[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 192 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E3057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF PATRICK W. HENNING'S OUTSTANDING CAREER OF PUBLIC 
                                SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 16, 2009

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to offer the 
following statement, in recognition of Patrick W. Henning upon his 
retirement, on behalf of myself and the following members of the 
California congressional delegation: Representatives Pete Stark, Howard 
Berman, Sam Farr, Lynn Woolsey, Zoe Lofgren, Anna Eshoo, Henry Waxman, 
Doris Matsui, Jerry McNerney, Jim Costa, Barbara Lee, Grace Napolitano, 
Laura Richardson, Brad Sherman, Mike Honda, Linda Sanchez, Joe Baca, 
and other colleagues.
  We rise in honor of Patrick Henning, upon his retirement from public 
service as the director of California's Employment Development 
Department, EDD. With nearly 40 years of experience in the field of 
labor, Mr. Henning brought to his office a deep and unmatched 
commitment to strengthening California's workforce.
  Throughout his career, Mr. Henning has worked to improve the lives of 
California's workers--from his early days as a union organizer to his 
appointment to one of the state's largest Departments.
  Prior to joining the Employment Development Department, Mr. Henning 
served the California Legislature for 17 years as a key labor policy 
consultant--first in the Assembly, and then in the Senate's Labor and 
Industrial Relations Committee headed by now-Secretary of Labor Hilda 
Solis. In the early 1980s, Mr. Henning served as California Labor 
Commissioner, and later as a member of the Agricultural Labor Relations 
Board. As a union representative in Southern California in the 1970s, 
Mr. Henning helped hundreds of workers bargain for improved wages, 
benefits, and working conditions.
  Other major achievements include his tenure as chair of the state 
Developmental Disabilities Area Board for Los Angeles County. He also 
served several years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.
  Without a doubt, California's working families have benefited from 
Mr. Henning's life- long contributions to the labor field. We would 
like to thank Mr. Henning for everything he has achieved for 
California's workers, and we give him our very warmest wishes for many 
happy years of retirement.

                          ____________________