailblazer in the Texas labor movement and 
Democratic politics, Rosa's accomplishments and admirers are many. 
Beyond her personal politics or civic niche, we can all celebrate her 
lifelong commitment to community involvement and public service.
  Born in the Piney Woods in Hemphill, Texas, Rosa earned her high 
school degree from Pineland High School before she took up a career at 
Southwestern Bell. She subsequently joined the Communication Workers of 
America (CWA) where organizing piqued her interest. With CWA she served 
as a commercial job steward, rose through the ranks, and

[[Page E1124]]

would ultimately become a member of the CWA Executive Board. Later Rosa 
would join the union movement in a full-time capacity as an organizer 
for the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO. After working with 
the Harris County AFL-CIO, she joined the larger Texas affiliate in 
1965, where she dutifully served until her retirement in 2003.
  For nearly four decades Rosa served as Director of Community 
Services/Volunteers and Women's Activities Director with the Texas AFL-
CIO. Throughout her tenure she championed the causes of ``the least of 
these'' and crusaded for social justice wherever it was found wanting. 
In spite of her often disparate tasks--coordinating disaster relief 
operations, lobbying the Texas legislature, or directing voter 
registration drives--Rosa brought a contagious sense of purpose to her 
duties. Middle class families across Texas owe her a debt of gratitude 
for her tireless efforts to open doors of opportunity. While 
politicians are thrust into the limelight, we would be remiss and 
foolish if we did not salute the too often unrecognized grassroots work 
of individuals like Rosa Walker. They truly help us to believe that 
social change can truly percolate from the bottom up.

                          ____________________