[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 76 (Monday, May 18, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1181]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING REX DAVIDSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. YVETTE D. CLARKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 18, 2009

  Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate, pay tribute, 
and honor Mr. Rex Davidson on the occasion of his retirement from his 
post as a very valued Board Member of the New York City Workforce 
Investment Board (WIB) and as President and CEO of Goodwill Industries 
of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey of 36 years.
  On April 8th, I had the pleasure of visiting the New York City WIB 
for a briefing on the programs that we in Congress fund through the 
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and how these programs reach the 
constituents of my district.
  During this visit I had the opportunity to tour the Brooklyn 
Workforce1 Career Center which provides important customized services 
to both jobseekers and businesses to promote and increase the 
employment, job retention, earnings, and improve the occupational 
skills of New Yorkers.
  The Career Center, funded through WIA and operated by Goodwill 
Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, just recently 
celebrated its 15,000th placement; an exciting and momentous 
achievement.
  In my district alone in 2008, 7,083 customers received services 
through the Brooklyn Workforce1 Career Center and 1,554 Constituents 
from New York's 11th Congressional District found jobs.
  Rex Davidson attended my visit to the Brooklyn Workforce1 Career 
Center to give both the perspective of an operator of one of our City's 
local One-Stop service locations and Board Member of the WIB.
  It was clear from this interaction with Rex that he is passionate 
about his work both with Goodwill Industries and the Workforce 
Investment Board; he cares about the role of the business-driven 
workforce development system in New York City and the important need to 
link economic and workforce development to achieve the best outcomes 
for New Yorkers and New York City businesses.
  Throughout his tenure with the WIB, Rex exhibited this passion 
helping to drive the increasing performance of not only the Center 
which Goodwill operates, but also that of the entire Workforce1 Career 
Center system.
  Of his many accomplishments as a WIB Member, Rex served as Chair of 
the WIB's Prisoner Re-Entry Steering Committee.
  The make-up of the Steering Committee is of experts representing the 
critical sectors and disciplines in New York City that focus on 
prisoner reentry issues, as well as, other key Board Members. Its goal 
is to address the complex issues associated with the reentry of people 
with criminal histories into New York City's workforce.
  In June of this year, Rex Davison will leave his post at the New York 
City WIB and at Goodwill Industries as he pursues other ventures out 
West.
  At this critical moment in our nation's history, as we seek to 
improve the economic vitality of neighborhoods and ensure that more 
Americans can get back to work, it seems particularly fitting to honor 
Rex and the work that he does in New York City, particularly for the 
residents in my district, and ensuring that more New Yorkers than ever 
have access to services provided through WIA.
  The Workforce Investment Board, Goodwill Industries, the people of 
New York City, and indeed the people of New York State will truly miss 
Rex. Rex Davidson is truly a credit to our nation.
  I hope that you will join me in thanking him for his service and 
wishing him well on his future adventures.

                          ____________________